Wild Birding | Wild Tanzania: Endemics Birding Tour

Wild Tanzania: Endemics Birding Tour

per person

7.7 Superb

The first of its kind, this exciting birding tour is purely focused on finding the recognised endemic bird species of mainland Tanzania. It offers birders the opportunity to observe a high number of Tanzania’s mainland true endemics, as well as near-endemic species shared with East Africa and neighbouring countries in just 8 days.

This exciting endemic-focused birding tour has been designed to allow you see mainland Tanzania’s true and near-endemic bird species in a rather short period of of eight days. It allows you to visit Tanzania’s less ‘touristy’ areas in the endemic hotspots of northeastern Tanzania, including the exceptional Usambara Mountains.

The tour begins in the Mererani Maasai Steppe, where you’ll find the dry country specialists including the endemic Beesley’s Lark. As we travel southward through the West and East Usambara Mountains, with strategic stops at Mkomazi National Park and the South Pare Mountains, the focus remains on finding Tanzania’s endemic birds.

This tour covers a range of habitats from bushland to high-altitude tropical forests, including Important Bird Areas (IBAs), each harbouring its own set of endemic species.

*As this tour is focused on mainland Tanzania, an extension to see the endemics on Pemba Island can easily be arranged and would complement this trip well.

List of highlights:

Usambara Eagle-Owl
Usambara Hyliota
Usambara Nightjar
Usambara Thrush
Usambara Tailorbird
Usambara Weaver
Usambara Greenbul
Usambara Double-collared Sunbird
Usambara Akalat
Amani Sunbird
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird
Banded Green Sunbird
Banded Parisoma
Southern Grosbeak Canary
Southern Citril
Superb Starling
Golden-breasted Starling
Hildebrandt’s Starling
Forest Batis
Pygmy Batis
Taita Fiscal
Black-fronted Bush-Shrike
Blue-capped Cordon-bleu
Spotted Thick-knee
Half-collared Kingfisher
Red-tailed Ant Thrush
Sharpe’s Akalat
White-chested Alethe
Kurrichane Thrush
Spot-Throat
Hunter’s Cisticola
East Coast Boubou

Dappled Mountain Robin
Pale-breasted Illadopsis
Scaly Chatterer
Pink-breasted Lark
Hartlaub’s Turaco
Northern Grey Tit
Moustached Tinkerbird
Long-billed Tailorbird/Forest Warbler
Kretschmer’s Longbill
Coastal Cisticola
Taveta Weaver
Rufous-tailed Weaver
Fire-fronted Bishop
African Broadbill
Mombasa Woodpecker
Red-throated Twinspot
Oriole Finch
White-headed Mousebird
Sokoke Scops Owl
Taveta Golden-Weaver
Dapple-throat
Ayres’s Hawk-eagle
Southern Banded Snake Eagle
Purple-banded Sunbird
Green Barbet
Spotted Eagle-owl
Gorgeous Bushshrike
Hunter’s Sunbird
Black-bellied Sunbird
Tsavo Sunbird
South Pare White-eye
Bar-throated Apalis

Map:

Number of days

8

Expected bird count:

Over 350

Speed:

Medium – this tour was designed to be impactful, gaining a large count of endemics within a brief time.

Difficulty:

Medium – on-foot birding at Mererani Maasai Steppe, South Pare Mountains, and West and East Usamabara Mountains. Walking boots are essential.

When to visit:

Although generally birding is fantastic all year round, it is worth noting that trekking paths in the Usambara Mountains can become quite muddy during the rainy season. So, a visit from June to October, following the rains when it is much dryer is worth considering.

Sustainability:

At Wild Birding, our goal is to ensure that every birding holiday we create contributes positively to bird conservation efforts and local communities. Our determination to promote sustainable travel led us to become founding members of Tourism Declares Climate Emergency. As part of this commitment, we have established the world’s pioneering carbon scoring and offsetting framework for tailor-made holidays. Feel free to request us to carbon score your individual trip!

Price:

Our tailor-made birding tours are custom-designed for each client, making standard pricing difficult. Costs vary based on factors like accommodation, group size, duration, and specific locations. For a personalised quote that matches your taste and budget, please contact us with your requirements.

As an example, this Wild Tanzania: Endemics Birding Tour costs £1,800 per person, based on a group of 6 individuals staying in top-end mid-range safari lodges with shared twin rooms.

For our Set Departure Birding Tours, with fixed prices, please click the button below.

Tour Leader:

Issac is an avid birder, sound recorder, bird photographer, and field guide with a rich background in ornithology. Over the years, he has actively engaged in various citizen science projects, lending his expertise to bird mapping, nest watch programs, waterbird counts, and bird exploration expeditions. His insights have not only shaped co-authored semi-scientific papers but have also established him as a respected authority in the field.

In addition to his roles as a dedicated bird enthusiast, Issac played a pivotal role in founding the Tanzania Birders Community and the Kilusu Bird Club. These organisations have successfully united bird lovers across Tanzania, creating a collaborative space for participation in large-scale mapping projects. Issac introduced the innovative use of the Ebird app within the community, enhancing data collection efficiency and fostering widespread data sharing among members.

Issac’s passion for avifauna extends to his expertise as a bird sound recordist. His comprehensive collection of over 2300 bird sounds, meticulously cataloged on www.xeno-canto.org, stands as a testament to his dedication and keen ear. Many of these recordings have been instrumental in the development of cutting-edge birding applications, captivating birding enthusiasts globally.

Contributing to www.orniverse.com, Issac expertly describes and guides individuals through the breathtaking birding sites of Kenya and Tanzania. With nine years of invaluable experience as a field guide, he has led numerous successful birding tours, showcasing the expansive natural landscapes and diverse avian species found across Kenya and Tanzania. Issac’s knowledge, passion, and eagerness to share his expertise have made him a sought-after guide for those embarking on immersive birding experiences.

In summary, Issac is a dedicated bird enthusiast, versatile bird sound recordist, knowledgeable field guide, and accomplished bird photographer. His unwavering love for avian life and commitment to furthering citizen science significantly contribute to the understanding and conservation of birds in East Africa and beyond.

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Departure

Arusha
Included

Airport Transfers

Birding Telescope

Full board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Mineral Water

National Park Fees

Overnight In Top Safari Lodges

Professional Bird Guide

Professional Driver

Safari Vehicle

Updated Bird Checklist

WiFi