|
Thursday 28 May to Sunday 14 June 2009 Cost: £3950 plus about £840 for flights Click here for explanation of price breakdown Maximum group size: 6 with 1 leader |
|
|
While neighbouring Kenya has deservedly been recognized as one of the best birding destinations on the planet, Tanzania is now fast on its heels. Considerably larger, it encompasses a fine variety of habitats, many shared with adjacent countries, but it almost wholly contains the Eastern Arc mountain range, now regarded as the continent’s most important biological hotspot. Beginning on the balmy tropical coast, we’ll look for a number of local species before setting off for Mikumi National Park, whose mixture of acacia and miombo woodlands is usually associated with regions farther to the south. In the open floodplains we may see some classic mammals of the region including Elephant, Zebra, Giraffe and maybe Lion, and we’ll search out some of the miombo bird specialities. From here we’ll descend to the warmer lowlands of Ifakara on the lazy winding Kilombero River. We’ll look for the three Kilombero bird endemics and perhaps also find a few species at their northern limits of distribution. Next we'll explore the nearby forest slopes of the Ndzungwa National Park, where we hope to find Rufous-winged Sunbird and perhaps Lesser Seedcracker skulking among the lush lowland forest vegetation. Retracing our steps we’ll visit the Ulugurus for the remarkable Uluguru Bush-Shrike, duetting Moreau’s Warbler and the more numerous Moreau’s Sunbird. The richest centre for endemism is found in the East and West Usambaras, and we’ll spend nearly a week looking for such specialities, encountering along the way a number of the region’s endemic reptile and butterfly fauna as well. Departing the Eastern Arc we’ll visit some semi-arid acacia bushland, rich in Somalian species, before eventually arriving at Arusha, the business capital of the country and, if time permits, we'll investigate Lake Duluti, an attractive crater lake. Our final day will be spent in the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater among an abundance of mammals, including Black Rhinoceros, Spotted Hyena, antelopes of many species and, of course, Lion and Cheetah.
Day 1: The tour begins with a flight from London to Dar es Salaam. Day 2: We arrive in Dar es Salaam in the morning and after lunch we begin the tour by investigating coastal areas not far from the city for waders and terns, possibly including the stately Crab Plover. There should be Dimorphic Egrets fishing in the creeks and the diminutive Saunder’s Tern will be ‘chittering’ away from the sandbanks. Night in Dar es Salaam. Day 3: We’ll have another short excursion along the shore before breakfast, perhaps locating a Mangrove Kingfisher or seeing African Fish-Eagles catching their breakfasts offshore. After our own breakfast we’ll depart for Mikumi National Park, driving alongside freshwater swamps with dancing orange-red Zanzibar Bishops and African Jacanas striding over the lily pads. From Morogoro we’ll enter the wooded savannas of Mikumi National Park. Elephant and Zebra can be seen from the road, as well as glistening Superb Starlings and sentinel Brown-headed Parrots. Night at Mikumi. Day 4: After an early breakfast, sure to feature many wildlife distractions, we’ll search the surrounding acacia and miombo woodland and the grassy plains for Dickinson’s Kestrel, usually associated with Borassus Palms. If there are small fires, we may see the splendid pink Northern Carmine Bee-eaters dance around the flames after disturbed insects. Speckle-throated Woodpeckers tap the timber for tasty hidden morsels, Stierling’s Barred Warblers sing like crickets from the tops of acacias and Yellow-throated Petronias wag their tails. In the afternoon we’ll head out again, maybe finding the long-crested green and crimson Livingstone’s Turaco, the smart white-capped Arnott’s Chat and, if we are most fortunate, Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah. Later we’ll drive to the Udzungwa Mountains, arriving late in the evening. Night at a lodge in the Udzungwa Mountains. Day 5: This morning we’ll search for birds in the forest of the lower part of the Ndzungwa National Park, and we may be fortunate enough to find the endemic Rufous-winged Sunbird, the hyperactive Livingstone’s Flycatcher (here at the northern edge of its range), possibly the skulking Lesser Seedcracker, while more common species should include Green Barbet, Square-tailed Drongo, and Dark-backed Weaver. We’ll return for lunch at our lodge before driving down to Ifakara for the afternoon. It is here, just over ten years ago, that three new species were discovered - Kilombero Weaver, common in the floodplain, and two cisticolas still awaiting description but known as Kilombero and White-tailed. All three species are numerous and should not be difficult to find. Not so easy to see are the booming Coppery-tailed Coucals at their northernmost range and strident and argumentative White-headed Plovers. We could also see Red-necked Falcons, secretive Marsh Tchagra, attractive Zebra Waxbill and a wide variety of marshland species. Night at a lodge in the Udzungwa Mountains. Day 6: Today we’ll drive to the Uluguru Mountains, passing through the Mikumi National Park on the highway towards Morogoro town. From Morogoro, we’ll take a winding road into the Uluguru Mountains, arriving at the Uluguru Mountains Agricultural Research Hostel near Tegetero, the starting point of our journey into the Ulugurus. The hostel is basic but with clean shared toilets and shower rooms and delicious fresh food. Day 7: From our hostel we can see the towering Uluguru Mountains and their highest point, Mt. Alia. We’ll depart for a full day in the Ulugurus, driving some of