14 Days Southern Tanzania Birding Expedition

After breakfast, depart Dar es Salaam and begin the journey toward Nyerere National Park, formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve.

Nyerere National Park is one of Africa’s largest protected wilderness areas and supports exceptional bird diversity across river systems, wetlands, woodlands, and open savannah habitats.

The drive passes through rural villages, miombo woodland, and scenic countryside before reaching the park.

Arrive in the afternoon and proceed with an evening birding game drive toward your lodge.

Possible sightings include African fish eagles, lilac breasted rollers, hornbills, bee eaters, saddle billed storks, and several raptor species.

Wildlife sightings may include elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, and antelope species.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, spend the day exploring Nyerere National Park through morning and afternoon birding game drives.

The park’s wetlands, riverbanks, woodland habitats, and floodplains support a remarkable variety of bird species.

Possible sightings include Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmers, palm nut vultures, kingfishers, fish eagles, jacanas, herons, and numerous waterbirds.

The miombo woodland habitats also support rollers, barbets, hornbills, woodpeckers, and flycatchers.

Lunch may be enjoyed as a picnic within the park while surrounded by scenic wilderness landscapes.

Continue with afternoon birding before returning to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, continue birding within Nyerere National Park focusing on riverine habitats and wetland systems.

Later, proceed for a boat excursion along the Rufiji River where close observation of aquatic birdlife becomes possible.

Possible sightings during the excursion include African skimmers, fish eagles, kingfishers, cormorants, pelicans, herons, storks, and bee eaters nesting along the riverbanks.

Hippos, crocodiles, and elephants are also commonly seen near the water.

The peaceful river environment creates excellent opportunities for bird photography and wildlife observation.

Return to the lodge in the evening for relaxation.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, depart Nyerere and continue toward Mikumi National Park.

The journey passes through scenic landscapes and rural communities before reaching the open savannah plains of Mikumi.

Mikumi National Park supports excellent populations of savannah birds and wildlife within grassland and acacia woodland habitats.

Arrive in the afternoon and proceed with an evening birding game drive.

Possible sightings include secretary birds, ground hornbills, bustards, rollers, hornbills, and several raptor species.

Wildlife sightings may include lions, zebras, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, and wildebeests.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, spend the day birding within Mikumi National Park.

The park’s open plains, wetlands, and woodland habitats support numerous savannah bird species and migratory birds.

Possible sightings include yellow throated longclaws, ostriches, secretary birds, Kori bustards, hornbills, bee eaters, eagles, and weaver birds.

The Mkata floodplain is especially rewarding for waterbirds and grassland species.

Lunch may be enjoyed within the park before continuing with afternoon birding activities.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, continue toward Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

The park is famous for its tropical forests, waterfalls, endemic bird species, and rich biodiversity.

Arrive in the afternoon and settle into your lodge near the forest.

Depending on arrival time, enjoy a short forest birding walk around the lodge surroundings and nearby trails.

Possible sightings include green headed orioles, forest flycatchers, sunbirds, and turacos.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, spend the day birding within Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

The montane forests and tropical habitats support several endemic and near endemic bird species unique to the Eastern Arc Mountains.

Possible sightings include Udzungwa forest partridges, Rufous winged sunbirds, dapple throat, forest batis, and several forest specialists.

Apart from birds, the forest also supports primates such as the endemic Sanje mangabey and Iringa red colobus monkeys.

The lush forest environment and waterfalls provide excellent opportunities for photography and nature exploration.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, depart Udzungwa and continue toward Ruaha National Park.

Ruaha is Tanzania’s largest national park and one of East Africa’s finest wilderness destinations, supporting exceptional bird diversity and wildlife populations.

The journey passes through scenic highlands and rural landscapes before reaching the park.

Arrive in the afternoon and proceed with an evening birding game drive toward your lodge.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, spend the day exploring Ruaha National Park through morning and afternoon birding game drives.

The park’s river systems, baobab woodlands, open grasslands, and rocky landscapes support numerous bird species.

Possible sightings include ashy starlings, yellow collared lovebirds, hornbills, rollers, bustards, eagles, vultures, and various raptors.

Ruaha is especially rewarding for raptor observation due to its remote wilderness environment and abundant prey species.

Wildlife sightings may include elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, buffaloes, and antelope species.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, continue exploring additional birding areas within Ruaha National Park.

This extra day allows more time to search for difficult species and explore different habitats within the park.

Birding may focus on riverine vegetation, woodland habitats, rocky escarpments, and open plains depending on species targets and recent sightings.

The peaceful wilderness environment offers excellent opportunities for immersive birdwatching and photography.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, depart Ruaha and continue toward Kitulo National Park.

Known as the “Garden of God,” Kitulo is famous for its montane grasslands, wildflowers, and high altitude bird species.

The scenic journey passes through beautiful southern highland landscapes before reaching the park.

Arrive in the afternoon and settle into your lodge.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day birding experience within Kitulo National Park.

The montane grasslands and high altitude habitats support several endemic and localized bird species.

Possible sightings include Denham’s bustards, mountain marsh widowbirds, pipits, cisticolas, sunbirds, and several highland grassland specialists.

The cool climate, flower covered plains, and mountain scenery create a peaceful and rewarding birding environment.

Lunch may be enjoyed as a picnic within the park before continuing with afternoon birding activities.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, begin the return journey toward Dar es Salaam.

The drive offers final opportunities to enjoy Tanzania’s southern landscapes, local communities, and scenic countryside with occasional stops for refreshments and photography.

Lunch will be enjoyed en route before continuing to Julius Nyerere International Airport for your departure flight.

This marks the end of your Southern Tanzania Birding Expedition.