7 Days Tanzania Big Five Birdwatching Safari and Zanzibar Holiday

Your Tanzania Big Five birdwatching safari and Zanzibar holiday begins when you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your Burigi Chato Safaris driver will meet you and arrange a private transfer to Arusha. The journey usually takes around one to one and a half hours, travelling through cultivated countryside, local villages and landscapes surrounding Mount Meru. Depending on your arrival time, you may notice common birds around roadside trees, gardens and farmland, offering an early introduction to the birdlife of northern Tanzania. Once you reach your selected midrange hotel, check in and take time to relax after your flight. If the hotel has gardens or suitable outdoor areas, you may have an opportunity to observe some local birds without leaving the property, although this is not a scheduled birdwatching excursion.

Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Overnight:

Gold Crest Hotel

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast at approximately 7:00 AM, depart Arusha with your private safari guide for Tarangire National Park, one of northern Tanzania's rewarding destinations for combining large mammal viewing with birdwatching. The drive normally takes around two hours, passing through local communities and open countryside before reaching the park entrance. Once inside, explore Tarangire's baobab woodland, acacia trees, grasslands and river habitats, where elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and other animals share the landscape with a remarkable variety of birds. Look for colourful lilac-breasted rollers perched on exposed branches, hornbills moving through the woodland, yellow-collared lovebirds around suitable trees and raptors scanning the plains for food. Secretary birds and large ground-dwelling birds may also be seen in open habitats, while the Tarangire River attracts different water-associated species depending on the season. Your guide will help identify interesting birds while continuing the search for lions and other wildlife. Around midday, stop for a picnic lunch at a designated site before exploring more of the park in the afternoon. Later, leave Tarangire and continue to your midrange lodge near Lake Manyara or Karatu for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Activities and Attractions: Tarangire National Park, elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, Tarangire River, lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills, yellow-collared lovebirds, secretary birds, raptors, lions and private birdwatching safari.

Destination:

Tarangire

Overnight:

Manyara Safari Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Begin your morning with breakfast before leaving the Lake Manyara or Karatu area around 6:30 AM and travelling towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where green highlands, woodland and beautiful countryside lead towards the famous crater rim. Stop at the viewpoint to admire the enormous volcanic caldera before descending approximately 600 metres to the crater floor for a full-day private wildlife and birdwatching experience. Ngorongoro's varied habitats make it particularly rewarding for observing different bird species, from ostriches moving across the grasslands and crowned cranes feeding in open areas to herons and other waterbirds around the wetlands. Depending on water levels and seasonal conditions, flamingos may gather along parts of Lake Magadi, creating beautiful opportunities for nature photography. While exploring the crater, your guide will also search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, hippos and the endangered black rhino, making the experience a combination of Big Five wildlife viewing and birdwatching. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated area before continuing through the crater's different habitats. In the afternoon, ascend the crater wall and return to your midrange lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.

Activities and Attractions: Ngorongoro Crater, Big Five wildlife search, crowned cranes, ostriches, flamingos, herons, Lake Magadi, hippo pools, black rhino habitat, elephants, lions, buffaloes and wetland bird photography.

Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Overnight:

Angata Ngorongoro Camp

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast at approximately 7:00 AM, leave the Ngorongoro Highlands and travel towards Serengeti National Park, passing through scenic conservation landscapes before reaching the broad grasslands of the Serengeti ecosystem. Along the journey, keep an eye out for birds perched on roadside trees, moving through open grassland or soaring over the plains, while your guide explains how different species use the region's habitats. After completing the entry formalities at Naabi Hill Gate, continue towards central Serengeti, where the Seronera region offers opportunities for both large mammal sightings and birdwatching. Look for Kori bustards walking through open grasslands, secretary birds searching for food on the plains and various eagles, vultures and other birds of prey around suitable habitats. The scattered acacia trees may also attract hornbills, rollers and smaller savannah birds, while the rocky kopjes and river areas provide opportunities to look for lions, leopards, cheetahs and other wildlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the journey before continuing the afternoon safari, with your guide helping you observe interesting bird and animal behaviour. Later, travel to your selected midrange tented camp or lodge for an evening surrounded by the Serengeti wilderness.

Activities and Attractions: Naabi Hill Gate, Serengeti National Park, Seronera Valley, secretary birds, Kori bustards, vultures, eagles, hornbills, rollers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and savannah bird photography.

Destination:

Central Serengeti

Overnight:

Kenzan Tented Camp

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Wake up early for your final morning in Serengeti National Park, where the cooler hours may provide opportunities to observe birds becoming active across the grasslands, woodland and river habitats. When your flight schedule permits, leave your camp around 6:00 AM and begin a guided wildlife and birdwatching drive towards Seronera Airstrip. Keep your binoculars ready for raptors perched on acacia trees, ground-dwelling birds moving through the savannah and colourful species using the surrounding woodland. Your guide will also search for lions, giraffes, elephants and other animals along the permitted routes, giving you a final opportunity to enjoy the Serengeti's rich wildlife before departure. After the morning safari, board your scheduled flight to Zanzibar, where your private driver will meet you at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and transfer you to your selected midrange beach hotel. As you arrive on the island, the environment changes from open savannah to tropical vegetation, coastal settlements and the beautiful Indian Ocean. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or observing any common birds around your hotel's gardens and nearby shoreline.