the way and then walking uphill to reach the forest. Species we’ll be hoping for include the endemic Moreau’s Warbler with its musical duet, the nectar-loving Loveridge’s Sunbird and local species such as Olive-flanked Robin-Chat, African Tailorbird and the very local Bertram’s Weaver. We’ll return to a hotel in Monogoro for the night. Day 8: Leaving Morogoro we’ll drive north to Amani in the East Usambaras for a short stay. Rainfall is plentiful here because of the proximity to the coast and as a result the vegetation is luxuriant. On the way we may see striking pied Palm-nut Vultures and fiery Black-winged Red Bishops. Soon the lowlands give way to these impressive mountains, and we’ll climb into lush forest, leaving the arid lowlands behind us. Before the major ascent we'll stop at a bridge, where a short look could reward us with a watchful Half-collared Kingfisher. Night near Amani. Days 9-10: Exploring the forest patches surrounding the tea plantations, we’ll be on the lookout for Long-billed Apalis, a dowdy warbler but one of Africa’s rarest species. In addition there will be others to look for including the crimson-naped Fischer’s Turaco, yodelling Green-headed Orioles, shadow-loving Sharpe’s Akalat, the endemic Banded Green Sunbird, and Usambara Hyliota, a strange bird whose affinities are not well understood. After dinner one night we’ll look for Usambara Nightjar and Usambara Eagle-Owl, and this walk may reward us as well with some locally endemic reptiles. Other birds may include the very distinct eastern ‘form’ of Pale-breasted Illadopsis, almost certainly a species in its own right, and Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, which is often in the garden where we’ll be staying, unlike the Dappled Mountain Robin, which we would be fortunate to see. Nights near Amani. Day 11: Descending briefly into the dry lowlands, we’ll climb again, this time to the cool of the West Usambaras for a three-day stay. White-necked Ravens should be along the roadside and radiant Lilac-breasted Rollers find perches on the flowering heads of sisals. As we enter through a rocky gorge we’ll keep an eye open for Striped Pipit and more colourful Cliff Chat. The waterfall that tumbles down this rugged landscape can attract many birds, especially if there is a good crop of corn nearby. Our beautiful hotel is an ideally located home-away-from-home. The spacious Old World rooms are comfortable, and the home-cooked food is delicious. Night in Lushoto. Days 12-13: Over the next two days we’ll explore the local forest in search of its two endemics, Usambara Akalat and the attractive Usambara Weaver, which clambers over the epiphyte-laden branches in the manner of a nuthatch. Other species here include Hartlaub’s Turaco at the southern edge of its range, noisy but well-hidden Evergreen Forest and Cinnamon Bracken Warblers, piping Black-fronted Bush-Shrike and the unusual Spot-throat, whose ear-splitting song is reminiscent of a very loud Blackcap. Colobus Monkeys give their motor-like calls at dawn shortly after the African Wood-Owls have retired. Nights in Lushoto. Day 14: Leaving the Eastern Arc Mountains we’ll proceed to Arusha for an overnight stay. Patches of semi-arid acacia along the way may reveal species at the extreme southern edge of their range, such as the statuesque Buff-crested Bustard, the squeaky Pink-breasted Lark, the diminutive Pygmy Batis and the colourful Somali Golden-breasted Bunting. As we near Moshi, Mt. Kilimanjaro may clear itself of its misty shroud and grant us a fine view. Night in Arusha. Day 15: This morning we’ll walk around the crater lake known as Duluti, which our lodge overlooks. The entire lake is surrounded by forest and is home to several interesting species. African Broadbill, with its strange display involving a mechanical vibrating noise, nasal and scolding Gray-olive Greenbul; and fidgeting Black-throated Wattle-eye. On the lake we may see Long-tailed Cormorant, African Fish-Eagle or an impressive Giant Kingfisher. Next we’ll cross the Great Rift Valley to the famous Ngorongoro Crater where the abundant wildlife still includes a few ponderous Black Rhinoceros, as well as a ‘swimming pool’ full of Hippopotamus, Lions lazing under the tattered bushes on the golden plain and a variety of plains animals everywhere. Birds also abound, from diminutive Pectoral-patch Cisticolas to Ostrich. The swamps attract a variety of waterfowl, including the curious Cape Wigeon, and a ribbon of soda-loving Lesser Flamingoes paint a swath of vivid rose around the central lake. White and Abdim’s Storks scour the grassland for grasshoppers, Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers hunt for small birds, and every corner holds something of interest. Night at Ngorongoro Crater. Day 16: We’ll spend the morning examining the forest around the crater rim for birds such as silky-crested Schalow’s Turaco, regally dressed Golden-winged Sunbird and Montane White-eye. Later well visit the thorn scrub and soda lakes around Ndutu where Silverbirds abound and where bush birds such as Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Green-winged Pytilia, Beautiful Sunbird, White-crowned Shrike and Slate-coloured Boubou are common. Night at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Day 17: This morning we’ll wind our way back to Arusha, pausing for anything of interest. Once in town we’ll have lunch, leaving the afternoon available for packing and perhaps last-minute shopping before we set off for Kilimanjaro International Airport and the return flight to London which arrives there on Day 18.
The ground arrangements for this tour are organised by our American associates WINGS.
E-mail or phone +44 (0)1767 262522 for availability.
Last updated May 2008.
|
|
Bird List