People often ask us how a birding tour differs from a normal one. The parks are the same and the vehicle is the same. What changes is the rhythm of the day, where we stop, and how long we stay. Here’s a typical day in Tarangire.
5:30: coffee and the dawn chorus
Your guide is at the lodge before you with coffee in a flask. The first birds are already calling, often a Spotted Morning-Thrush or a pair of duetting barbets, and some guests have ten species before they’ve reached the car.
6:30 to 10:00: the best hours
We enter the park as the gates open. This is the busiest time for birds, so we drive slowly with the windows open and stop for every call your guide recognises, which is most of them. A normal safari drives past a flock of Yellow-collared Lovebirds on its way to a lion. We stop, watch them, photograph them, and then go and find the lion.
Your guide keeps a running checklist on paper or on an app, and tells you which birds are new, which are endemic, and which are worth waiting for.
10:00 to 15:00: raptors, water and rest
As the day warms, small birds go quiet and raptors take over the thermals. Late morning is the time to scan the sky for Bateleur, Tawny Eagle and Martial Eagle, and to visit waterholes where birds come to drink. We usually take a picnic lunch in the field so we don’t lose time, but if you’d like a midday rest at camp, that’s fine too.
15:30 to sunset: the second wind
Birds become active again in the late afternoon and the light turns gold. It’s the best time for photography. Parks close at sunset, so we time the last stop to get back before the gates close.
Evening: the checklist
After dinner, your guide goes through the day’s list with you: what you saw, what you heard, and what to look for tomorrow. Most guests say this is one of their favourite parts of the day.
If you’d like to try it, the 2-day birding tour is a good first taste, and the 6-day northern trip is the classic.
Your questions answered
Do I need to be an expert birder?
Not at all. Many of our guests are beginners or travelling with a birder partner. Your guide will explain as much or as little as you want.
Will we still see big animals?
Yes. The parks are the same as on any safari, so elephants, lions and giraffes are seen every day. We just stop for birds more often.
How many hours a day are we out?
Usually from about 6:30 to sunset, with a midday break. We can shorten any day if you prefer.
