Why Bird Watchers Love Tanzania

Why Bird Watchers Love Tanzania: Besides Tanzania safaris and the Serengeti wildebeest, Tanzania is also known by birders for its rich birdlife. Tanzania is home to more than a thousand bird species, with 29 found only there and many others moving through. Because of that, birdwatching in Tanzania is a popular activity. There are plenty of birds to be seen, from the flamingos on the shores of Lake Natron to the Eastern Arc Mountains’ forests. Regardless of whether you love birding or just like exploring nature, exploring the birds of Tanzania will be very rewarding.

Top Places for Birdwatching in Tanzania

Tanzania’s wetlands, savannahs, forests, and alpine regions sustain a large number of birds. Birdwatchers will find something special in every region.

1. The Serengeti National Park is home to many raptors and birds that live in the grasslands.

The majority of visitors to Serengeti think of big cats and wildebeest, but the park is also a birdwatcher’s paradise. The park is home to well over 500 different species. You can spot the Secretary Bird, Kori Bustard (the heaviest bird that flies in Africa), Martial Eagle and the elegant Grey Crowned Crane in this area. Spotting birds of prey and ground-dwelling animals is common in the Serengeti grasslands and acacia woodlands. During the wet season (November to April), migrant birds from Europe and Asia make the area very productive.

2. At Lake Manyara National Park, you can see flamingos and many different waterbirds.

Thousands of pink flamingos are attracted to Lake Manyara, situated at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment and known for its soda lake. Among the many birds found here are pelicans, spoonbills, herons, storks and African Fish Eagles. The open spaces and forests along the lake are home to hornbills, bee-eaters, barbets and turacos. Many travelers use this town as a stop on the way to the Ngorongoro Crater or Serengeti.

3. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to many species found nowhere else.

Not only is the Ngorongoro Crater beautiful to see, but it is also important for birds. The crater and its forests are home to over 500 species of birds. You can also see the Rufous-tailed Weaver, Jackson’s Widowbird and Schalow’s Turaco. On the wooded edges, it is easier to spot the African Wood Owl and many types of sunbirds. Birdwatchers can enjoy all kinds of birds in Ngorongoro all year round.

4. Baobab trees and bird species make Tarangire National Park unique.

The presence of baobab trees and swamps in Tarangire attracts a wide variety of birds. A total of over 550 bird species live in this country, including the cheerful Yellow-collared Lovebird, the colorful Red-and-yellow Barbet and different types of hornbills. The Hamerkop, African Jacana and Saddle-billed Stork are some of the waterbirds found in the swamps. Because of the dry season (June to October), birding is much more effective near the Tarangire River.

5. Lake Natron is where Lesser Flamingos come to breed.

In northern Tanzania, Lake Natron is well known for being the premier breeding spot for Lesser Flamingos in all of East Africa. Since the waters are alkaline, predators avoid the area, making it safe for the chicks. You can enjoy this spectacle best from August to October. Flamingos are not the only rare birds at the wetlands; you can also spot Chestnut-banded Plovers and other waterbirds.

6. In the Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains, you can find forest birds nowhere else.

The Udzungwa and Uluguru ranges in the Eastern Arc Mountains contain some of the most unique species found in Africa. Many ornithologists hope to find forest specialists, such as the Udzungwa Forest Partridge, Loveridge’s Sunbird, and the Uluguru Bushshrike. To get the most out of these forests, go with a local guide who knows the birds.

7. Ruaha and Katavi National Parks are underappreciated birdwatching spots.

Ruaha and Katavi parks in southern Tanzania are not well-known birding spots. Ruaha National Park, with its rugged areas and miombo woodlands, is home to the Southern Ground Hornbill, African Hoopoe, and Violet-backed Starling. The wetlands in Katavi are full of ducks, geese, and other birds that live in the water during the rainy season. Because there are fewer crowds in these parks, birdwatching is more tranquil.

Here are the Tanzanian birds you should pay attention to if you are a birdwatcher.

Tanzania is home to many unique species. For example, they include:

• Ashy Starling – You can find this bird in Tarangire easily.

• Rufous-tailed Weaver is a common bird found in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.

Grey-breasted Spurfowl is a common bird in the northern safari areas.

• Kilombero Weaver – Only found in the Kilombero Valley wetlands.

They are important for birdwatchers hoping to complete their African or world birding list.

The Best Time for Watching Birds in Tanzania

Birding can be satisfying all year round, but the season with the most opportunities is from November to April. At this time, there are more migratory birds from the Palearctic and Africa and many species become brighter in color for breeding. Smaller waterholes make it easy to spot animals, even during the dry season (June to October).

Tips and Recommendations for Birdwatching in Tanzania

To have a great birding safari in Tanzania:

• Get a professional bird guide – There are many guides in the area who can point out different birds by their calls and the areas they inhabit.

• Take binoculars that will help you see and a field guide, for example, “Birds of East Africa” by Stevenson and Fanshawe.

• Visit parks in both the north and the south to spot a greater variety of animals and birds.

• You can see many wetland and aquatic birds by visiting the Kilombero Valley or the Malagarasi-Muyovozi Ramsar sites.

Furthermore, discover the fascinating birds of Tanzania.

Tanzania’s scenery and birdlife are unparalleled in their beauty. You could watch bright flamingo flocks, search for rare birds in the forest; or admire raptors overhead in Tanzania’s savannah. Because there are more than 1,100 species yet to be found, bird lovers and photographers are drawn to Tanzania.

Join a birding safari in Tanzania right away to see East Africa’s birds up close.