14-Day Northern Tanzania Birding and Wildlife Safari
Spend extended time birding Serengeti and Tarangire, explore Ndutu and Ngorongoro, then search the Lark Plains and Mererani on a two-week Tanzania safari.
About this tour
The northern Tanzania circuit allows repeated field time in Serengeti and Tarangire while retaining dedicated days for highland forest, crater wetlands and dryland specialties. Fourteen days connect Arusha with central Serengeti, Ndutu and the Ngorongoro highlands before returning through Tarangire. The final outings explore the Lark Plains and the Maasai Steppe rather than ending immediately after the major safari parks.
Arusha National Park opens the birding with a varied combination of forest, water and open vegetation. From there, a picnic-lunch transfer leads to central Serengeti. Two complete days and a further morning provide time to search the plains and wooded patches without making every stop part of a transfer. Grey-breasted Spurfowl is one of the possible birding highlights, and game viewing runs alongside the search for birds.
At Ndutu, the route covers short grassland, woodland and the lakes, adding sandgrouse, bustards, waterbirds and possible Fischer’s Lovebird. Wildebeest calving is a seasonal feature associated with roughly mid-December to March, rather than a promise for every departure. The Ngorongoro stage combines rim birding with the crater floor, followed by a morning on the Endoro Cave forest trail.
Tarangire receives two full days and a final morning, with attention to acacia habitats, riverside woodland and the birds of the open plains. Ashy Starling and Yellow-collared Lovebird are among the specialties. After returning to Arusha, the Lark Plains and Mererani bring a further change in birdlife; a short Shambarai Swamp visit precedes the airport drop-off. Overnight stays are in lodges or camps, and several transfers follow a hot lunch at the accommodation. Exact bird encounters and seasonal wildlife movements vary.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Tanzania.
Guides
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival and introduction
Meet the field team and transfer to a lodge near Arusha. An early enough arrival allows a first look at the birds around the accommodation.
Day 2
Arusha National Park
Spend the day moving between montane forest, wetland, lakes and open habitats. Ducks, trogons, starlings and sunbirds provide a varied introduction, alongside possible sightings of giraffe, buffalo and forest monkeys; return to Arusha overnight.
Day 3
Birding journey to Serengeti
Carry picnic lunches for the drive to central Serengeti. Birding stops break up the journey, with arrival expected late in the day.
Day 4
Serengeti grasslands and kopjes
Explore the plains and rocky outcrops during the first of two full days in Serengeti. Search for Grey-breasted Spurfowl, starlings, larks and other open-country birds while watching for large mammals.
Day 5
A second Serengeti field day
Continue birding and game viewing across Serengeti's grassland and woodland habitats. Additional time allows searches for birds missed the previous day, including possible barbets, helmetshrikes and sparrows.
Day 6
Central Serengeti to Ndutu
Bird central Serengeti during the morning, returning to camp or lodge for a hot lunch. Later, travel toward Naabi Hill and into the Ndutu area for the next overnight stay.
Day 7
Ndutu plains, woodland and lakes
Dedicate the day to Ndutu's short grassland, wooded areas and the shores of lakes Ndutu and Masek. Look for sandgrouse, bustards, weavers and Fischer's Lovebird; wildebeest calving is seasonal, described for approximately mid-December through March.
Day 8
Crater rim and Ngorongoro floor
Watch the highland vegetation for birds before descending into Ngorongoro Crater. On the floor, concentrate on waterfowl, flamingos, rails and weavers, then overnight at a lodge around Karatu.
Day 9
Endoro trail to Tarangire
Use the morning for forest birding along the Endoro Cave trail in the Ngorongoro highlands. Return for a hot lunch before the drive to Tarangire, arriving late in the day.
Day 10
Tarangire woodland search
Explore the park's acacia and riverside woodland as well as open plains. Ashy Starling and Yellow-collared Lovebird are among the specialties to seek, with elephants and baobabs part of the surrounding landscape.
Day 11
Another full day in Tarangire
Continue searching Tarangire for birds across its woodland and open habitats. Hornbills, coursers, raptors and owls feature among the possibilities, without fixed guarantees of individual sightings.
Day 12
Tarangire morning and Arusha
Spend the morning birding before returning to the lodge for a hot lunch. Drive back to Arusha in the afternoon and settle into the lodge in the evening.
Day 13
Lark Plains and acacia country
Visit the Lark Plains and nearby woodland to search for localized larks and other dryland birds. The outing also offers opportunities for mousebirds, warblers, raptors and weavers before another night in Arusha.
Day 14
Mererani, Shambarai and departure
Explore the arid Maasai Steppe around Mererani for sunbirds, starlings and other dry-country specialties. Make a brief waterbird stop at Shambarai Swamp before the drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Locations & map
- Arusha - Tanzania
- Arusha National Park - Tanzania
- Serengeti National Park - Tanzania
- Ndutu - Tanzania
- Ngorongoro Crater - Tanzania
- Karatu - Tanzania
- Endoro Cave Trail - Tanzania
- Tarangire National Park - Tanzania
- Lark Plains - Tanzania
- Mererani - Tanzania
- Shambarai Swamp - Tanzania
Availability & pricing
Availability: Available on request
Price: Price on request
Included
- Entry fees for non-resident visitors at the listed parks
- Listed activities and ground transport, excluding optional upgrades
- Accommodation specified for the safari
- Meals described in the itinerary
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Professional birding driver-guide
- Tour taxes
- Local beer, wine, soft drinks and mineral water during the safari
- Round-the-clock operator support
Not included
- International flights
- Extra nights before or after the safari
- Gratuities; suggested amount USD 10 per person per day for guide and crew
- Personal purchases, travel insurance and visa fees
- Later government increases in taxes or park charges
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.