What is included in the Bird Photography Safari package?

The package includes park fees, all activities, accommodation, meals, transportation, taxes, and a professional guide.

Do I need professional photography gear?

Not necessarily. While professional gear is ideal, a good DSLR or mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens will be sufficient for excellent results.

When is the best time for bird photography in Tanzania?

The best months are from November to April when migratory birds are present and many species are in breeding plumage.

Can this safari be customized?

Yes! Kiliclimb Africa Safaris offers tailor-made itineraries to match your specific interests, preferences, and photography goals.

21 Days Tanzania Birding & Butterfly Safaris

safari Duration

Tour Type

Trip Overview

Embark on an unforgettable 21-day journey across Northern and Southern Tanzania, a land renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity. This tour combines the thrill of classic African safari landscapes with the delicate beauty of forests, woodlands, and highland ecosystems — making it a dream expedition for birders, butterfly enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, and nature lovers.

You will traverse iconic national parks such as Arusha, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Mikumi, and remote conservation areas, while exploring the globally significant Eastern Arc Mountains, including West and East Usambara, North and South Pare, Rubeho, and Ukaguru ranges. Each habitat is a treasure trove of wildlife, from rare forest-dwelling birds and endemic butterflies to elusive chameleons and small mammals.

This tour is both comprehensive and flexible, offering day and night excursions, walking trails, drives, and photographic opportunities at every step. It balances the excitement of big game viewing with the intricacies of forest biodiversity, ensuring a truly immersive and educational experience.

Tanzania Birding, Butterfly & Chameleons Spotting Tour – 21 Days of Immersive Wildlife Exploration

Duration: 21 Days
Departure: Any time of the year, tailored to your schedule and group size
Arrival/Departure: Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha
Tour Style: Private, flexible, and fully customizable
Accommodation: Standard Tourist Class or best available lodges in remote locations
Best Time to Visit: November through June; virtually all year-round for birding, butterfly, and chameleon spotting
Pace: Flexible, adapted to your interests and stamina

Tour Highlights

Birding: Discover over 400 species across diverse habitats, including forest endemics such as the Usambara Weaver, Uluguru Bushshrike, Rubeho Akalat, and Amani Sunbird, alongside savanna species like hornbills, turacos, bee-eaters, and raptors.
Butterflies & Moths: Explore rich montane and lowland forests, floodplains, and woodlands, photographing endemic and range-restricted species in vibrant colors.
Chameleon Spotting: Night walks in Usambara and Pare forests allow observation of endemic chameleons, including rare highland species restricted to the Eastern Arc Mountains.
Big Game & Mammals: Witness Africa’s classic wildlife in Arusha NP, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire, adding lions, elephants, buffalo, and giraffes to your photographic portfolio.
Night Walks & Night Drives: Experience nocturnal wildlife and forest inhabitants, from small mammals and insects to nocturnal reptiles, creating unique ecological encounters.
Conservation Awareness: Learn about the fragility of Eastern Arc ecosystems, endemic species, and ongoing conservation efforts, making your travel both enjoyable and impactful.

Trip Attractions

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your lodge in Arusha. Settle in, meet your guide, and enjoy a welcome orientation. Depending on arrival time, take a short walk on lodge grounds to familiarize yourself with local birds and butterflies.

Accommodation: Ngaresero Lodge
Activity: Arrival, meet and greet, light birding
WiFi: Yes

Day 2: Lodge Grounds Exploration

Spend the day walking the lodge grounds, perfect for close-up bird and butterfly photography. Capture vibrant species such as sunbirds, weavers, and forest-edge butterflies. This is an excellent day to acclimatize and learn bird identification techniques with your guide.

Accommodation: Ngaresero Lodge
Activity: Birding, butterfly photography
WiFi: Yes

Day 3: Arusha National Park & Mount Meru Base

Venture into Arusha National Park, with habitats ranging from montane forests to grassy savannas. Spot elusive forest birds, large mammals, and colorful butterflies. Photograph primates, hornbills, and woodland species, while enjoying the scenic backdrop of Mount Meru.

Accommodation: Ngaresero Lodge
Activity: Birding, butterfly, and big game photography
WiFi: Yes

Day 4: Transfer to Ngorongoro Highlands

Drive through scenic highlands, stopping for birding and butterfly walks around Gibbs Farm and nearby villages. Lunch at Gibbs Farm, renowned for its botanical gardens and natural diversity. Afternoon walks offer opportunities to observe montane forest birds and endemic butterflies.

