Birding in Tanzania

Richard Knocker is for the birds – and so is this safari! Born on a farm in Kenya, Richard has run a safari camp on the edge of the Maasai Mara, and Kusini Camp on the western edge of the Serengeti Plains. It was here that Richard gained much of his knowledge and experience of the Serengeti and introduced his trademark walking trips in the surrounding areas, his specialty since the late 1990s. He looks forward to sharing that knowledge with you as you discover the wealth of birdlife and wildlife in Tanzania. An optional extension is also available to some less traveled spots of Southern Tanzania

Days 1/2 - New York/Arusha

Board your flight in New York. The next morning connect in Europe with your flight to Tanzania. Upon arrival in Arusha this evening you are met by your expert naturalist/birder, Richard Knocker, and escorted to your lodge. SERENA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. (Meals Aloft, D)

Days 3/4 - Serengeti National Park/Grumeti

This morning fly to the Grumeti River area of the Serengeti’s Western Corridor. Here, life’s possibilities seem as infinite as the endless variety of wildlife you will see. Each year, more than a million wildebeest, accompanied by thousands of zebras and other herbivores, cross the Serengeti in search of fertile grasslands. Due to the variety of habitats, birds exhibiting great adaptations may be observed. Vultures are highly represented with their un-feathered heads and vary in size from the little Egyptian Vulture to the huge White-backs and Lappet-faced Vultures. Each morning you will be awakened moments before the first light by birdsong as tea or coffee is brought to the porch of your tent. KIRAWIRA CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)

Day 5 – Serengeti National Park

Continue your exciting wildlife viewing as you drive towards the Serengeti Serena Lodge – a superb area for seeing lion, leopard, cheetah, and their prey. The open grassland is home to large groups of Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, spotted hyena, jackal, and a large variety of birds. Visit the Serengeti Research Station and go on a guided nature walk at the Serengeti Nature Trail onto a granite kopje to learn about the Serengeti habitat and the research projects that attract international scientists. The architecture of your simple, but stunning lodge is inspired by a traditional African village. SERENGETI SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)

Days 6/7 – Olduvai Gorge/Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Drive to Olduvai Gorge, where in 1959, Mary and Louis Leakey found 1.7-million-year-old Zinjanthropus and Homo Habilis (Handyman). In the adjacent museum, see many of the site’s prehistoric stone tools and fossils. Continue to your lodge perched on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage site. The crater is home to more than 25,000 larger animals, mostly zebra and wildebeest and over 600 bird species. The next morning descend 2,000 feet by land cruiser to the crater floor – the best place to see black rhino in Tanzania and black-maned lions. Resident ostriches, Crowned Cranes, and Kori Bustards are joined seasonally by migrant flocks of White and Abdim's storks. NGORONGORO SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)

Day 8 – Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is next, an ornithological paradise with over 350 species of birds. Watch as Verreaux's Eagle, a variety of vultures, storks, swifts and swallows wing their way atop the spectacular cliffs overlooking the lake, which, at 3,150 feet, varies in salinity levels with wetter and drier climate cycles, and at times it is replete with flamingos, pelicans, storks and cormorants. You may also see wildebeest, impala, giraffe, zebra, and the elusive tree-climbing lions. Tour Mto Wa Mbu, a modern village, and lunch on traditional Tanzanian dishes served under banana trees. LAKE MANYARA SERENA LODGE. (B,L,D)

Days 9/10 – Tarangire National Park

Journey across the gently rolling countryside adorned with majestic baobab trees to Tarangire National Park, home to huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, elephant, eland and oryx, and over 300 bird species. Endemics include Ashy Starling, Yellow-collared Lovebird and the Rufous-tailed Weaver. Your luxury tented camp's proximity to Tarangire National Park allows nature walks, extended bush trekking with rangers and exciting night drives. A true ecotourism project, proceeds from this camp are shared by the Maasai homestead you’ll visit. KIKOTI CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)

Days 11/12/13 - Ruaha National Park

Fly to Ruaha National Park. Its location within the “transvergence zone” between northern and southern hemispheres is fundamental to its diversity – there are over 1,600 plant species as compared to 600 in the northern parks. Ruaha's woodlands provide a wide range of habitats to the 400 species of birds. Skimmer birds swoop along the Great Ruaha River in search of tiny minnows and hippos cavort in the deeper pools. Eurasian migrant birds flock along the banks, to share feeding grounds with the resident kingfishers, bee-eaters, and sunbirds. RUAHA RIVER LODGE. (B, L, D Daily)

Days 14/15 – Dar Es Salaam/New York

One last morning game run in this spectacular park before flying to Dar es Salaam. A dayroom will be provided for you at the GOLDEN TULIP HOTEL. Later, return to the airport for your overnight flight to Europe and home. (Meals Aloft)

Optional Ornithological Extension
Extend your ornithological adventure with more exciting birding in southern Tanzania from the Kilombero Valley with over 300 bird species to trekking in the rainforest of Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Bird in the montane forests of the Uluguru Mountains, part of the Tanzania-Malawi Mountains Endemic Bird Area and experience more exciting game drives in Mikumi National Park and Selous Game Reserve.

Your Safari Includes:

Roundtrip air transportation between New York and Arusha and Dar es Salaam.
Domestic flights within Tanzania as specified and train on the extension.
Superior accommodations throughout.
All meals as specified.
All wildlife viewing by private land cruiser, driven by a naturalist guide. A window seat is guaranteed.
Richard Knocker will escort the group with a minimum of 10 travelers, or by special arrangements at additional cost.
A maximum of 6 passengers per land cruiser.
Complimentary bottled water in vehicles.
All applicable hotel and lodge taxes and gratuities.
All game park entry fees.
Complimentary backpack, baggage tags and passport wallet.