Activities and Attractions: Serengeti morning birdwatching, savannah raptors, woodland birds, final wildlife viewing, Seronera Airstrip, flight to Zanzibar, private airport transfer, coastal scenery and possible garden bird sightings.

Destination:

Central Serengeti

Overnight:

Kisiwa House

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast at approximately 8:30 AM, meet your private Zanzibar guide and begin a cultural excursion through historic Stone Town, where narrow streets, carved wooden doors and traditional buildings reveal centuries of trade and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean. Walk through the old town, learning about Zanzibar's Swahili heritage while exploring important landmarks such as the Old Fort, the former slave market area and the historic waterfront. Although the morning mainly focuses on cultural sightseeing rather than specialist birdwatching, you may notice common urban and coastal birds around the gardens, rooftops and waterfront. Later, continue to a traditional spice plantation, where tropical trees and cultivated plants provide a greener environment with opportunities to observe birds moving through the vegetation. Discover how cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and other spices grow, while keeping an eye out for sunbirds, weavers or other common species that may visit suitable garden habitats. Your guide will explain the plantation's crops and allow time to smell selected spices and taste seasonal fruits. After the visit, return privately to your midrange beach hotel for a relaxed afternoon.

Activities and Attractions: Stone Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Swahili architecture, Old Fort, historic markets, traditional Zanzibar doors, spice plantation, sunbirds, weavers, tropical plants, cinnamon, cloves and cultural photography.

Destination:

Stone Town Zanzibar

Overnight:

Kisiwa House

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Enjoy breakfast before leaving your hotel around 8:00 AM for a privately arranged excursion combining Prison Island's historical attractions with the coastal scenery of Nakupenda Sandbank. Begin with a transfer to the Stone Town waterfront, where you'll board your arranged boat for the journey to Changuu Island, commonly known as Prison Island. Once there, explore the island's historic surroundings and visit the sanctuary where giant Aldabra tortoises are cared for, enjoying an opportunity to observe and photograph these remarkable reptiles. Afterward, continue by boat towards Nakupenda Sandbank, where tidal movements reveal a beautiful stretch of white sand surrounded by turquoise water. As you travel across the Indian Ocean, keep an eye out for terns and other coastal birds flying or feeding over the surrounding waters. Depending on the season and tide, some shorebirds may also be seen around exposed sandy areas, although Nakupenda is primarily a swimming and relaxation destination rather than a dedicated birdwatching site. Enjoy time on the sandbank and a beach lunch if included in your confirmed arrangements before returning to Stone Town and transferring privately to your midrange hotel.

Activities and Attractions: Prison Island, giant Aldabra tortoises, Changuu Island history, Nakupenda Sandbank, coastal terns, shorebirds, scenic boat excursion, Indian Ocean swimming, coastal photography and beach lunch.

Destination:

Prison Island

Overnight:

Hotel Riu Jambo

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast at approximately 8:00 AM, travel privately towards Matemwe or Muyuni on Zanzibar's northeastern coast for your final ocean excursion around Mnemba Atoll. The journey passes tropical villages and coastal vegetation before reaching the beautiful shoreline overlooking Mnemba Island. Meet your boat crew and prepare for the trip to the surrounding coral reef areas, where clear water, tropical fish and beautiful underwater scenery make snorkeling a popular activity. During the boat journey, keep your binoculars nearby for possible sightings of terns and other seabirds flying above the water or feeding in the surrounding marine environment. Once at a suitable snorkeling location, enjoy observing colourful reef fish swimming among coral formations, with the crew selecting sites according to tide, visibility and sea conditions. Mnemba's marine excursion is primarily a snorkeling experience, but it provides an enjoyable opportunity to appreciate a different natural habitat from the grasslands and wetlands of northern Tanzania. After returning to the coast, transfer back to your midrange beach hotel and spend the afternoon relaxing, photographing coastal scenery or observing common birds around suitable nearby habitats before your final evening in Zanzibar.

Activities and Attractions: Mnemba Atoll, Matemwe or Muyuni coastline, coastal seabirds, terns, tropical reef fish, coral reefs, guided snorkeling, Indian Ocean marine life, beach photography and coastal nature observation.

Destination:

Mnemba

Overnight:

Hotel Riu Jambo

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Enjoy your final breakfast at your midrange beach hotel before preparing for departure. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time to enjoy the ocean views, walk around the hotel gardens or observe a few final birds before checking out. Your private Burigi Chato Safaris driver will meet you at the agreed time and transfer you to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, allowing sufficient time for check-in and departure procedures. Your 7-day Tanzania Big Five birdwatching safari and Zanzibar holiday comes to an end with memories of Tarangire's colourful savannah birds, Ngorongoro's wetlands, Serengeti's raptors and large mammals, and Zanzibar's beautiful marine and coastal environments. Thank you for exploring Tanzania with Burigi Chato Safaris. We wish you a safe journey home and hope to welcome you back for another wildlife and birdwatching adventure.