Day 1
ARRIVAL IN ARUSHA
We’ll be met on arrival by our representative and transfer directly to our first lodge, which will be our base for two nights. Night Arusha.
Day 2
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
Arusha lies at the base of two of East Africa’s great peaks, Mounts Kilimanjaro and Meru. Our first full day in Tanzania will be spent exploring areas at the foot of these mountains, Many of the birds here are completely different to those we will see later in the trip and we’ll hope to enjoy the likes of Narina Trogon and Hartlaub’s Turaco. We’ll see our first large mammals today too, with African Buffalo and Giraffe to watch for in the more open areas. Night Arusha.
Day 3
LARK PLAINS TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Today we’ll explore the arid grassy plains in the rain shadow of Mt. Meru, where we’ll search for one of Africa’s rarest birds, Beesley’s Lark. This comical and highly social lark is restricted to a tiny patch, which is highly susceptible to climate change. The area is also excellent for wheatears and sandgrouse and we may even find the White-headed Mousebird in some bushy habitat nearby. We’ll then head further south, to Tarangire National Park, which is synonymous with African Elephant and is also home to some of the birds that are endemic to this part of the world: the striking Yellow-collared Lovebird is common here, while Ashy Starling and Rufous-tailed Weavers abound too. Night in Tarangire National Park.
Day 4
TARANGIRE TO NGORONGORO CRATER RIM
We’ll spend the morning exploring Tarangire National Park, taking a wildlife drive to the south. We’ll encounter the tremendous diversity of hornbills, woodpeckers, rollers and weavers that make African savanna birding so rewarding – and perhaps see our first big cats. Returning to our lodge, we’ll have time to savour close views of a variety of birds that frequent the camp, such as White-bellied Go-away-bird and Hildebrandt’s Francolin.
After lunch at the lodge, we’ll head up into the vast Serengeti-Ngorongoro ecosystem. One of the world’s great natural amphitheatres, it really is impossible to convey in words the feeling of awe and privilege one experiences in these vast, timeless landscapes with their abundance of wildlife. In all, we shall spend just short of a week here.
First, we’ll drive up steep slopes of the Ngorongoro caldera - the crater of an ancient, collapsed volcano - that looms above the plains. The rim of the crater presents a completely different habitat to the grasslands down below, being cloaked in forest and heathland. In contrast to the lowlands, the crater rim is like a mountain top, its fairy-tale forests of huge, gnarled trees draped in “old man’s beard” swirled in daily mists. Here we’ll search for Schalow’s Turaco, with its distinctive long pointed crest, in the emergent tree canopies, while gorgeous Golden-winged Sunbirds forage for patches of upland flowers. We’ll spend tonight at a lodge on the crater rim, before descending the next morning to explore the crater floor. Night Ngorongoro Crater Rim.
Day 5
NGORONGORO CRATER
The Ngorongoro crater floor is justly famous as a natural sanctuary for the wildlife within. It is also the only reliable place in East Africa to see Black Rhinoceros, but the whole is like a microcosm of Africa, with a good population of large mammals, including Lion and Cheetah. Small lakes inside the crater hold a selection of flamingos, storks and plovers, while an array of raptors, such as Augur Buzzard, may also be seen and there’ll be no shortage of other excitements to keep us fully occupied here today. In the evening we will return for a second night at our lovely lodge on the crater rim and gaze back down at the unique sights we have experienced earlier in the day. Night Ngorongoro Crater Rim.
Days 6 - 8
CENTRAL SERENGETI
Looking westwards, the plains of the Serengeti stretch away to the horizon. We’ll head out of the crater and across the plains, hoping to encounter the migrating herds as they move towards the central Serengeti. En route, the Olduvai gorge museum is a world-famous archaeological site where the Leakey family unearthed the remains of some of Man’s earliest ancestors. It adds a sense of time and respect to think that the spectacle stretching out in front of us has been going on for countless generations.
We head northwards to the central Serengeti. There are more trees here, offering a larger diversity of birds – and our best chance of spotting a Leopard! Usambiro Barbet, Superb and Hildebrant’s Starlings, Silverbird, Ruaha Red-billed Hornbill and Grey-headed Silverbill are just some of those we should see as we explore the riverine loops, wildlife drives and rocky outcrops of this rewarding area. If we’re lucky, we’ll also find the little-known Karamoja Apalis and possibly encounter family groups of Grey-crested Helmetshrikes - though the floppy crests of this latter species are definitely outdone by Long-crested Eagle, just one of several different species of eagle we also hope to find.
The largest concentration of wildebeest should be present in this area, and while their exact position can never be predicted, we are highly likely to see some huge migrating herds - indeed, some areas can literally teem with animals as far as the eye can see! It is difficult to describe the sense of energy that one gets when surrounded by these hordes of grunting animals and the predators that accompany them. The herds are dominated by Blue Wildebeest (also known as Brindled Gnu), but also contain vast numbers of Common Zebra and Thompson’s Gazelle. With so many potential meals on the hoof, it will come as no surprise to discover that the vulture watching is excellent here too, highlights being the huge Lappet-faced Vulture and the scarcer Rüppell’s Griffon. Three nights central Serengeti.
Day 9
CENTRAL SERENGETI TO NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
From the central Serengeti, we head southwards to Ndutu. Renowned for its concentrations of wildlife, Ndutu is an excellent base to explore the southern ‘short-grass plains’ and we’ll spend the night here.
Endemic Serengeti birds are common around our lodge, with Fischer’s Lovebirds breeding in tree-cavities in the grounds and Grey-breasted Francolins displaying in the mornings out in front of the rooms. Kori and Hartlaub’s Bustards frequent the plains, and nearby Lake Masek is excellent for waterbirds. We may well encounter a pride of engorged Lions, lazily scattered around the previous night’s kill, as scavenging vultures, hyaenas and jackals wait patiently for an opportunity to snaffle some scraps. With luck, we could even come across a Cheetah chasing Thompson’s and Grant’s Gazelles over the open plains. Night Ndutu.
Day 10
NDUTU TO LAKE MANYARA ESCARPMENT
We travel eastwards to Lake Manyara, the last stop on this wonderful tour, where we’ll explore this afternoon and again the following morning. Manyara nestles beneath the dramatic cliffs of the East African rift valley and is perhaps most famous for its large concentrations of flamingos. However, the extensive forests and grasslands also hold an abundance of other birds and wildlife. Silvery-cheeked Hornbills and Blue Monkeys quarrel over fruit in the treetops and these groundwater forests are also home to such stunners as Purple-crested Turaco and Narina Trogon. Secretarybirds, Black-bellied Bustards and a host of cisticolas patrol the grasslands, while the acacia scrubs hold the rather vocal Spotted Palm Thrush and small ‘duetting’ groups of D’Arnaud’s Barbets. Again, these grasslands can be good for Cheetah and we might also come across the region’s famous tree-climbing Lions. Night on the escarpment at Lake Manyara.
Day 11
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK TO KILIMANJARO
We’ll spend this morning searching for birds and mammals in Lake Manyara National Park. After lunch, it will be with great reluctance that we must make the three-hour drive back to Kilimanjaro Airport, to catch the overnight flight back home.
