The Best of Tanzania's Birds and Wildlife

See the great migration of wildebeest

Image: Wildebeest migration - W. Wachira

Discover the best of Tanzania’s wildlife and birds. This tour is being offered in the dry season during the great migration of wildebeest in northern Tanzania.

Duration:
14 days

Group Size:
6 - 8 people

Tour Overview

This tour has been designed as a ‘best of Tanzania’s wildlife and birds’ and is being offered in the dry season at the best time to see the great migration of wildebeest in northern Tanzania. The tour is centred around the Serengeti where we will spend four nights, but will also include other iconic national parks which are world famous for their wildlife: Tarangire NP (large elephant herds), Mkomazi NP (Black Rhinoceros and African Wild Dog), Lake Maynara NP (tree climbing lions) and Arusha NP (black-and-white Colobus Monkeys). We will also visit Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world and Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world. The arrangements have been made to maximise your safety and comfort, using good quality, comfortable accommodation throughout and travelling in open roofed 4X4 Toyota Landcruiser safari vehicles.

(Funds will go towards sustainability projects in Kenya and Tanzania.)

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Tour Dates

Interested in this tour?

If you would like to book this tour, please submit and enquiry.

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Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Wednesday 24 July 2024 - Arrive Arusha

On our arrival at Kilimanjaro airport, we will be met by our guide and transferred to our hotel (around 30 minutes of driving on good roads) where if time allows, we can explore the area around our lodge. We will meet for a welcome dinner tonight where we will discuss plans for our Tanzanian adventure.

Accommodation: Mount Meru Game Lodge, Arusha (ensuite rooms)

Meals included: D

Day 2: Thursday 25 July 2024 - Arusha National Park

We will spend today in Arusha National Park driving in some areas and walking in others. This park surrounds Mt Meru, a prominent volcano, and the highland forest is home to Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys and Ochre Bush Squirrels. Other mammals here include African Buffalo, Common Waterbuck and Maasai Giraffe. Many highland bird species can also be seen here including the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Scaly Francolin, African Black Duck, Striated Heron, Mountain Wagtail, Grey-olive Greenbul, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Crowned Eagle, Mountain Buzzard, African Wood-Owl, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Rameron Pigeon, Hamerkop, Montane White-eye, Giant Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Peter’s Twinspot, Retz’s Helmetshrike, White-eared Barbet, Pallid Honeyguide, African Emerald Cuckoo, Taveta Weaver, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Ruppell’s Robin-Chat and Hartlaub’s Turaco.

Accommodation: Mount Meru Game Lodge, Arusha (ensuite rooms) as for last night

Meals included: B L D

Days 3 & 4: Friday 26 & Saturday 27 July 2024 - Mkomazi National Park

After some morning birding, we will leave Arusha and travel to Mkomazi National Park on the Kenyan border in the Kilimanjaro region. This amazing park is internationally recognised as a sanctuary for the Black Rhinoceros and African Wild Dog. Common Zebra, Maasai Giraffe, Savannah Elephant, Common Eland, and Common Impala are amongst 78 mammal species found here.

Birds are also plentiful (over 400 species recorded here), many of which also occur in the Tsavo Conservation Ecosystem of southern Kenya. Expected species include Black-faced Waxbill, Red-bellied Parrot, Pringle’s Puffback, Purple Roller, Golden-breasted Starling, White-headed Mousebird, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Black-bellied Sunbird, Tsavo Sunbird, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Black-throated Barbet, Pink-breasted Lark, Northern Brownbul, Dodson’s Bulbul, Red-fronted Warbler, Grey Wren-Warbler, Somali Crombec, Tiny Cisticola, Scaly Chatterer, Bare-eyed Thrush, Pygmy Batis, Mosque Swallow, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Taveta Weaver, Southern Grosbeak-Canary, White-bellied Canary, Somali Bunting, Von der decken’s Hornbill, Mouse-colored Penduline-Tit and Northern Grey Tit.

Accommodation: Mkomazi View Camp (ensuite tents) for two nights

Meals included: B L D each day

Days 5 & 6: Sunday 28 & Monday 29 July 2024 - Tarangire National Park

We will leave early today and head straight to Tarangire National Park, which is world famous for its populations of Elephants and Baobab Trees. Almost 3,000km2 of protected area is a haven for plains wildlife that inhabit the surrounding Maasai steppe. The park was established to protect the Tarangire River and act as a dry season refuge for the wildlife of the area. We will explore this area and get up close and personal with herds of elephant and other plains wildlife as we travel along the scenically beautiful Tarangire River.

