20 Days | Spotlight on East Africa’s most iconic species

Welcome to Tanzania! Start your journey in this vibrant coastal city where warm hospitality

meets the Indian Ocean breeze. Upon arriving at Julius Nyerere International Airport

On Day 1, you will be warmly met and transferred to your airport hotel to relax for the night.

The next morning, take a quick domestic flight from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar. Upon arrival

in Zanzibar, you will board a boat heading out to the lush paradise of Pemba Island. After

arrival and check-in at the Pemba Paradise lodge, settle into your room before heading out

for an exciting evening birding session to spot nocturnal species.

On Day 2, wake up to the sounds of nature and enjoy breakfast at the lodge. Today features

a full-day birding experience across Pemba Island to track down target endemics like the

Pemba Sunbird and Pemba White-eye. Explore the dense forests and coastal fringes with

your guide, stopping for a picnic lunch in the field, before returning to the hotel in the late

afternoon for dinner and a restful night.

Unique Bird Species: Pemba Green Pigeon, Pemba White-eye, Pemba Sunbird, Pemba

Scops Owl, Pemba Flycatcher.

• Accommodation: Slip way Hotel & Pemba Paradise

• Meal Plan: Full board

Enjoy an early breakfast before catching a boat back to Zanzibar and flying back to Dar es

Salaam. Upon arrival in Dar es Salaam, stop for a delicious local lunch before starting the

scenic drive westward toward Morogoro. Reach your destination in the late afternoon, check

in at the hotel and enjoy dinner as you prepare for the mountains tomorrow.

On Day 4-5, after an early breakfast, pack your gear and drive up into the Uluguru

Mountains. These are ancient mountain forests belonging to the globally important Eastern

Arc Mountains ecosystem and search for ultra-rare endemics hidden deep within the lush,

mist-covered montane canopy, spend a full day hiking through pristine forest trails searchingfor the birds. Enjoy a packed lunch in the forest, then head back down the mountain to your

hotel for dinner and overnight rest.

Unique Bird Species: Uluguru Bush shrike, Loveridge’s Sunbird, Uluguru Violet-backed

Sunbird, Ukaguru Greenbul.

• Accommodation: Morogoro Arc Hotel

• Meal Plan: Full board

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive south through changing landscapes toward

the Kilombero Valley. Discover a vast floodplain wilderness where Africa’s largest wetland

system meets rising mountain walls, and spot highly specialized wetland species that are

found nowhere else on the planet. Arrive at the valley in the afternoon, check in at the Hotel,

and head right out for an evening birding session along the riverbanks to spot localized

weavers. Return to the hotel for dinner and sleep.

Day 7, wake up early for breakfast before embarking on a morning boat safari across the

Kilombero floodplain to search for the Kilombero Weaver and Kilombero Cisticola. Return

to the hotel for a hot lunch and a brief rest. In the afternoon, explore the lowland forests of

East Udzungwa before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Unique Bird Species: Kilombero Weaver, Kilombero Cisticola, Rufous-winged Sunbird,

Udzungwa Forest Partridge.

• Accommodation: Twiga Hotel

• Meal Plan: Full board

After an early breakfast, check out and drive north into the specialized Miombo woodlands

surrounding Mikumi. It is a classic African woodland characterized by beautiful, sprawling

Miombo trees and target specialized woodland birds feeding in the canopy and open bush

tracks. Upon arrival enjoy a picnic lunch, enjoy some bird sighting the drive to the cozy

Cottages to check in, enjoy dinner, and share stories of the day’s sightings.Unique Bird Species: Miombo Tit, Böhm’s Flycatcher, Shelley’s Sunbird.

• Accommodation: Tan Swiss Cottages

• Meal Plan: Full board

Enjoy breakfast at your cottage, check out, and begin the drive toward the ancient Usambara

region. Arrive at the remote Amani Nature Reserve in the afternoon, check in at the rest

house, and take a relaxed evening walk around the grounds to spot your first rainforest

species. Dinner is served at the rest house.

On Day 10, after breakfast, spend a magnificent full day exploring the shady trails of Amani.

Look out for rare endemics species. Take lunch back at the rest house or pack it for the trail,

then continue birding until dusk before heading back for dinner.

On Day 11, fuel up with breakfast before another day of deep-forest exploration. Focus on

tracking down understory specialists like the East Coast Akalat and Tiny Greenbul. Return

to the rest house for lunch, enjoy a relaxed afternoon birding session nearby, and gather for

dinner in the evening.

