7 Days Northern Tanzania Birding Safari
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Duration
Tour Type
Explore Tours
Tour Overview
This 7 Days Northern Tanzania Birding Safari offers an exciting exploration of Tanzania’s famous northern safari circuit while focusing on the region’s rich birdlife, scenic landscapes, and diverse ecosystems. Tanzania is one of Africa’s leading birding destinations with more than 1,100 bird species recorded across savannah plains, wetlands, forests, volcanic highlands, lakeshores, and acacia woodlands.
The safari combines some of Northern Tanzania’s finest birding destinations including Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Serengeti National Park.
The safari allows travelers to experience a wide range of bird habitats including freshwater lakes, alkaline lakes, acacia woodland, montane forest, open grasslands, riverine ecosystems, and volcanic landscapes while searching for endemic species, migratory birds, raptors, waterbirds, and savannah specialists.
Apart from birding, the journey also offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities with possible sightings of elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, hippos, and several antelope species.
This safari is ideal for birders, wildlife photographers, naturalists, and travelers seeking a balanced Tanzania safari experience combining birds, wildlife, and East Africa’s spectacular scenery.
Tour Highlights
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Arusha
Day 2: Birding in Arusha National Park
Day 3: Transfer to Tarangire National Park
Day 4: Birding in Lake Manyara National Park
Day 5: Transfer to Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro
Day 6: Full day birding in Serengeti National Park
Day 7: Return to Arusha and departure
Tour Plan
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your driver guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.
Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a relaxed evening birding experience around the lodge gardens or nearby green areas where several woodland and urban bird species can already be observed.
Possible sightings include weaver birds, hornbills, sunbirds, turacos, and various flycatchers.
The cool atmosphere around Arusha and views of Mount Meru create a peaceful introduction to Tanzania’s northern safari region.
The rest of the evening is reserved for relaxation and preparation for the birding safari ahead.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to Arusha National Park for a full day birding excursion.
The park offers a remarkable combination of montane forest, open grassland, freshwater lakes, and crater habitats supporting a rich variety of bird species.
Possible sightings include narina trogon, silvery cheeked hornbill, Hartlaub’s turaco, crowned eagle, flamingos around Momella Lakes, and numerous forest and waterbird species.
The park’s scenic environment beneath Mount Meru provides excellent opportunities for photography and nature walks.
Wildlife sightings may include giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, colobus monkeys, and warthogs.
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, depart Arusha and continue toward Tarangire National Park.
The drive passes through scenic Maasai countryside, open savannah plains, and rural villages before reaching one of Tanzania’s richest birding and wildlife destinations.
Tarangire is famous for its large elephant herds, giant baobab trees, and excellent bird diversity supported by acacia woodland, wetlands, and seasonal river systems.
Arrive in the afternoon and proceed with an evening birding game drive toward your lodge.
Possible sightings include yellow collared lovebirds, Kori bustards, secretary birds, hornbills, bee eaters, ostriches, and several raptor species.
Wildlife sightings may include elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and impalas.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
After breakfast, depart for Lake Manyara National Park for a full day birding experience.
The park is well known for its groundwater forest, alkaline lake, acacia woodland, and escarpment scenery that support a wide range of bird species.
Possible sightings include flamingos, pelicans, storks, kingfishers, crowned hornbills, silvery cheeked hornbills, herons, and numerous migratory waterbirds depending on the season.
The lake shores and wetland habitats are particularly rewarding for aquatic bird species and photography.
Apart from birdlife, wildlife sightings may include baboons, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, giraffes, and the park’s famous tree climbing lions.
Lunch may be enjoyed within the park before continuing with afternoon birding activities.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
After breakfast, depart Lake Manyara and continue through the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward Serengeti National Park.
The drive offers spectacular views of the Ngorongoro Highlands, volcanic landscapes, crater scenery, and open plains while providing several opportunities for roadside birding.
Possible sightings along the route include augur buzzards, crowned cranes, secretary birds, ostriches, and several grassland species.
Arrive in Serengeti in the afternoon and continue with an evening birding game drive toward your lodge.
The Serengeti ecosystem supports numerous raptors, grassland birds, and migratory species alongside its famous wildlife populations.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
After an early breakfast, spend the day exploring Serengeti National Park through morning and afternoon birding game drives.
The Serengeti’s endless plains, river systems, rocky kopjes, and acacia woodland habitats support exceptional bird diversity.
Possible sightings include kori bustards, secretary birds, Fischer’s lovebirds, lilac breasted rollers, vultures, ostriches, hornbills, eagles, and several migratory bird species depending on the season.
The park is also one of Africa’s best wildlife viewing destinations with possible sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests.
Lunch may be enjoyed as a picnic within the park while surrounded by the beautiful savannah landscapes.
Continue with afternoon birding and wildlife viewing before returning to the lodge in the evening.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
After breakfast, begin the return journey toward Arusha.
The drive offers final opportunities to enjoy Tanzania’s northern landscapes, rural villages, and scenic countryside with occasional birding stops along the route.
Lunch will be enjoyed en route before continuing to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.
This marks the end of your Northern Tanzania Birding Safari.
Included/Exclude
• Accommodation and meals
• Ground transport in a safari vehicle
• Full-time English-speaking birding guide
• Park entrance fees
• Birding activities included in the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water during the safari
• International flights
• Visa fees
• Tips and gratuities
• Alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses
• Extra optional activities