Other mammals we expect to see here include African Lion, Ugogo Dik-dik, Banded Mongoose, Cape Buffalo and Cheetah. The local Acacia woodland is very graceful and full of birds. Highlight birds include Yellow-collared Lovebird, Woodland Kingfisher, Double-banded Courser, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Coqui Francolin, Pygmy Falcon, Brown Snake Eagle, Black Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Great Painted Snipe, Mottled Spinetail, Southern Ground Hornbill, Meyer’s Parrot, Bearded Woodpecker, Southern Red Bishop, Knob-billed Duck, Banded Parisoma, Miombo Wren-warbler, Green Woodhoopoe, Brubru, Magpie Shrike, Red and Yellow Barbet, Rufous-tailed Weaver and Ashy Starling.

We will take a night game drive one evening.

Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge (ensuite tents) for two nights

Meals included: B L D each day

Day 7: Tuesday 30 July 2024 - Lake Manyara to Karatu

This morning we will leave early and travel to nearby Lake Manyara, a pristine soda lake in the Rift Valley. Lake Manyara National Park offers a wilderness experience in diverse habitats, from its soda lake to dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. Apart from a spectacular setting, the park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, huge troops of Olive Baboons and the vast elephant herds it was established to protect. The shores of the lake attract more than 400 species of birds, many of them waterfowl or migrants and include vast flocks of Lesser and Greater Flamingos. Large herds of buffalo, occasional cheetah, Masai Giraffe and Impala roam the lake shores and the forested valley slopes. Vervet Monkey and Manyara Monkey can also be seen here. Lake Manyara protects the largest ground-water forest in the world while the Maji Moto hot springs are an interesting geological feature.

We will drive through the park from the south to the north throughout the day. Birds we should see here include Grey-olive Greenbul, Crowned Eagle, Purple-crested Turaco, Crested Guineafowl, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Grey Kestrel, Martial Eagle, Yellow-billed Stork, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Common Moorhen, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Slate-coloured Boubou, Goliath Heron, Superb Starling, Hildebrandt’s Starling and Great White Pelican.

We will then drive to the highlands of Karatu late this afternoon and take a night game drive this evening.

Accommodation: Bouganvillea Safari Lodge, Karatu (ensuite rooms)

Meals included: B L D

Days 8 - 11: Wednesday 31 July – Saturday 3 August 2024 - Serengeti National Park

This morning we will travel along the rim of the famous Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti National Park. We will spend 4 nights enjoying the beautiful birds and big game of the mighty Serengeti, splitting our time between Northern Serengeti and Central Serengeti, to maximise habitats and wildlife sightings. This park is one of the top conservation areas in the entire African continent and has been made famous in many books and films. The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word for 'endless plains' and in every direction you can see only flat grasslands dotted with wildlife. It is here, on the short grass plains of the Serengeti, where the wildebeest of the great migration choose to give birth. The mass of herbivores and their young attract the predators from all over the central and southern Serengeti.

Lions and Hyena from the central Serengeti travel tens of kilometres to spend their time here during this season, while the nomadic cheetahs follow the herds to this area; African hunting dogs that spend the dry season in the adjacent woodlands can often be seen hunting on the plains. As a result, there is wonderful opportunities for some spectacular predator action.

We will enjoy game drives as we transect this vast savannah and visit local wetlands and scrublands to boost our species lists. Other mammals we can expect to see here include the Savannah Elephant, Serval, Caracal, Naivasha Dik-dik, Maasai Giraffe, African Lion, African Buffalo, Defassa Waterbuck, Common Hippo, Leopard, Thomson’s Gazelle, Topi and Common Zebra. Bird highlights include Fischer’s Lovebird, Black Coucal, Steel Blue Whydah, Usambiro Barbet, Swahili Sparrow, Rufous Chatterer, Karamoja Apalis, Black-necked Weaver, African Scops-Owl, Temminck’s Courser, Black-winged Lapwing, Caspian Plover, Zitting Cisticola, White-tailed Lark, Tanzania Red-billed Hornbill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Magpie Shrike, Silverbird, Black-lored Babbler, Cape Teal, Saddle-billed Stork, Blacksmith Lapwing and Grey-breasted Spurfowl.

