Bird Watching Safari in Tanzania: Visiting Tanzania is an experience to all the senses. After landing in Tanzania, you will be struck by the rich plethora of bird calls – an iconic part of the nature in Tanzania. The country’s diversity in climate, altitude and region creates multiple habitats for a wealth of resident and migratory birds. From sunbirds to hornbills and from flamingoes to falcons, you will not be disappointed by our birding safaris in Tanzania.
A birding safari in Tanzania is like a normal safari with fantastic game-viewing, but with a focus on the birdlife. Our guides, both bird and game experts, will help you discover a world of fascinating fauna and flora. Birding safaris are for you, whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced bird enthusiast. No mater your level of interest, some things are guaranteed, like exceptional bird and game-viewing. If you are a photographer and nature lover this experience is for you.
A bird watching safari in Tanzania is perfect for early birds, nature lovers and photographers.
Birds in Tanzania
Where to Experience Bird Watching Safari in Tanzania
From savannahs to highlands and forested lake shores – Tanzania’s diverse ecosystems are home to an equally diverse number of birds. You can go bird watching on the northern, southern, or western circuit. Two of the most popular parks for birding in Tanzania include Tarangire National Park in the north and Ruaha National Park in the south.
When to Go on a Bird Watching Safari in Tanzania
Bird watching can be fantastic all year round. However, depending on the time of the year, you will see different types of birds in Tanzania. The best time to go on a birding safari will also depend on other things you want to see and do in Tanzania. If you want to see large mammals on your safari or end your trip with a beach stay on Zanzibar, this will affect your timings for your bird safari.
Dry Season
June to Late October – The best time to watch resident birds at the water sources
Generally, the best time for bird watching in Tanzania is the dry season from June to October. For example, from August to September, Lake Natron becomes a breeding ground for over 2.5 million flamingos. This rainless period guarantees that a large variety of birds flock to water sources and it makes for great bird-watching. The best weather makes all parks accessible, giving you plenty of choice of where to go. This is also the most popular time of the year to go on a classic Big Five Safari, looking for mammals congregating at the few available water sources.
Green Season
May to March – Ideal for watching nesting birds. Migration birds return from November to March
There are two rainy seasons in Tanzania: November to March are the months when migratory birds return to East Africa and from March to May, the wet season, nesting occurs. Going bird watching in the rain can show you a different side of the birds’ behavior. Also, they often sit more still, trying to shelter from the rain – a good opportunity for photographers. Luckily rain in Tanzania usually doesn’t last all day and you can still enjoy sunny hours during your trip. However, classic game watching of large mammals can be more difficult during the rainy season as vegetation is dense and animals scatter in the vast national park.
Which birds can you see in Tanzania?
With its vast differences in region, climates and season, Tanzania is a bird watching paradise. On top of every African bird-spotting-list should be the king of all African birds. No, not the Kingfisher, the black-and-white Sacred Ibis, or the regal looking and endangered Grey Crowned Crane, but the Hamerkop – a species of bird that falls between the herons and the stalls.
The Hamerkop – as African-legend goes is the king of all African birds with the ability to control the rains and the flooding of the rivers.
Apart from a distinct hammer-shaped head, they are not very spectacular. Nor is their false mounting display regal. They were crowned King, partly because every other species of bird brings a contribution to help to construct their extraordinary large nests, which can take three-months to build.
Silver birds, Grey Kestrel, and Egyptian Geese visit the nest and appear, to a passerby, to help build it. Watch them for longer and you will discover that these birds use Hamerkop nests as a building supplier and take material for their own needs.
The Hamerkops legendary status is reinforced by their unique post-mating behavior of never stopping adding to the riif of their nest and fascinatingly, they decorate their royal palace with warthog tusk, porcupine quills, snake skins and even wildebeest-tails.
The legend as the king has been cemented in time thanks to Africa’s largest owl, the Verreaux’s Eagle owl, who nests in the top of abandoned Hamerkop nests. Believed to have super natural powers, these huge and beautiful birds seemingly guard the palace of the king.
Other birds in Tanzania
Whilst not as beautiful as the common ostrich, the Lilac-Breasted Roller or the Livingston’s Turacos; or as powerful as Bateleur Eagle or the Fish Eagle; or intriguing as the display of the Long-tailed Window bird and the nesting behavior of the African Grey Hornbill (Females cement themselves into a tree-hollow for five weeks to incubate their eggs); or not as crucial to the savannahs as the many carrion birds, such as the White-backed Vulture (whose numbers have halved in the last 50 years), the Hamerkop with their large decorated nests will always be known as the King of African birds who has control of the rain.
Not only that, but their annual abandonment of the nests create homes for a vast number of birds, reptiles and small mammals.
Join one of unique bird watching tours to Tanzania to discover, learn and be amazed by the prolific birdlife found here.
What to bring on your bird watching safari in Tanzania?
- A pair of binoculars
- A good hat
- A pair of sunglasses with polarized lenses to reduce glare, protect your eyes and provide additional clarity.
- A pocket notebook for any field notes.
- And most importantly, a good guidebook for identifying East African birds. We recommend the following two books
