Birding in Tanzania

Our Tanzania birding safaris offer some of the best chances to see animals and birds in East Africa. For many nature enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, and birdwatchers, Tanzania is synonymous with the Serengeti National Park. For good reason. Without a sure, this is one of the best spots in Africa to see animals. The vast grasslands and savannas of Kenya’s Serengeti National Park and the nearby Maasai Mara are home to a wide variety of fauna, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, servals, and lesser cats.

Birds among the monsters is an odd sight. Naturally, there is also the massive gnu, or wildebeest, migration. This wonder of animal life is centered in the Serengeti. The diversity of bird life that inhabits the Serengeti is another breathtaking aspect of the area. Fischer’s Lovebirds can be seen foraging in small groups, perched in acacia trees, or soaring low over the grassland. East Africa is home to a profusion of brilliantly colored birds, such as Rosy-patched Bush-shrikes and Excellent Starlings.

Serengeti is a more secluded and frightening place for East African endemics like the Grey-crested Helmetshrike and the Red-throated Tit. Whatever the case may be, the Serengeti and the neighboring Maasai Mara in Kenya offer a multitude of birding experiences.

Strangely enough, a lot of Tanzanian native birds just squeak by on their route to Kenya. Thus, one can observe both the common bird species of East Africa and those unique to northern Tanzania, such the Rufous-tailed Weaver and Ashy Starling. Many of the most well-known birds in Africa find sanctuary in the Serengeti. These comprise the largest eagle in Africa, the Secretary bird, the heaviest-flying bird in the world, the Martial Eagle, owls, eight vultures, and the vibrant and acrobatic Bateleur, one of the most recognizable eagles on the continent.

South of the popular tourist routes, in the breathtaking Eastern Arc Mountains, you’ll find the Afromontane woods, where most of Tanzania’s rare birds call home. Species of these birds are also found in areas where their range is limited, such as northern Mozambique and Malawi. While most nature lovers and wildlife photographers head to the north of the country—where the tourism infrastructure is excellent and where you can see big game and a plethora of colorful birds—we do travel south on many of our birding tours in Tanzania, including our most popular 19-day tour.

Countless endangered bird species call Tanzania’s breathtaking montane forests, perched on the flanks of majestic peaks in the Eastern Arc Mountains range, home. Being typical forest birds, they are more difficult to spot than the acacia woodland species found in northern game parks, Tarangire National Park, and the Serengeti Plains.

Bird Safaris in Tanzania is at its best from November through April, when migratory birds from Europe and northern Africa descend on the country. At this time of year, a lot of the birds in the area are nesting and in their breeding plumage. Some parts of the country get storms every day in March and April, making those months the wettest overall. In addition, the wettest part of the year occurs at this period. This can cause the beach to get uncomfortably hot. The dry season is ideal for animal viewing.