Best birding destinations in Tanzania : Birding in Tanzania is an exciting opportunity to bird lovers to discover he country’s amazing variety of birds in tire natural environment. Tanzania is an incredible birding destination. It has one of the largest species lists of any African country: over 1,100 birds have been recorded, of which more than 800 are resident and nearly 200 are regular migrants. About 40 endemic species are recognized some are controversial splits. The different birding destinations in Tanzania are characterized by swamps, savanna grassland, forests, and wetlands. Here are the top birding destinations in Tanzania with Achieve Global Safaris your reliable travel agent for Tanana birding and other wildlife safaris
Top Biding destinations in Tanzania
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is a top spot for seeing wildlife, not jut in Tanzania, but all of Africa. Its a key area for conservation, making it vital for our planet. The Serengeti national park is one of the rare places where wild animals can thrive in a safe and protected setting. More so, this park is popular among wildlife enthusiasts, with unique plants, birds, and animals. The park holds more than the big game but also over 500 bird species most of which can be spotted during the game drive and normal birding excursions. The different birds to come across in Serengeti National Park include the Yellow Wagtail, African Jacana, White-backed Vulture, Marabou Stork, African Grey Hornbill, Red-billed Hornbill, Lilac-breasted Roller, Crested Francolin, African Pygmy Goose, Eurasian Bee-eater, Great Egret, Common Greenshank, Black-shouldered Kite, and Orange-breasted Bush shrike, Rufous tailed Weaver, Usambara Barbet, grey crested helmet shrike among other
Ngorongoro Crater
Beyond its crater, largest unbroken caldera in the world, Ngorongoro Crater is a special birding destination in Tanzania with over 500 bird species (both migratory and resident) which are found in distinguished vegetation terrains. Most of the water birds are found in Lake Magadi which is located in the Ngorongoro Crater floor. The Creter features birds such as Ostriches, Kori Bustards, Secretary Birds, and other birds. Gray-delegated Cranes, Northern Anteater Chat Capped Water, Fischer’s Sparrow Lark, Red-covered Lark, Grassland Pipit, Superb Starling, Rufous-rested Lark African White-backed Vulture, Augur Buzzard, Long-peaked Eagle, Rufous Tailed Weaver, Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Hottentot Teal, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Eastern Crested Guinea Fowl, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Greater and Lesser Flamingos Turtle-dove and more. The best birding trails in Ngorongoro include the highlands, forest and the crater
Lake Manyara National Park
Besides the rare tree-climbing lions, Lake Manyara National Park is a remarkable bird-watching destination, home to over 450 bird species, this makes it a top birding destination in east Africa. The park’s diverse birds include Flamingos, African Fish Eagle, Secretary Bird, Grey Crowned Crane, the African Jacan, Common Ostrich, Vulturine Guineafowl, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Great Crested Grebe, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, African Palm Swift and Purple Swamphen among others. The iconic birding sites in Lake manyara national park include the Forests Circuit trail and Lake Manyara among others.
Usambara Mountains
The Usambara Mountains, located in northeastern Tanzania, are a true haven for bird watchers and nature lovers exploring the country. These mountains are home to a small piece of the vast rainforests that once stretched across Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. The forests here share more in common with those found in West Africa. The Usambara Mountains are well-known for their unique bird species, including the white-faced whistling-duck, African black duck, Usambara Thrush, Amani Sunbird, Usambara Weaver, African green-pigeon, white-bellied go-away-bird, hartlaub’s turaco, African emerald cuckoo, African palm swift, Eurasian moorhen, abdim’s stork and Long-billed Cuckoo, among others. For birding enthusiasts, the Amani Nature Reserve is a popular spot to visit. Other fantastic birding locations in the region include Lushoto and the Soni River Valley, both of which offer different habitats that support a wide variety of birdlife.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is located in Tanzania’s Manyara’s Region. The park is famous for the thousands of elephants that come down to the park during the dry season in search of water, but there are also plenty of wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, buffalo and hippos. Tarangire National Park is home to over 550 bird species, the park is a haven for bird enthusiasts. The special bird species to find in Tarangire national park includes African grey flycatcher, ashy starling, bare-faced go-away bird, common ostrich, Donaldson smith’s nightjar, northern pied babbler, vulturine guineafowl, rufous-tailed weaver, eagles, great white pelican, pink-breasted lark, yellow-collared lovebirds, hornbills, bee-eaters, parrots, yellow-necked spurfowl, among others.
Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is one of the mysterious national parks located in the Northern Tanzania, Northeast of Arusha city. It is famous for being a home to the Tanzania’s second highest mountain, Mount Meru and the world’s largest population of giraffes. It covers 552 square kilometers. The park is home to over 400 species of bird. Arusha bird species include among others Common Ostrich, White-faced Whistling Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Vulturine Guineafowl, Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Flamingo, Great Crested Grebe, African Green Pigeon, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, African Palm Swift, Yellowbill and Grey Crowned Crane among others.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is not only popular for its classic mountaineering adventures but also rewarding bird encounters. Over 200 bird species exist in the varying habitats in this park. On birding tour, expect to find birds such as silvery-cheeked hornbills, speckled mousebirds, Mountain buzzards, crowned eagles, violent crested turaco, hartlaubs turaco, silvery cheeked hornbill, malachite kingfisher, lark heeled cuckoo among others. The birding spots here include the moorland areas of the Karanga Valley on the Machame Route and more.
When to visit Tanzania for birding tours
If you’re planning a birdwatching trip to Tanzania, you can enjoy it any time of the year. However, March, April, May, and November are the best months to go. During these times, many migratory birds come to Tanzania and settle in different areas, giving birdwatchers an excellent chance to see them along with the local species.
What to pack for birding tours in Tanzania
When getting ready for a bird-watching trip, it’s important to think about what to pack. Make sure to include a waterproof daypack to keep your things dry, a camera to capture the sights, and a light rain jacket in case of wet weather. Don’t forget a field guidebook to help identify the birds you’ll see, along with a good pair of binoculars. It’s also wise to bring long-sleeved shirts and trousers to protect against bugs and the sun, a safari hat for shade, and comfortable shoes that can handle walking, preferably waterproof. Lastly, pack bottled water and any other essentials you might need.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information about boat best birding destinations in Tanzania and then book with our tours and travel companies such as; Focus East Africa Tours who offer the best tour packages while on your safari in Tanzania.