Unique Bird Species: Amani Sunbird, East Coast Akalat, Tiny Greenbul, Fischer’s Turaco.

• Accommodation: Amani Rest House

• Meal Plan: Full board

After breakfast, check out of Amani and drive up into the breathtaking West Usambara

Mountains. These are famous for dramatic viewpoints and cool mountain air, and tracking

of critically endangered species that rely entirely on these mountain peaks. Arrive in time

for lunch and check-in at the Lodge. Spend the afternoon birding along the forest edges then

head back to the lodge for a warm dinner by the fire.

On Day 13, enjoy breakfast before a full-day excursion into the pristine Shume-Magamba

forest. Search for the Usambara Akalat and Long-billed Tailorbird while taking in the alpinescenery. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wild, and head back to the lodge in the late afternoon

for dinner and overnight stay.

Unique Bird Species: Usambara Weaver, Usambara Akalat, Long-billed Tailorbird, Mrs.

Moreau’s Warbler.

• Accommodation: Mullers Mountain Lodge

• Meal Plan: FULL-board

Following breakfast, check out and drive north toward the remote South Pare Mountains.

Here you will Discover a hidden, off-the-beaten-path range untouched by major tourist

crowds, add highly localized endemics to your list in remote, misty montane forests. Arrive

at the base of the mountains, check in at the Motel, and enjoy lunch. Head out for an

afternoon birding trek on the mountain slopes before returning to the motel for dinner.

On Day 15, eat an early breakfast and take a 4×4 drive up into the high montane forests.

Spend the day searching exclusively for the rare South Pare White-eye and Stripe-cheeked

Greenbul. Have lunch in the field, then wind down the mountain back to the motel for dinner

and sleep.

Unique Bird Species: South Pare White-eye, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Eastern Mountain

Greenbul.

• Accommodation: Elephant Motel

• Meal Plan: Full-board

After breakfast, check out and drive toward Arusha town. A you drive along be sure to sport

the rarest Larks’ species. Upon arrival at your cozy house check in, unpack, and enjoy dinner.

Arusha is the gate way to the northern circuit and host Africa’s rarest birds, enjoy the

dramatic backdrop of Mount Meru as you explore the surrounding acacia scrub, and relax in

a charming accommodation tucked away in a quiet suburb of Arusha.Unique Bird Species: Beesley’s Lark, Short-tailed Lark, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark.

• Accommodation: Korona Villa House

• Meal Plan: Full board

After an early breakfast, check out and drive into Tarangire National Park for a thrilling

game and birding drive. Enter a land of giant baobab trees and massive herds of elephants

roaming the riverbanks, experience exceptional dry-country birding with vibrant lovebirds

and starlings everywhere. Have a picnic lunchbox inside the park and unwind at a beautiful

country lodge nestled in the lush farming highlands of Karatu.

Unique Bird Species: Yellow-collared Lovebird, Ashy Starling, Rufous-tailed Weaver.

• Accommodation: Country Lodge Karatu

• Meal Plan: Full board

Eat breakfast, check out, Carry your lunch boxes and drive through the Ngorongoro

Conservation Area into the vast Serengeti National Park. Behold the endless plains of the

world’s most iconic wildlife sanctuary, witness an incredible diversity of birds and predators

sharing the golden savanna. Enjoy birding and wildlife viewing along the way, arrive to

Camp in the evening, check in, and relax for the rest of the day.

On Day 19, wake up at dawn for coffee and an early morning game drive when predators

are most active. Return to camp for a hot breakfast, then head out with a packed lunch for a

full day exploring different Serengeti habitats. Track majestic Secretary Birds and Martial

Eagles before returning to camp for your final safari dinner

Unique Bird Species: Secretary Bird, Martial Eagle, Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Schalow’s

Turaco.

• Accommodation: Medium Tented Camp

• Meal Plan: Full board

Reflect on an incredible 20-day journey through Tanzania’s most exclusive natural wonders,

catch final glimpses of East African birds as you enjoy a stress-free departure to Seronera

Airstrip for a flight back to Arusha town. You will be transferred to the hotel for a farewell

lunch and some last-minute souvenir shopping (optional). In the afternoon, you will be

transferred smoothly directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport to check in for your

international flight home.

Unique Bird Species: Final birding opportunities.

• Accommodation: None

• Meal Plan: Breakfast& Lunch