Overview:
This 6-day bird-watching safari takes you to some of Tanzania’s top wildlife destinations: Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. The journey is designed for birding enthusiasts and nature lovers, offering opportunities to spot an incredible variety of bird species while enjoying breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to Arusha for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, set off for Arusha National Park, a birding paradise featuring lush forests, open savannah, and scenic lakes. The park is home to Ngurdoto Crater, often called the “Little Ngorongoro,” as well as Momella Lakes, which attract thousands of water birds.
You’ll take a walking safari accompanied by an armed ranger, allowing for up-close encounters with wildlife. Later, enjoy a game drive through the park’s varied terrain.
Birds to Spot:
African Fish Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Bar-tailed Trogon, Bearded Vulture, Black Saw-wing, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Great Crested Grebe, Narina Trogon, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Tawny Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, and more.
🏨 Overnight: Tulia Boutique and Spa (BB)
🚗 Drive Time: ~1 hour (52km)
🦜 Game Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Drinking Water
After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, famous for its massive elephant herds and stunning baobab trees. The park’s wetlands attract thousands of bird species, making it a must-visit for birdwatchers.
Enjoy a full-day game drive, with stops at prime birding locations. Keep an eye out for the rare Fringe-eared Oryx, Ashy Starling, and Greater Kudu, which are unique to this region.
Birds to Spot:
African Grey Flycatcher, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Great White Pelican, Northern Pied Babbler, Ostrich, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Vulturine Guinea Fowl, Yellow-collared Lovebird, and more.
🏨 Overnight: Marera Valley Lodge (FB)
🚗 Drive Time: ~3 hours (150km)
🦜 Game Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water
After breakfast, head to Lake Manyara National Park, a stunning location with diverse habitats ranging from acacia woodlands and hot springs to swampy floodplains. This is one of the best bird-watching parks in Tanzania, home to flamingos, pelicans, storks, and kingfishers.
Look out for the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, often seen resting on branches. Enjoy a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch by the lake.
Birds to Spot:
Abdim’s Stork, African Spoonbill, Crowned Eagle, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Hamerkop, Pied Avocet, Saddle-billed Stork, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Yellow-billed Stork, and more.
🏨 Overnight: Marera Valley Lodge (FB)
🚗 Drive Time: ~1 hour
🦜 Game Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water
Depart after breakfast for Serengeti National Park, passing through the highlands of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Upon arrival, enjoy a thrilling game drive in the Seronera Valley, one of the most wildlife-rich areas in the Serengeti.
Expect to see large numbers of birds of prey, vultures, and scavengers, along with thousands of herbivores and predators.
🏨 Overnight: Serengeti Heritage Lodge (FB)
🚗 Drive Time: ~5-6 hours (275km)
🦜 Game Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water
Start the day with an early sunrise game drive, a prime time for predator sightings. After breakfast, continue towards Ngorongoro, with a game drive en route.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers unique landscapes, from dense forests to open plains, providing excellent bird-watching opportunities.
🏨 Overnight: Karibu Luxury Tented Camp (FB)
🚗 Drive Time: ~4-5 hours (135km)
🦜 Game Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water
After an early breakfast, descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the best wildlife destinations in Africa. The crater floor is home to a high concentration of wildlife, including the endangered black rhino.
After a full morning of exploration and birding, enjoy lunch by a hippo-filled lake before heading back to Arusha, where the tour ends.
Birds to Spot:
African Spoonbill, Augur Buzzard, Capped Wheatear, Greater Flamingo, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Jackson’s Widowbird, Kori Bustard, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Verreaux’s Eagle, and more.
🚗 Drive Time: ~4-5 hours (185km)
🦜 Game Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Drinking Water
💰 Price: $3,000 per person
✔ Lodge accommodation during the safari
✔ All meals as per itinerary
✔ Airport pickup upon arrival
✔ Game drives in a 4×4 pop-up roof safari jeep
✔ Services of a professional safari guide & birding expert
✔ Hotel accommodation before and after the safari (Serengeti Villa or Africana Grand Hotel – BB)
✔ Park entrance fees
✔ Mineral water throughout the safari
❌ Personal expenses
❌ Tips (recommended: $20 per person per day)
❌ International flights
❌ Visa fees
❌ Travel insurance
