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.

31 Days Private Tanzania Birding Safaris - Kiliclimb Africa Safaris

31 Days Private Tanzania Birding Safaris

safari Duration

Tour Type

Trip Overview

Grand Tanzania Birding – The Anniversary Route

Birding, Photography & Big Game | 31 Days Private Safari – Departs Anytime

This comprehensive 31-day private safari is the ultimate immersion into Tanzania’s remarkable biodiversity. Traversing diverse ecosystems from the highlands of Arusha to the tropical forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and from the vast savannahs of the Serengeti to the pristine beaches and endemic-rich forests of Pemba Island, this tour offers unmatched opportunities for birding, wildlife photography, and big-game encounters.

Tour Location & Duration: 31 Days, Ground Only
Arrival/Departure Ports: Kilimanjaro International Airport (Arusha) & Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam)
Featured Destinations: Lake Victoria, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Arusha, Lark Plains, Mkomazi NP, West & East Usambara Mountains, Pemba Island, Mikumi NP, Udzungwa Mountains, Kilombero Flood Plains, Miombo Woodlands, Ruaha National Park.
Highlights: Rare Lake Victoria waterbirds, northern and eastern Tanzanian endemic birds, the Big Five, forest specialists, Miombo and Acacia woodland species, Kilombero Flood Plains endemics, island endemics, urban coastal birding in Dar es Salaam, and countless photographic opportunities.
Best Time to Visit: Year-round; peak birding November–April for migratory species, May–October ideal for savannah game viewing.
Travel Pace: Flexible, tailored to group size and style.
Accommodation: Standard tourist lodges to eco-friendly medium tented camps and the best available lodges in remote mountainous regions.

Trip Attractions

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to Korona Villa. Settle in and enjoy a restful evening preparing for the adventure ahead.

Overnight: Serengeti boma

Day 2: Arusha National Park

Meet your expert field crew at 8:00 AM. Begin with birding and wildlife photography in Arusha National Park, a compact but diverse park with montane forests, wetlands, and open savannahs. Expect to see a mix of forest and savannah species while also spotting giraffes, zebras, and buffalo. Late afternoon return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Serengeti boma

Activities: Birding, photography, big-game viewing.

Day 3: Arusha to Serengeti via Lake Victoria Region

Depart at 7:00 AM, driving west toward the Serengeti via Lake Victoria. Limited birding stops along the way as the goal is to reach the Serengeti for afternoon exploration. Picnic lunch en route. Upon arrival, enjoy your first wildlife and birding excursions near your tented camp.

Activities: Optional bird walk around camp, scenic drive, photography.

Day 4: Serengeti National Park

Full day in the Serengeti, with a focus on photographing big cats, elephants, and endemic savannah birds. Expect to see predators and prey in dramatic landscapes, providing endless photographic opportunities.

Activities: Big-game viewing, photography, slow-paced birding.

Day 5: Serengeti to Lake Victoria

Drive through the Western Corridor of the Serengeti toward Lake Victoria, birding along the way. Lake Victoria’s shoreline offers special waterbirds and wetland-dependent species.

Activities: Big-game viewing, photography, birding.

Day 6: Lake Victoria Birding

Spend the day exploring the lodge grounds and surrounding wetlands, capturing images of endemic and migratory species unique to this region.

Activities: Bird walks, photography, big-game viewing.

Day 7: Lake Victoria to Ngorongoro Crater

Drive to Ngorongoro Crater, enjoying a picnic lunch en route. Explore the crater floor for the endangered black rhino, elephants, and diverse bird species. Ascend the crater walls and continue to Tloma Lodge on the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Overnight: Farm of dreams lodge

Activities: Big-game viewing, photography, slow-paced birding.

Day 8: Ngorongoro Highlands & Tarangire

Optional morning bird walk in the highlands for montane species, then visit Gibbs Farm for feeder birds. In the afternoon, drive to Tarangire National Park, famous for its elephant herds and iconic baobabs.

Overnight: Siafu Serenity Lodge

Activities: Bird walks, hikes, photography.

Day 9: Tarangire National Park

Spend a full day exploring the baobab-studded savannahs. Elephants often feed from baobabs, providing dynamic photographic opportunities alongside numerous endemic and migratory birds.

Activities: Big-game viewing, birding, photography.

Day 10: Lark Plains

Depart Tarangire for the Lark Plains north of Arusha. These dry-country habitats host endemic larks and other specialized birds.

Activities: Birding, photography in Acacia woodlands.

Days 11–12: Mount Meru, Maasai Steppes & Mkomazi National Park

Pre-breakfast bird walks near Mount Meru, then drive east through Maasai Steppes targeting dry-country species. Continue to Mkomazi NP, where Miombo and thornbush woodlands offer excellent birding opportunities along with occasional mammal sightings.

Activities: Birding, photography, light mammal viewing.

Days 13–15: West Usambara Mountains

Ascend South Pare and West Usambara Mountains, searching for highly localized endemics such as Usambara Weaver, Usambara Akalat, and South Pare White-eye. Forest trails provide close-up encounters with forest specialists.

Activities: Endemic birding, forest photography.

Days 16–18: East Usambara & Amani Nature Reserve

Continue to East Usambara Mountains and Amani Nature Reserve. Focused birding for endemic species including coastal specialists. Optional coastal walks or guided forest treks enhance photographic opportunities.

Activities: Endemic birding, photography, forest exploration.

Day 19: North East to Southern Tanzania Transit

A long transit connecting northern highlands to southern forests, with scheduled stops for birding along the Tan-Zam Highway.

Activities: Transit birding, photography.

Days 20–21: Miombo Woodlands & Mikumi National Park

Early morning and mid-day bird walks in Miombo woodlands, seeking Miombo-specialist species. Continue to Mikumi NP for combined birding and big-game photography.

Activities: Woodland birding, big-game viewing, photography.

Days 22–23: Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Flood Plains

Drive south into Udzungwa Mountains and Kilombero Flood Plains. Explore dense forests and floodplain habitats to document rare endemics and forest birds. Hiking in the Udzungwas provides both birding and primate encounters.

Activities: Forest birding, hiking, photography.

Days 24–27: Ruaha National Park

Drive to Ruaha, where multiple days of extensive birding and big-game safaris take place. Miombo and Acacia woodlands, riverine forests, and savannah plains offer one of the richest photographic landscapes in southern Tanzania.

Activities: Birding, big-game viewing, photography.

Days 28–30: Pemba Island

Fly to Dar es Salaam and transfer to Pemba Island. Explore pristine forests, mangroves, and coastal habitats to observe island endemics such as Pemba Scops Owl, Pemba Sunbird, and Pemba Green Pigeon. Enjoy optional nocturnal birding or relaxation on white sand beaches.

Activities: Island birding, endemic species photography, beach relaxation.

Day 31: Departure

Catch a local flight to Dar es Salaam via Zanzibar for onward international departures. Reflect on an extraordinary journey spanning the full spectrum of Tanzanian ecosystems.

Tour Highlights and Special Experiences

Witness over 1,000 species of birds, including rare endemics from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Lake Victoria, Miombo woodlands, and Pemba Island.
Photograph Tanzania’s Big Five in combination with extraordinary birdlife.
Hike through dense forests in the Usambara and Udzungwa Mountains for close encounters with rare forest birds and primates.
Explore remote flood plains and wetlands, home to specialized waterbirds and papyrus-dependent species.
Experience coastal island endemics on Pemba Island, one of the most biodiverse tropical islands in the Indian Ocean.
Enjoy private, flexible travel with accommodation ranging from comfortable lodges to eco-tented camps in pristine locations.