Top rated Birding destinations in Tanzania : Tanzania is a vast, unspoiled wilderness with the second-biggest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Victoria, which is home to 400 different species of birds and Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the seven summits. It’s also regarded as one of the world’s greatest locations for seeing the wildness, which includes Tarangire, Manyara, Arusha, and Serengeti National Parks.
Large rivers meander across the wide savannah grasslands, shrubs, and other terrain features found in Tanzania national parks. The Secretary Bird, uncountable vultures, eagles, and hawks, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Gabon Nightjar, Lilac-breasted Roller, Ground Hornbill, Red-throated Tit, Sooty Chat, and a variety of larks, pipits, and widowbirds are just a few of the amazing array of birdlife that can be found in these parks. African Finfoot, Livingstone’s and Ross’s Turaco, Giant Kingfisher, Blue Flycatcher, Double-toothed Barbet, and the uncommon Pel’s Fishing Owl can be found in the dense riverine forest that borders the Mara and Talek rivers. Meanwhile, Lake Natron serves as the feeding ground for the world’s largest population of Lesser Flamingos, estimated to number in the millions.
Top rated Birding destinations in Tanzania : Serengeti National Park
This excellent ecosystem continues into Kenya’s Maasai Mara, the region’s oldest and biggest wildlife park, spanning more than 250 000 square km. The Maasai phrase for “flat endless plains” is Siringet, now known as the Serengeti. Yes, the only things limiting you from seeing the freely moving wildlife in Serengeti region are your eyes, scopes, and binoculars.
October through June and December through May are the times when wildebeest migrate. A sight that even the most ardent birdwatcher will find impossible to miss is the annual gathering of over a million large mammals, including grazers and carnivores, at this time of year for breeding. The Serengeti “shall never die” is the only location in East Africa with the greatest density of wildlife. The Grey-breasted Spurfowl and Fischer’s Love Bird are two Tanzanian indigenous bird species that can be found in the Serengeti. The Usambiro Barbet, Yellow-throated Sand Grouse, Silverbird, and any number of other unique species are found only in the Serengeti.
Top rated Birding destinations in Tanzania : Ngorongoro Crater
It could be a dream: men in red, brandishing spears, emerge from the mist of the morning, and watch as an antelope crashes out of the forest, a herd of buffaloes moves towards a herd of indigenous cattle led by a lone Maasai herdsman, and gazelles, zebras, and wildebeest cross the plains, keeping an eye on a pride of lions lazing in the grass, while a hyena poses as it is watching a flock of thousands of pink flamingos on the crater lake. The Garden of Eden must be where we are. A member of Safari said with a laugh. Visit the unique natural home in Africa where a permanent concentration of wildlife resides, and see for yourself.
This is referred to as the Eden of Africa, Noah’s Ark, the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and so on. This terrain is inhabited by the Maasai pastoralists, who may be seen grazing cattle, buffalo, calves, and antelopes beside them. The Maasai are known for their cattle, vegetation, and fauna. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is made up of around 30,000 Mammals, 600 Bird Species among the unique bird species of the day to watch out for while in the Ngorongoro are the Jackson’s widow bird, the Endemic Rufous-tailed weaver, the Golden-winged Sunbird, the Tacazze Sunbird, and the Livingstone’s Turaco. A massive earth fissure, crater floors, volcanoes, grasslands, lakes, woodlands, the Olduvai Gorge Archaeological Site, and the enormous Rift valley wall.
Top rated Birding destinations in Tanzania : Arusha National Park
There are plenty to see in Arusha National Park like the Black and white Colobus Monkeys, Momella Lakes, Mt. Meru (4500M), Ngurodoto Crater—a tiny crater with walls of forest that is about two kilometres wide and a few feet deep—and all types of large African wildlife—aside from lions and rhinos. This is one of the best birding safari in Tanzania destinations with numerous species of sedentary birds, such as the Maccoa Duck, Lilly troters, Yellow-billed Stork, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Hertlaub’s Turaco, and Giant Kingfisher, among hundreds of other species.
Top rated Birding destinations in Tanzania : Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is a photographer’s dream come true since the river flows through breathtaking gorges and stately trees, and it is considered a birdwatcher’s paradise with 350 kinds of birds that are not found in northern Tanzania. Ruaha National Park is home to the newly discovered Ruaha Red billed (also known as Tanzania Red billed) Hornbill, another endemic species in Tanzania.
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa, is shared by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda and is sometimes referred to as the continent’s inland sea. In 1858, renowned explorers such as John Hanning Speke found Lake Victoria while exploring Africa. Only found in Lake Victoria are the Red-chested Sunbird, Northern Brown-throated and Slender-billed Weavers, Night Jars, Senegal and Blue-Headed Coucals, Black-headed Gonolek, and other waders and shorebirds to add to your list. It would be a pity for any serious birdwatcher to visit the Serengeti and miss these delicacies by just travelling as far west as Lake Victoria.
Lake Natron
Situated on the Eastern Rift valley level, Lake Natron is a small soda lake that stretches 58 km south of the Kenyan border. For the majority of the Lesser Flamingo population worldwide, it is the most significant breeding site (Phoeniconaias minor), and its arid surrounding habitat presents special opportunities for Buff-crested Bustard (Eupodotis gindiana), Spike-heeled Lark (Chersomanes albofasciata), and other species, especially if one traverses across country towards Mt. Longido and West Kilimanjaro plains. Additionally, mammals like Gerenuk, Steenbok, and occasionally Lesser Kudu benefit greatly from it.
Lake Manyara
This is the meeting point of the worlds of botanists, florists, and birdwatchers. There are many different types of flora, from plain savannah grassland to monotonous woodland vegetation. This is your chance to see nature’s bounty; see lions that climb trees, zebras, Maasai giraffes, and breathtaking views of the magnificent Lake Manyara. As you go closer to the lake, there is a lot of bird life to be seen. You can see a variety of gulls, as well as blue napped mouse birds and vulturine Guinea fowl.
Usambara Mountains
One of Tanzania’s hidden treasures is this mountain range. The Usambara Forests, which are located on Africa’s north coast, are a remnant of the vast tropical forests that formerly covered the continent from the Atlantic to the Indian Oceans. They resemble West African woods more than those in East Africa. The majority of the endemic species to Tanzania and the Usambara woodlands should be of interest to birdwatchers. These species include the Usambara weaver, Usambara eagle owl, and Usambara alethe. Known for hosting famous birds such as the green-headed oriole, Amani sunbird, bar-tailed and Narina trogons, and Fischer’s turaco, this is one of the greatest spots in East Africa to witness them.
Other top Birding destinations are;
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Lake Eyasi
- Lake Tanganyika
- Rubondo Island National Park
