Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

Departing: May 2027 - May 2027

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park host over two million large mammals and approximately 500 bird species, including ostriches, secretary birds, black eagles, larks, and kori bustards. The Rift Valley’s Lake Manyara is a vital habitat for over 300 bird species, featuring three endangered Tanzanian birds: the rufous-tailed weaver, ashy starlings, and black-collared lovebirds. Its shoreline often showcases vast flocks of salmon-pink flamingos, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Other notable birds along the lake’s floodplains include the Crowned Plover and Grey Crested Crane. Tarangire National Park boasts the highest bird species count among Tanzania’s parks, representing about a third of the country's total. Each destination offers unparalleled birdwatching opportunities amid breathtaking landscapes.

Included

Explore Serengeti National Park & Tarangire National Park, with entrance fees included
All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
Professional Tour Manager
2 nights at the Arusha Planet Lodge, Arusha, 1 night at the Tarangire Safari Lodge, Manyara Region, 2 nights at the Farm of Dreams Lodge, Karatu, 2 nights at the Tame Tamu Camp, Serengeti & 1 night at the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro (hotels subject to change)
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 8 dinners
Transport in 4x4 safari land cruiser with the services of an English-speaking guide
Private air-conditioned coach travel

Highlights

Game drives in Tarangire National Park
Full-day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
Exploring the Serengeti National Park
Full day in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Sue Pomeroy

Having studied Horticulture in places ranging from New Zealand to Chile. Her personal garden is open to the public and it has featured in Country Life and Gardeners’ World.

Tour Itinerary

Join our arrival transfer from the airport or meet your tour manager and fellow travellers that evening at our hotel.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge

Day 1 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

After breakfast, we drive to Tarangire National Park, the sixth largest national park in Tanzania spanning 2,600 square kilometres and home to a staggering 550 different species of birds, including three endangered Tanzanian species. The floodplains in the parks southern and eastern parts are breeding grounds for many Eurasian migrants. As we spend the day driving the rugged terrain of the park, we have the chance to see some notable inhabitants such as hornbills, brown parrots, yellow-necked spurfowl, bee eaters and guineafowl. The park also hosts an impressive collection of raptors, including bateleaur eagles, steppe eagles, giant lappet-faced vultures and the pygmy falcon.

Aside from the bird viewing, we may also see some of the parks other residents, including the large herd of elephants who call the park home, buffalo, lions and antelope.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge

Day 2 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

We spend this morning exploring the Tarangire National Park and the abundance of wildlife it has to offer. We later continue to our Lodge in Karatu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge

Day 3 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

We head to the Serengeti National Park today, Tanzania’s most famous national park. Spanning over 30,000 square kilometres, the park is home to an impressive two million ungulates, 4,000 lions, 1,000 leopards and 550 cheetahs. As well as the ‘Big 5’, over 500 bird species also call the park home, including the wonderful lilac-breasted roller and three endangered Tanzanian species: grey-rumped spurfowl, Fischer’s lovebird and the rufous-tailed weaver.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Farm of Dreams Lodge

Day 4 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

A full day’s game drive in the Serengeti National Park awaits, where we may have the chance to see some other interesting birdlife such as ostriches, secretary birds, black eagles and kori bustards to name but a few. From our lodge, centrally located within the park, we may have the chance to see the natural phenomenon of the Wildebeest migration, where huge herds follow the availability of fresh water and verdant grazing grounds. The central area of the Serengeti is home to the Seronera River, which is a natural boundary between the rolling grass plains of the south and the woodland of the north, making it a rich ecosystem with frequent sightings of lions, cheetah and leopards in the area.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Farm of Dreams Lodge

Day 5 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

We enjoy a morning game drive in the Serengeti National Park today before heading to our lodge, conveniently located on the Ngrorongoro crater rim with stunning views.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tame Tamu Serengeti

Day 6 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

We descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera. The area is of significant importance for biodiversity conservation as there is a high presence of globally threatened species. The crater is home to numerous carnivores including lions, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards, jackals and the elusive serval cats. There is also a population of the endangered wild hunting dogs, which are rarely seen and can be very elusive. The area is a paradise for birdwatchers with annual migratory birds from Europe and Asia, grassland birds, ground-nesting birds, tree nesting birds, water birds and birds of prey. Some of the avian species we may see on our game drive include Northern anteater chat, rufous-napped lark, capped whater, Fischer’s sparrow lark and grassland pipit. The woodland areas of the park are also home to tree nesting birds such as superb starling, rufous-tailed weaver and the African white-backed vulture. The soda lakes of the conservation area also provide breeding ground for flamingos, ducks, waders and herons. We later continue to our lodge in the Karatu district.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Tame Tamu Serengeti

Day 7 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

We enjoy a morning at Lake Manyara National Park, which sits sandwiched between shores of the lake of its namesake and the Great Rift Valley. The shores in the spring are tinged with vast flocks of pink flamingos, who head to the shallow shorelines of the lake for feeding. The park is home to over 300 species of birds, three of which are endangered Tanzanian species: rufous-tailed weavers, ashy starlings and black-collared lovebirds. The forests of the Lake Manyara National Park are also home to silvery-cheeked and crowned hornbill’s, emerald cuckoos and crested guineafowl. Later, we continue to Arusha.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Airport Planet Lodge Arusha

Day 8 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airport where your tour ends.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 Birdwatching & Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

Accommodation

Located in Arusha, the Arusha Planet Lodge makes for a convenient base at the beginning and end of our tour. It features an outdoor pool, a restaurant, bar, free Wi-Fi in public areas, lush gardens with views of Mount Meru and African-style chalets with air-conditioning and mosquito net.

Popular for its location in one of Tanzania's national parks, the family-run Tarangire Safari Lodge offers panoramic views, open-air dining room, lounge bar with free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, boutique shop and safari tents with thatched roofs and mesh-screened windows with a private bathroom and veranda.

Farm of Dreams Lodge, located in the picturesque town of Karatu, is a fantastic base for the renowned Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park. Nestled amidst lush gardens and rolling hills, the lodge offers a tranquil retreat with an outdoor swimming pool, bar, restaurant, free Wi-Fi in public areas and comfortable en-suite rooms with tea and coffee-making facilities, safe and veranda.

Nestled in the heart of the Serengeti National Park, Tamu Tamu Camp offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of the African savannah, strategically located to provide easy access to wildlife viewing. You can expect a cosy lounge area, dining area, fire pit to enjoy the night sky and tented rooms with en-suite bathrooms and a private veranda with lovely views of the surrounding landscape.