Day-by-day Itinerary

DAY 1

Monday, December 1

ARRIVAL IN TANZANIA (KILIMANJARO AIRPORT) – TRANSFER TO ARUSHA

Welcome to Tanzania! We’ll arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (IATA Code JRO), where our local team will greet us and transfer us to our comfortable lodge on the lush outskirts of Arusha. We’ll settle in, enjoy our first meal together, and rest up for the exciting days ahead.

Overnight at Mt. Meru Game Lodge, Arusha.

---

DAY 2

Tuesday, December 2

ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK

We’ll spend a full day exploring Arusha National Park, a spectacular mosaic of habitats nestled around Mt. Meru. We’ll bird by vehicle and on foot in picnic areas, covering a range of elevations and ecosystems.

This park has a great highland forest nestled around Mt. Meru where Maasai Giraffes, Common Waterbucks, Common Zebras, Common Warthogs, Red Duikers, Bushbucks, Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys and Ochre Bush Squirrels roam gracefully. There is also a beautiful savannah grassland on the drier slopes. Several lakes and streams also dot the park, and these host many birds.

Raptor Targets: Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Martial Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Mountain Buzzard, Yellow-billed Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Gabar Goshawk, African Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Amur Falcon.

Many bird species can be expected here including the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Scaly Francolin, African Black Duck, Striated Heron, Mountain Wagtail, Grey-olive Greenbul, Stripe-faced Greenbul, African Wood-Owl, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Rameron Pigeon, Hamerkop, Kilimanjaro White-eye, Giant Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Peter’s Twinspot, Retz’s Helmetshrike, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Ruppell’s Robin-Chat and Hartlaub’s Turaco.

Overnight at Mt. Meru Game Lodge, Arusha.

---

DAYS 3–5

Wednesday–Friday, December 3–5

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

We head into Tarangire National Park, famous for its massive Baobab trees, abundant African Elephants, and impressive raptor diversity. Over the next three days, we’ll explore acacia woodlands, riverine corridors, and open plains in search of charismatic mammals and a wide range of bird species.

Raptor Targets: Pygmy Falcon, Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Gabar Goshawk, Eastern Chanting-Goshawk, Bateleur, Palm-nut Vulture, African Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Western Marsh Harrier, Brown Snake-Eagle, Black-Chested Snake-Eagle, Secretarybird, Steppe Buzzard.

Bird highlights include Yellow-collared Lovebird, Woodland Kingfisher, Double-banded Courser, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Coqui Francolin, Pygmy Falcon, Brown Snake Eagle, Mottled Spinetail, Southern Ground Hornbill, Meyer’s Parrot, Bearded Woodpecker, Magpie Shrike, Red and Yellow Barbet, Rufous-tailed Weaver and Ashy Starling. 

Tarangire is also excellent for large mammals such as African Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Banded Mongooses, Cape Buffalo, Common Zebras, and Impala.

Overight at Tarangire Sopa Lodge.

---

DAY 6

Saturday, December 6

LAKE MANYARA TO NGORONGORO HIGHLANDS

We depart early for Lake Manyara National Park, a scenic soda lake nestled at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment. We’ll spend the morning birding here, with possible sightings of Grey-olive Greenbul, Purple-crested Turaco, Crested Guineafowl, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Yellow-billed Stork, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Slate-colored Boubou, Goliath Heron, Hildebrandt’s Starling, and Great White Pelican.

Raptor Targets: Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Hobby, African Hawk-Eagle, Martial Eagle, Crowned Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Grey Kestrel, 

Mammals include several species of monkeys, Savannah Elephants, Bushbuck, Hippos, Massai Giraffe, and the park’s famous tree-climbing Lions.

In the afternoon, we ascend into the cooler air of the Ngorongoro Highlands, birding for Augur Buzzard along the way.

Overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

---

DAY 7

Sunday, December 7

NGORONGORO CRATER

We descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s natural wonders. At over 2,000 m elevation and 600 m deep, the crater floor offers an unmatched wildlife spectacle. The crater is nestled in a pristine natural forest, full of beautiful indigenous trees. Descending down the crater floor takes you through great scenery and you get to experience the local Euphorbia tree varieties.

Raptor Targets: Secretarybird, Ruppell’s Vulture, White-Backed Vulture, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Western Marsh Harrier, African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Augur Buzzard.

Bird hightlights include Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Shelley’s Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Lyne’s Cisticola, Pied Avocet, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Black-bellied Bustard, Kori Bustard, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Chestnut-banded Plover, and Rufous-tailed Weaver.

We’ll also look for Lions, Black Rhinos, Comon Zebras, African Golden Wolves, Grant’s Gazelles, and White-bearded Wildebeest.

Overight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

---

DAYS 8–11

Monday–Thursday, December 8–11

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (WESTERN & NORTHERN REGIONS)

We journey into the legendary Serengeti, birding en route and watching for wildlife. We’ll split our time between the Western Corridor and Northern Serengeti, giving us full access to diverse habitats: from open savannah to wetlands, kopjes (granite outcrops), and scattered woodlands.

Raptor Targets: Secretarybird, Black-Shouldered Kite, White-Headed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-Faced Vulture, Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Levant Sparrowhawk, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Brown Snake-Eagle, Black-Chested Snake-Eagle, Martial Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Long-Crested Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Greater Kestrel, Grey Kestrel.

There will be heaps of big game and wonderful birds to enjoy here as we transect the area. Look out for animals such as Leopards, Cheetahs, Black Rhino, African Buffalo, Thomson’s Gazelles, Maasai Giraffe, White-bearded Wildebeest, Common Eland, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Klipspringer, Common Zebras, Savannah Elephant and African Lions.

Bird highlights include Fischer’s Lovebird, Usambiro Barbet, Swahili Sparrow, Karamoja Apalis, African Scops-Owl, Temminck’s Courser, Zitting Cisticola, Tanzania Red-billed Hornbill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Magpie Shrike, Silverbird, Black-lored Babbler, Cape Teal, Saddle-billed Stork, Blacksmith Lapwing and Grey-breasted Spurfowl.

Overnight in Serengeti: 2 nights at Western Serengeti Serena Lodge, 2 nights at Mbuzi Mawe Camp, Northern Serengeti.

---

DAY 12

Friday, December 12

RETURN TO ARUSHA – DEPART KILIMANJARO

We make our way back across the savannah, birding as we go and soaking up our final views of East Africa’s extraordinary wildlife. In the afternoon, we head to Kilimanjaro Airport (IATA Code JRO) for our international departures—our minds full of unforgettable birds, wild landscapes, and incredible memories.