Birding & Beyond Safaris

Tanzania boasts a large number of un-usual and endemic bird species, and a list which nearly exceeds that of neighbouring Kenya and almost equals Uganda . Your Safari experience with us, is a discovery of what these exciting destinations offer in terms of avian ( bird life ),big game viewing, people and scenery and not forgetting the wealth of experience behind them. Come and see for yourself this greatest wildlife spectacle on earth with terrific birding experience amidst beasts.

• TOP LOCAL BIRD GUIDES
• SPECIALITY TOURS
• SOLID VALUE FOR MONEY
• GUARANTEED PERSONAL ATTENTION
• UNIQUE ITINERARIES TO MAXIMISE THE BIRDING,PHOTOGRAPHY,WALKING AND BIG GAME VIEWING EXPERIENCE.....
• CUSTOMIZED OR TAILOR MADE TOURS,PRIVATE TOURS,INDIVIDUAL DEPARTURES,SCHEDULED TRIPS EXTENTIONS AND COMBINED TOURS.
  

Birding & Beyond Safaris now operates Budget bird tours to Tanzania and Kenya. These tours can depart anytime depending on availability of guides and accommodations. The Tour can also be taken as a combination of Kenya and Tanzania.

Southern Tanzania Specials ~ Birding the endemics and specialities, Big game viewing and photography

Nairobi National Park, Thika, Wajee Bird Sanctuary, Mt Kenya, Samburu, Thomson Falls, Lake Victoria and Kakamega Forest, Rift Valley Lakes of Lake Nakuru and Lake Baringo

We shall visit the famous northern parks, as well as areas of endemism, which include the Usambara, Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains, and the Kilombero floodplain, where several new species have been discovered in the last twenty years. We begin with a daytime flight to Arusha, where we settle in to our hotel. After a little local birding, we set off to Arusha National Park, where we should find several bird species, including Taveta Golden Weaver, Crowned Eagle, Hartlaub's Turaco, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Retz's Red-billed Shrike and Brown-breasted Barbet. We next carry out a circuit of the famous northern game parks. These are famous for their high densities of large mammals, including healthy populations of Lion, Cheetah, Elephant and Black Rhino, as well as several gazelles and others.

Birdlife is also profuse; from the endemic Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Fischer's and Yellow-collared Lovebirds, Rufous-tailed Weaver and Ashy Starling; to Ground Hornbill, Ostrich, Usambiro and Crested Barbets, Schalow's Turaco, Magpie Shrike, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, and numerous Larks and Cisticolas. Lake Manyara is also home to thousands of Lesser Flamingo. After skirting the southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, we reach the Usambara Mountains. These mountains are bedecked with numerous plantations, but the areas of extant forest hold several endemics, and rare species. These include; Sharpe's and Usambara Akalats, Spot-throat, Usambara Eagle Owl, Kretschmer's Longbill, Red-capped Forest Warbler, Usambara Weaver, and Banded Green Sunbird Following from here, we will visit the Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains. Here, we find the newly discovered Rufous-winged Sunbird and Udzungwa Forest Partridge, along with numerous other endemics and rarities, including Loveridge's Sunbird, Uluguru Bush-shrike, Mrs. Moreau's Warbler, Bertram's Weaver, Swynnerton's Robin, Chapin's Apalis.Whilst in the area, we will take the opportunity of visiting the Kilombero floodplains, near Ifakara, where three endemics were recently discovered, Kilombero Weaver, and Kilombero and Melodious Cisticolas.

We will also visit Mikumi National Park, where we hope to see Boehm's and Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Racket-tailed Roller, Pale-billed Hornbill and Miombo Rock Thrush, and Hunting Dog is a possibility. Finally, we head to Dar-es-Salaam, where we should add a few shore and seabirds to our list before we have to head home.

• Arusha Park
• Ngorongoro Crater
• Lake Manyara Park
• Tarangire Park
• Serengeti National Park
• Mikumi National Park
• Udzungwa Mountains Park
• Usambara Mountains and Amani Nature Reserve
• Pemba Island
• Lake Victoria
• Kilomero Flood Plains and Wetland
• Ruaha National Park
• Saadani National Park - "where the beach meets the bush"
• Kitulo Plateau National Park "the Garden of God"
  

Each day will begin with either an optional bird walk in the hotel grounds at 0630, followed by an 0700 or 0730 breakfast, or, where an early breakfast is indicated, this is at 0630, and we hope to get moving by 0700 to 0730. In most forest areas, we will opt for the early breakfast, and hope to start birding by 0730, as prior to this, the birds don't move much, as it is dark in the understorey. Daylight hours are 0630 to 1900, and for safety reasons, we try to avoid driving after dark wherever possible.

WHERE: Tanzania