21 Days

Tanzania’s Southern Highlands Indemics and Specialties

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This birding adventure through Tanzania’s enchanting southern highlands, starting and ending in the bustling city of Dar es Salaam. This itinerary is designed for avid birders seeking to observe some of the region’s most elusive and endemic species. From the verdant Uluguru Mountains to the diverse ecosystems of the Udzungwa Mountains, this journey promises an array of avian treasures and natural wonders.

Your expedition begins with the search for the rare Uluguru Bushshrike in the Uluguru Mountains, followed by the Rubeho Akalat in the secluded Rubeho Mountains. Traverse the Kilombero Valley to spot the Kilombero and White-tailed Cisticolas, before moving on to the lush Udzungwa Mountains. Here, the Iringa Akalat, Udzungwa Forest Partridge, Rufous-winged Sunbird, and Kipengere Seedeater await discovery.

The adventure culminates at the Pugu Hills Forest Reserve, where you’ll seek the East Coast Akalat, Four-colored Bushshrike, and the Lowland Tiny Greenbul. This tour involves extensive camping and hiking, immersing you in the heart of Tanzania’s breathtaking landscapes and diverse birdlife. Join us for a thrilling birding experience that combines the excitement of discovery with the serenity of nature.

Your Itinerary

Depending on arrival time we might visit Pugu hills forest reserve or Jagwani salt pans for birdwatching.

Night in Dar es Salaam.

We shall drive to the Uluguru mountains. Where we will camp for three nights

Birding in the Uluguru mountains searching for some Uluguru endemics and specials such as the Uluguru bushshrike, Uluguru mountain greenbul, Loveridge’s sunbird Dark batis, Betram’s weaver and possibly Olive-flanked groundrobin, White-winged and Chapin’s apalis.

We shall depart early in the morning to Rubeho mountains for two nights searching for Rubeho akalat, Rubeho forest partridge, Rubeho warbler, Rubeho double-collared sunbird, Yellow-throated mountain greenbul, and a rare and recently discovered Gallardy’s sunbird. And more species

Drive to Udzungwa mountains NP, arrive in the afternoon with optional birdwatching around the lodge before dark. Next morning we shall hike in the Udzungwa mountains searching for Udzungwa mountains endemics and special birds and primates. In our last evening we shall visit Magombera forest for a super elusive Pel’s fishing owl.

A visit to Magombera forest can be done twice, in the first and last evening in order to maximize the chances.

Leave early with picnic breakfast to Kilombero river valley for Kilombero and white-tailed cisticola, Kilombero weaver and more. Dinner and overnight at Mikumi town – Tanswiss hotel or similar.

On this day you shall depart to Udekwa, part of Udzungwa on the Iringa side. Birdwatching en route and arrive there later in the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight at our campsite.

We shall camp in two different locations with two nights in each campsite searching for a very elusive Udzungwa partridge, Kipengere Seedeater and others.

Birdwatching around the campsite before breaking the camp and depart to Southern part of Udzungwa mountains via Iringa town.

We shall make stops for bird watching on our way to Scarp forest.

Full day birding in Uluti, the Legendary forest in Southern highlands where we shall be looking for some amazing species such as Iringa akalat, Spot-throat, Dapple-throat, Forest double collared sunbird, Livingstone’s turaco, Shelley’s greenbul, Brown-headed apalis, African olive and Eastern bronze-naped pigeon, Dark batis, Füllerborn’s boubou, Yellow-browed seedeater, and many more species.

Birdwalk until mid-morning searchkng for missing species then break the camp and drive to either Mafinga or Iringa town for overnight.

The drive shall continue the next morning to Mikumi.

Depending on where we stayed overnight if at Mafinga town, we shall stop at Kisolanza for birding on our way back to Mikumi.

Dinner and overnight at Tanswiss hotel or similar.

Early breakfast and drive to Mikumi North for Miombo woodland species such as Cinnamon-breasted tit, Stierling’s wren warbler, Miombo blue-eared starling, Neddicky(piping) cisticola, Little-spotted woodpecker, Kurichane thrush, Common scimitarbill, Arnott’s chat, and more.

On this day, we shall depart to Dar es Salaam in the mid-day for some coastal lowland specialties the next morning and flight back home in the aftternoon.

Morning bird watching at Pugu hills forest reserve for some lowland forest and coastal species such as East coast Akalat, Four-colored bushshrike, lowland tiny greenbul and Kretschmer’s Longbill. Drive back to your hotel in the afternoon and wait for the time of your international flight back home.

End of tour