Resident Ardea goliath

Goliath Heron

The world’s largest heron, standing motionless in the shallows for long periods before striking at big fish.

The Goliath Heron is the largest heron in the world, standing well over a metre tall. It hunts alone, waiting patiently in shallow water.

The quiet shorelines of Rubondo Island and Lake Victoria suit it well, and it is often seen from a boat.

Where to look

The shores of Rubondo Island and Lake Victoria.

Guide’s tip
Scan papyrus edges and quiet bays. Its size and rufous neck stand out even at a distance.

Sightings are never guaranteed: these are wild animals in wild places. What we can promise is a guide who knows where to look.

Destinations

Where to see the Goliath Heron

The parks and reserves where our guides look for it, each with its own best season and safaris.

Grey-headed Gull on a Rift Valley lake, Tanzania

Lake Victoria

Africa’s largest lake, with papyrus specialists and lakeshore birds.

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) in reeds, Tanzania

Rubondo Island National Park

Quiet island park with forest birds, waterbirds and sitatunga.

Keep exploring

More birds to look for

See all birds

Endemic

Beesley’s Lark

Chersomanes beesleyi

Fewer than a hundred birds left, all on one patch of plain north of Arusha. Nowhere else on earth.

Seen in

Lark Plains

Resident

Hartlaub’s Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

A flash of crimson wings in the forest canopy. Arusha National Park is the easiest place to see one.

Seen in

Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Tanganyika

Near-endemic

Fischer’s Turaco

Tauraco fischeri

The coastal and Usambara forests’ turaco, with a red crest tipped white. A target bird for every East Usambara trip.

Seen in

Usambara Mountains

Resident

Secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius

A raptor that hunts on foot, stamping snakes to death in the grass. Unmistakable striding across the plains.

Seen in

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lark Plains, Lake Natron

Resident

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

The golden crown, the dance and the bugling call. Endangered, but still a daily sight on the crater floor.

Seen in

Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park

Resident

Kori Bustard

Ardeotis kori

The heaviest flying bird in the world, pacing the plains with its neck puffed up in display.

Seen in

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lark Plains, Lake Natron

Resident

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Pink crowds on the soda lakes. Numbers rise and fall with the water, so your guide checks before you go.

Seen in

Lake Manyara National Park, Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi

Endemic

Ashy Starling

Lamprotornis unicolor

Tanzania’s own starling: long-tailed, dusty grey and common around the baobabs of Tarangire.

Seen in

Tarangire National Park, Ruaha National Park

Start planning your safari

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