Beesley’s Lark doesn’t look special: sandy brown, streaky, with a longish bill. What makes it special is that the whole population lives on a few square kilometres of short-grass plain near Engikaret, about an hour north of Arusha.
It’s treated as a full species today and ranks among the most threatened birds in Africa. For most birders who come to Tanzania, it’s near the top of the list.
How we look for it
We leave Arusha before dawn so we’re on the plains early, when the birds are active and before the heat haze makes everything shimmer. A local Maasai site guide always joins us. They know where the birds are holding territory, and paying them gives the community a reason to keep the grassland as it is.
We walk slowly in a loose line, listening as much as looking. When we find a bird, we watch from a distance and move on, without chasing it or playing recordings for long. The population is small, and it can’t take much disturbance.
What else is out there
The plains are good for other larks, Two-banded Courser, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse and raptors. In the northern winter, harriers quarter the grass, including Pallid and Montagu’s.
Which trips include it
Every one of our Arusha birding trips, from the 2-day safari upward, includes a morning on the Lark Plains. We can also add it to any other itinerary.
Your questions answered
Where exactly is Beesley’s Lark found?
Only on a small area of short-grass plains near Engikaret, north of Arusha.
Can I visit without a guide?
Please don’t. A local site guide protects the birds and gives you the best chance of seeing them.
What time of day is best?
The first two hours after sunrise, before the heat haze.
