Our Northern Tanzania
safari blends the very best that is East Africa. The forests,
lakes and savannas of East Africa teem with birds, including a suite
of Serengeti endemics. But the focus will also be on mammals and
we’ve timed this tour to coincide with the great Wildebeest
migration through the central Serengeti, and stand a good chance
of finding many of the predatory cats of the region too.
The Serengeti is a timeless landscape,
where countless millions of animals have migrated to pastures green
over the years under the watchful eye of tribesmen and the looming
mountain Kilimanjaro. Here too lies Oldupai Gorge, where evidence
of humankind’s most ancient ancestors have been found. The
Ngoronogoro crater captures a microcosm among its high walls and
offers a unique sanctuary for scarce animals such as the Black Rhino.
Tanzania's mountain endemics
have only been seen by a handful of dedicated birders. Join us in
finding difficult-to-find endemic and scarce species in the relatively
unexplored south of the country. We will visit the Eastern Arc Mountains
(including the Udzungwas and Ulugurus) and Pemba.
Tanzania still offers a wild authenticity
that has perhaps been dulled in its much more popular neighbour
Kenya, titlehough it is fast becoming known as the safari destination
in East Africa.
We also offer tailormade birding
and bird and mammal tours that include Selous, Ruaha, the Usumbaras
and the South Pare mountains. Please ask about our trip reports.
Featured Leaders: Callan Cohen
Callan recommends: This tour
is well suited to world listers, because we see a very high proportion
of endemic birds, as well as wildlife enthusiasts because we make
a special effort to see large mammals.
Callan Cohen
founded Birding Africa 12 years ago and has written two books on
birding in Africa, including the definitive birding site guide to
southern Africa and Madagascar. Callan has over 20 years of birding
experience in the region.
* Price per person sharing a
room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, printed
booklet with species lists, boat trips as indicated on the itinerary,
road transport, guide fees, entry fees for the parks, reserves and
botanical gardens, full board accommodation. Not included: international
flights, drinks, optional tips, and items of a personal nature.
* Price per person sharing a
room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, printed
booklet with species lists, boat trips as indicated on the itinerary,
road transport, guide fees, entry fees for the parks, reserves and
botanical gardens, full board accommodation. Not included: international
flights, drinks, optional tips, and items of a personal nature.
Practical tour information
Focus
For keen birders and mammal enthusiasts. Designed
to see as many as possible endemic birds and mammals, but while
on the walks we spend a lot of time looking for other aspects
of wildlife such as the myriad of chameleons, geckos, butterflies
and interesting plants. We can customise any itinerary to suit
to the keen birder, the wildlife enthusiast or both. Adding
a Zanzibar extension is possible too.
Photography
Many participants on our trips are amateur wildlife photographers.
And when we get excellent views of a bird or mammal, some time
is usually spent watching and photographing it. However, this
is not a photographic tour and once the majority of the people
have felt that they have absorbed the animal or bird to their
satisfaction, then we move on in search of the next encounter.
Thus, while the photographic opportunities
are very good, the group will only occasionally wait for somebody
who wants to spend even longer getting better photos.
Fitness
No fitness is required. We will spend much time in the National
parks where most birding must occur from the vehicle or from
a hide. Elsewhere, walks are generally short and in relatively
flat areas with occasional small inclines.
Timing
May, or as desired
Climate
Hot in the lowlands, cool at night in the highlands.
Comfort
A good standard of accommodation in lodges and luxury tented
camps.
Black Rhinoceros, African Elephant,
Blue Wildebeest, Serval Cat, Leopard, Cheetah, Lion, Guereza
Colobus, Samango Monkey, Harvey's
Red Duiker
Booking
Please email
us if you wish to book. You will receive the booking form
and conditions and a tour information pack.
About Birding Africa
Birding Africa is a specialist birding tour
company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed
holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies,
dragonflies, botany and other natural history aspects and will guide
you to Africa's and Madagascar's most diverse birding destinations.
Our guides' knowledge of African
birds and birding areas is our greatest strength and together we
have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations with the
birding community and had a fun time exploring our home continent.
We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best
birds. Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and
we are dedicated to making professional, best value trips filled
with endemic species and unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997,
we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders,
small birding groups and top international tour companies. We've
run Conservation Tours
in association with the African Bird Club and work with and consult
for a number of other top international tour companies and the BBC
Natural History Unit.