Accommodation: Mara River Gnu Migration Camp (northern Serengeti) and Thorn Tree Camp (Central Serengeti) ensuite safari tents for four nights total

Meals included: B L D each day

Day 12: Sunday 4 August 2024 - Olduvai Gorge Museum to Ngorongoro

Today we will travel to Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. Located on the eastern Serengeti Plain within the boundaries of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, this area was made famous by archaeologists Mary and Louis Leakey and provides the most continuous known record of human evolution during the last 2 million years and the longest known archaeological record of the development of stone-tool industries. Famous hominid discoveries here include ‘Nutcracker Man’, Zinjanthropus (now Paranthropus) boisei, Homo habilis and Homo erectus. We will learn of the archaeological work going on at the site in a very interactive way.

We will then continue wildlife viewing in the highland forest enroute to our lodge. We will enjoy spectacular views of the mighty Ngorongoro Crater from our lodge and spend some time birding there too. Expected species include Hunter’s Cisticola, Golden-winged Sunbird, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Black-fronted Bush-Shrike, Bar-throated Apalis, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Brown Woodland Warbler, Southern Citril, Thick-billed Seedeater, Brown Parisoma, African Olive Pigeon, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Waller’s Starling, White-naped Raven, White-headed Barbet and Schalow’s Turaco.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (ensuite room)

Meals included: B L D

Day 13: Monday 5 August 2024 - Ngorongoro Crater

Early this morning we will descend the steep wall of the world’s largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera, Ngorongoro Crater, which is one of the wonders of Africa. Located at about 2000m (over 6,550 ft) above sea level, this this crater is about 600m (almost 2,000ft) deep and a pristine natural forest, full of beautiful indigenous trees and Euphorbia succulents is nestled within it. Ngorongoro is thought to have formed around 2.5 million years ago from a large active volcano whose cone collapsed inward after a major eruption, leaving the vast, unbroken caldera as its main remnant.

Here, we find Africa's densest concentration of wildlife, attracted to the constant water present on the 100-square-mile crater floor of open grassland. Some 25,000 animals reside in the crater year-round, a veritable Eden of creatures thriving within an ecosystem of abundant resources. Among a multitude of species, we will look for Common Zebra, wildebeest, Grant’s Gazelle and Eland, and the lion, Cheetah, and Hyena that prey upon them. We're also likely to see Savannah Elephant, African Buffalo and Common Hippopotamus, and if we are exceptionally fortunate, we may spot an endangered Black Rhinoceros. Flocks of pink flamingos cover the soda lakes, while large land birds like ostrich and Kori Bustard roam the grassy plain. Other birds we may encounter today include Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Shelley’s Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Lyne’s Cisticola, Pied Avocet, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Black-bellied Bustard, Kori Bustard, Secretarybird, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Chestnut-banded Plover and Rufous-tailed Weaver.

We will spend a full day here before returning to our accommodation.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge as for last night

Meals included: B L D

Day 14: Tuesday 6 August 2024 - Local craft shopping to Arusha and depart

This morning we will have a relaxed morning at the Ngorongoro rim, adding some more sightings here, before cruising slowly back towards the town of Karatu. On the way, we shall have options to visit local crafts shops. In the afternoon, we shall proceed to Arusha and then transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for our flights home. Please don’t book flights that depart before 18:00.

Accommodation: none

Meals included: B L

Additional Information:

Inclusions & Exclusions

Additional Information

Terms and Conditions

Inclusions:

13 nights’ accommodation, transport for day and night tours in private open-roofed 4WD safari Toyota Landcruisers, with specialist licensed local guide with extensive big game, birding, nature interpretation and photography experience, site guides/wildlife rangers as outlined in the itinerary, all meals (B, L, D snacks and bottled water), species checklist, entry fees to National Parks, airport transfers on days of tour and guided walks as outlined in the itinerary and all internal taxes and charges.

Exclusions:

International and domestic airfares, visas, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and expenses of a personal nature (travel and medical insurance, phone calls, laundry, tips etc), personal & incidental expenses and any additional activities not mentioned in the above itinerary.

Additional accommodation: additional nights at Mt Meru Game Lodge in Arusha can be booked before and after the tour (eg 23 July and 6 August) for US$270 and US$175 per single bed and breakfast.