Accommodation: Tloma Lodge
Activity: Birding and butterfly photography
WiFi: Yes

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater & Rim Forests

Experience Ngorongoro Crater, home to abundant wildlife including lions, elephants, and buffalo. Explore the crater rim forests, where endemic birds and butterflies abound. Photograph forest-dwelling species against dramatic crater vistas.

Accommodation: Tloma Lodge
Activity: Birding, big game, and butterfly photography
WiFi: Yes

Day 6: Tarangire National Park

Morning birding and butterfly hunts near your lodge. Afternoon drive to Tarangire National Park for classic safari experiences among majestic baobabs, savanna woodlands, and riverine habitats. Optional night drive introduces nocturnal species and forest-edge wildlife.

Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge
Activity: Day and night game drive, birding, butterfly photography
WiFi: Yes

Day 7-8: Sangaiwe Wildlife Management Area

Transfer to a remote conservation area, moving at a slow pace to maximize wildlife encounters. Explore village paths, forest edges, and butterfly-rich meadows. Photograph Miombo woodland birds and monitor endemic chameleons at night.

Accommodation: Sangaiwe Tented Camp
Activity: Birding, butterfly walks, slow-paced game photography
WiFi: Yes

Day 9-10: Rubeho–Ukaguru Mountain Ranges

Long drive through Dodoma to Gairo District, your base for exploring the Rubeho–Ukaguru Mountains. Trek forest trails to discover rare endemic birds like Rubeho Akalat and Amani Sunbird, alongside spectacular butterflies and moths.

Accommodation: Local Guest House
Activity: Forest birding and butterfly walks
WiFi: Yes

Day 11-12: Miombo Woodland & Mikumi Area

Explore Miombo woodlands, a unique habitat for specialized birds, butterflies, and small mammals. Optional visit to Kilombero floodplains for wetland species and endemic insects. Photographic opportunities abound in open woodlands and riverine areas.

Accommodation: Vuma Hill Tented Camp
Activity: Birds, butterflies, mammals, and scenic photography
WiFi: Yes

Day 13-15: East Usambara Mountains & Amani Nature Reserve

Drive to the lush East Usambara Mountains, a biodiversity hotspot. Over three days, undertake guided forest walks, butterfly hunts, and night excursions for endemic chameleons. Discover highland forest birds, rare moths, and nocturnal forest inhabitants.

Accommodation: Amani Rest House
Activity: Birding, butterfly photography, chameleon spotting, night walks
WiFi: Yes

Day 16-18: West Usambara Mountains

Morning birding and butterfly walks continue before transferring to the West Usambara Mountains, exploring additional forest zones. Night walks focus on endemic chameleons, while daytime trails reveal birds and insects unique to the sub-montane environment.

Accommodation: Mullers Mountain Lodge
Activity: Bird, butterfly, and chameleon exploration
WiFi: Yes

Day 19-20: South Pare Mountains & Mkomazi National Park

Morning transfer to South Pare Mountains, targeting additional endemic birds and butterflies. Proceed to Mkomazi National Park, where dry-country birds, reptiles, and savanna mammals offer a dramatic habitat shift. Enjoy scenic drives and photography in semi-arid woodland and scrub.

Accommodation: Elephant Motel (Day 19), Babus Camp (Day 20)
Activity: Birding, butterfly walks, wildlife photography
WiFi: Yes

Day 21: Mkomazi NP & Departure

Morning drive in the park offers a final opportunity to spot rare birds, rhinos, wild dogs, and endemic butterflies. After lunch, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight, concluding a comprehensive Tanzanian biodiversity adventure.

Activity: Final birding, butterfly, and wildlife drives
WiFi: Yes

Conservation & Educational Value

This tour highlights Tanzania’s ecological diversity, combining savanna, floodplains, Miombo woodlands, and montane forest habitats. By visiting Eastern Arc Mountains and remote conservation areas, travelers gain insight into:

Forest ecosystems that harbor endemic and threatened birds, butterflies, and reptiles.
The fragility of Eastern Arc forests under deforestation and habitat loss.
Conservation initiatives supporting eco-tourism and local communities.

This journey encourages a deep understanding of biodiversity and habitat interdependence, providing travelers with both unforgettable experiences and environmental awareness.

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