This 12-day Southern Tanzania Birding Safari starts and ends in Dar es Salaam. You will visit several birding destinations, including Ruaha National Park, Mikumi National Park, the Udzungwa Mountains, the Kilombero Valley, and Nyerere National Park. Expect to see many bird species such as the Pale-billed Hornbill, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Violet-crested Turaco, Plovers, Kingfishers, Sunbirds, Bee-eaters, and Egrets.
As of August 2019, Tanzania was recognized as one of the best bird-watching destinations in Africa, with around 1,114 bird species recorded. Of these, 30 are endemic, 44 are accidental, and 4 have been introduced by humans.
Tanzania has one of the highest bird counts in Africa and represents about 10% of the world’s total bird population.
12-Day Tanzania Birding Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Selous Game Reserve
- Day 2: Full-day game drive in Selous Game Reserve
- Day 3: Nature walk and birding in Selous Game Reserve
- Day 4: Transfer from Selous to Mikumi National Park
- Day 5: Birding in Miombo woodlands and Mikumi National Park
- Day 6: Full-day birding in Mikumi National Park
- Day 7: Transfer from Mikumi to Udzungwa National Park
- Day 8: Birding the Kilombero Valley Endemics
- Day 9: Udzungwa to Ruaha National Park
- Day 10: Game viewing, photography, and birding in Ruaha National Park
- Day 11: More birding in Ruaha National Park
- Day 12: Transfer from Ruaha National Park to Dar es Salaam
Detailed 12-Day Tanzania Birding Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Selous Game Reserve
After a short introduction, drive to Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania. Meet your birding guide and head to Rufiji River Lodge, located on the banks of the Rufiji River. You will arrive in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing boat trip on the Rufiji River, where you may see crocodiles, hippos, and several bird species such as kingfishers, yellow-billed storks, bee-eaters, skimmers, fish eagles, and palm-nut vultures. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Selous Game Reserve
After an early breakfast, go on a full-day game drive in Selous Game Reserve. Look out for wildlife such as lions, greater kudu, bushbuck, southern reedbuck, and waterbuck.
Your guide will serve a packed lunch at a shaded spot near a water source, where you may see animals coming to drink. Bird species to look for include African wattled lapwing, African spoonbill, Pel’s fishing owl, Spur-winged lapwing, White-fronted bee-eater, and White-headed vulture.
Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Nature Walk and Birding in Selous Game Reserve
Wake up early and take a guided nature walk with an armed ranger to explore the wildlife and plants of the reserve. Later, return for breakfast and continue your game drive and birding session.
You may see birds such as the Pel’s Fishing Owl, Böhm’s Bee-eater, African Skimmer, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Broad-billed Roller, White-headed Lapwing, and Grey-hooded Kingfisher.
Other species include the Palm-nut Vulture, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Yellow-billed Stork, Carmine Bee-eater, White-backed Night Heron, and Rock Pratincole. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 4: Transfer from Selous to Mikumi National Park
After breakfast, depart for Mikumi National Park. You will drive across Selous Game Reserve and through Morogoro town before reaching Mikumi. Along the way, you may stop to observe birds and enjoy the scenery.
Arrive at Tan-Swiss Lodge in time for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Birding in Miombo Woodlands and Mikumi National Park
After breakfast, go for a guided birding walk through the Miombo woodlands. Look out for Shelley’s Sunbird, Miombo Rock Thrush, Miombo Grey Tit, and Stierling’s Woodpecker.
In the afternoon, drive into Mikumi National Park for more birding. You may see Malachite Kingfisher, African Hawk-Eagle, African Grey Hornbill, Southern Ground Hornbill, Purple-crested Turaco, and Yellow-throated Longclaw.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Full-Day Birding in Mikumi National Park
Spend the entire day birding and game viewing in Mikumi National Park. Birds in this park include Ostriches, Guineafowls, Francolins, Cuckoos, Turacos, and various raptors such as Bateleurs, Snake-Eagles, and Fish Eagles.
You may also see Kingfishers, Hornbills, Bustards, Kites, Harriers, and many waterbirds near the pools. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 7: Transfer from Mikumi to Udzungwa National Park
After breakfast, drive south toward Udzungwa Mountains and the Kilombero floodplains. This area offers excellent bird-watching opportunities.
Look out for species such as the Dapple-throated Mountain Robin, Iringa Akalat, Kilombero Weaver, and Melodious Cisticola. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 8: Birding the Kilombero Valley Endemics
After breakfast, enjoy a guided walk through the East Udzungwa forest. Look for endemic birds like the Kilombero Weaver, Kilombero Cisticola, and White-tailed Cisticola.
You may also see rare primates such as the Udzungwa Red Colobus, Sanje Mangabey, and the near-endemic Kipunji Monkey. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Udzungwa to Ruaha National Park
After breakfast, depart for Ruaha National Park, passing through Mikumi and Iringa towns. Stop along the way to watch wildlife and birds.
Ruaha National Park has over 574 bird species. The best birding season is during the wet months from November to April when migratory species are present. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 10: Game Viewing, Photography, and Birding in Ruaha National Park
Enjoy breakfast before heading out for a full day of birding and game viewing. Birds in Ruaha include African Fish Eagle, Ashy Starling, Collared Palm-Thrush, Goliath Heron, Long-crested Eagle, Southern Ground Hornbill, and Yellow-collared Lovebird.
You may also see elephants, buffaloes, hippos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, kudu, sable, roan antelopes, and gazelles. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 11: More Birding in Ruaha National Park
After breakfast, spend another day exploring Ruaha to look for species you may have missed. Common birds include the Crested Barbet, Giant Kingfisher, White-browed Coucal, Namaqua Dove, Bateleur, and Emerald-spotted Wood Dove.
Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Transfer from Ruaha National Park to Dar es Salaam
After breakfast, check out and begin your drive back to Dar es Salaam. You will arrive in time for your onward flight from Julius Nyerere International Airport.
This marks the end of your 12-day Southern Tanzania Birding Safari, filled with memorable wildlife and birding experiences.