Tour price: The above price is based upon a minimum group size of 6 people. If the tour does not achieve minimum numbers, a small supplement may be charged. We would always discuss this with you beforehand.

The itinerary: Whilst we aim to follow the itinerary as planned, please note that the itinerary provided should only be used as a guideline. Depending on individual trip circumstances, weather, and local information, the exact itinerary may not be strictly adhered to. The guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary as they see fit.

Remoteness: For much of this tour we will be in a wonderful yet remote part of the world. Some of the roads are unsealed and rough. If you have medical conditions or health concerns, it is important you make us aware of these in advance of this tour.

We strongly recommend you take out travel and health insurance for this and all our tours.

There are terms and conditions relating to payments, cancellations, refunds, insurance and responsibility for our tours.

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     EXCELLENT  
     Based on 223 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
         John T 
 09/08/2024
 
 
 Verified Day birding tour to Sydney and the Royal National Park.
We were returning to NSW for a brief stay and really wanted to pick up two species of birds that we missed last time, so we contacted Inala Nature Tours who arranged a guide for us. We were picked up at our Sydney accommodation at 7am and we drove straight to Centennial Park where our first target, Powerful Owl, was roosting high in a tree. We had great views! From there we drove via the coast of Botany Bay to the Royal National Park, where we started our search for Rockwarbler. This took some time and two circuits of the cliffs at Wottamolla, but eventually the bird popped out right in front of us, but it was too quick for the camera. Andrew, our guide, supplied morning tea and a substantial picnic lunch and we enjoyed an excellent and fulfilling day birding. Thank you Andrew and Inala for arranging.
  
 
        Steve B 
 24/07/2024
 
 
 Verified Wildlife and rare plants
Highlight of a week in Tasmania. Had a delightful day, wandering around the gorgeous gardens than taking the afternoon wildlife tour. Great spot for bird-watching - I saw all four Tasmanina robins, plus the very rare and elusive Forty-Spotted Pardalote. Also abundant wallabies and pademelons. The Jurassic Garden has a stunning collection of plants including many rare ones. Highly recommended for nature lovers.
  
 
        Margaret N 
 08/07/2024
 
 
 Verified Wonderful birds great experience
We were on the SW Qld tour in June 2024 with Steve and Tonia as musterers, guides and drivers. This is our second Inala birding tour with Steve and it was as thorough and enjoyable as the first. Tonia was lovely to have along to keep us all in line and offer wonderful insights into plants and animals. There was a lot of travelling but the bonus was the birds, scenery etc. along the way. It was so green and lush that it was hard to imagine the country as dry and dusty. We saw around 180 species of birds, some very rare sightings and great views. We were well provided with food and the accomodation was good. The other travellers were a good bunch and the rotating seat system meant that we shared a day in one of the cars with each of them. Thanks again to all involved. We would never have gone to that part of Queensland by ourselves.
  
 
        Kristy-Ann D 
 27/06/2024
 
 
 Verified An absolutely fabulous outback QLD birding tour, highly recommended
Amazing bird life, scenery and experiences. It was a very well planned and coordinated trip to cover the distance and see the many varied and beautiful things we saw. The guides were fun, friendly, extremely knowledgeable and couldn't have done more to ensure we all had an amazing time. I also appreciated the small group size. I went for the bird life, but the scenery, butterflies and other wildlife were also incredible, not to mention a very interesting tour of the Eromanga Natural History Museum.
  
 
        Norman A 
 20/06/2024
 
 
 Verified Inala SW Queensland Bird Tour in June 2024.
I travelled on the Inala Nature Tours "2406 SW-Queensland Bird Tour" in June 2024. The small tour was well planned, organized and suitably paced. The Outback towns and places visited were both interesting and spectacular. The guides were patient, highly knowledgably and informative. We spotted over 170 Central Australian birds, which aren't normally accessible. The tour included a visit to a dinosaur museum and a wildlife sanctuary. Highly recommended for bird lovers.
  
