Wild Tanzania: Endemics Birding Tour
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 TransfersBirding TelescopeFull board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)Handpicked Top AccommodationLed by our Professional Bird Guide & Tour LeaderMineral WaterNational Park FeesProfessional DriverUpdated Bird ChecklistVehicleWiFi
Our gallery
A few photos from our previous tours
Lark Plains
South Pare Mountains
South Pare Mountains
West Usambara
West Usambara
East Usambara
East Usambara
East Usambara
East Usambara/Departure for Arusha or Dar es Salaam