 
        wyhuang 
 07/06/2024
 
 
 Verified Strongly recommended.
We booked 2 tours. (1) Day tour including nocturnal observation on Bruny Island: Cat was our guide. Very professional about birding and wildlife. We enjoyed the way she described the features, the behavior, the song/call of the birds. We saw many birds including most of the endemic birds. The nocturnal observation she led was also wonderful. Not only we encountered many endangered wildlife but also we knew more about their changes and the relationship with this island. She has great passion about wildlife and conservation. We learned a lot and got some birding trip advices from her. (2) Inala property tour: Joe was our guide. Very good at spotting birds and full of knowledge of birds and plants. Through his leading and introducing, we got deep understanding of Inala which has diversified environment and puts a lot of efforts for protecting plants and birds. Besides, we stayed overnight in Inala's cottage which is surrounded by forest and wildlife, very quiet, very cozy, and fully equipped. To sum up, we really love our stay and tours. Thank you Inala, Cat and Joe!
  
 
        rossfurbush 
 27/05/2024
 
 
 Verified Inala delivered on the wildlife and beyond.
Inala is a special place with special people. Inala Nature Tours at Bruny Island was recommended to me as the best bird watching in Tasmania...this was exactly right. They accommodated my odd schedule and helped me experience Tasmania wild life to the fullest. Cat was one of the best guides I've ever had; knowledgable, friendly, customer-oriented, and dedicated to conservation. Staying in the cottage was super cozy. I loved having a laundry machine and the breakfast supplies was particularly fresh. In just a quick visit, Inala showed me four raptor species including the all white Gray Goshawk, all but two Tasmania bird endemics, six mammals including the Eastern Quoll and the famed white wallaby, and of course the star of Inala, the endangered and rare Forty-spotted Pardalote. Thank you Inala for your conservation spirit and for making me fall in love with Tasmania!
  
 
        Ambassador811505 
 20/05/2024
 
 
 Verified Very informative.
We really enjoyed our 3 hr tour of Inala with our amiable and expert guide Cat showing us the reserve. Despite being out of season and a frosty morning we learnt a great deal and saw, and photographed, many birds including the ones shown here. I would recommend this experience to anyone interested in birds and the conservation of our threatened forests and wildlife.
  
 
        NJV 
 07/05/2024
 
 
 Verified A superb guided tour of Bruny Island wildlife
We highly recommend the Inala/Bruny Island full day and night nature tour. We are avid birders and our guide, Cat, was superb. Her expertise in bird ID, as well as mammalian wildlife and botany, was outstanding. The tour gave us special insight into the beauty and richness of Bruny Island, and we really enjoyed Cat's company as well as her expert guidance.
  
 
        Juliet T 
 21/04/2024
 
 
 Verified A very special visit to Inala
What an incredible guided tour of Inala with our bird guide Cat. As someone new to birding I was unsure how I would go, but Cat’s clear & precise instructions meant I saw so much more than I imagined possible. Cat was very knowledgeable about the local history & ecology of the property and we very much enjoyed her company. Such a thrill & privilege to be able to visit this very beautiful part of Bruny Island. Look forward to another visit next time we’re in Tassie

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Inala Nature
320 Cloudy Bay Road, Lunawanna
South Bruny Island 7150
Tasmania, Australia

Travel Vault policy certificate number:
EV2203UKFI0166

Phone: +61 3 6293 1217

NATURE TOURS NATURE RESERVE ACCOMMODATION INALA FOUNDATION JURASSIC GARDEN T & C's

Inala Nature acknowledge and pay respects to the palawa people as the traditional and original owners, and continuing custodians of this land, lutruwita, and acknowledges Elders - past and present. Inala Nature Tours and the Inala Foundation Inc are located on lunawanna- alonnah, also known as Bruny Island, the traditional land of the Nuenonne people.

The Best of Tanzania's Birds and Wildlife

See the great migration of wildebeest

Tour Overview

Tour Dates

Interested in this tour?

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Wednesday 24 July 2024 - Arrive Arusha

Day 2: Thursday 25 July 2024 - Arusha National Park

Days 3 & 4: Friday 26 & Saturday 27 July 2024 - Mkomazi National Park

Days 5 & 6: Sunday 28 & Monday 29 July 2024 - Tarangire National Park

Day 7: Tuesday 30 July 2024 - Lake Manyara to Karatu

Days 8 - 11: Wednesday 31 July – Saturday 3 August 2024 - Serengeti National Park

Day 12: Sunday 4 August 2024 - Olduvai Gorge Museum to Ngorongoro

Day 13: Monday 5 August 2024 - Ngorongoro Crater

Day 14: Tuesday 6 August 2024 - Local craft shopping to Arusha and depart

Additional Information:

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