Bird Watching Tanzania

Each time people talk of a safari holiday on the African continent what crosses man people’s minds is seeing lions, rhinos, buffaloes and elephants. Actually there is one special thing that many people tend to under look not until they set foot in Africa and that is the prolific African Bird.

Tanzania prides in a diversity of both endemic and exotic bird species which overwhelming numbers ranking it as the second best birding paradise in East Africa after Uganda.  more than 1000 species of birds have registered across the country and among these are forest birds, sea-birds, water birds and savanna birds.  Among the water species are kingfishers, the uncommon Pel’s Fishing Owl, the African Skimmer and the goliath heron. Below are some of the prominent bird species in Tanzania.

Bee-eater:

These very colorful birds are normally hovering on fences and branches of trees. They feed mainly on wasps plus bees and 4 species of bee-eaters are usually seen in the country, varying in color and size. They are commonly seen on Lake Manyara, Usambara, Highland forests, Southern Tanzania and along the Coastal areas.

Crowned-Crane:

these long-legged birds are very graceful and resemble the stork as well as heron. They are found in grasslands, swamps, and lake shores and normally seen around in pairs. Majority of these can be seen around the Ngorongoro Crater.

Fish Eagles

these are commonly seen in tree branches close to water bodies. They are excellent fish catchers and mainly seen in Rubondo Island National Park and Ruaha National Parkadjacent to the river banks.

Hoopee

these are very beautiful birds, commonly seen in tiny noisy flocks. They are best viewed in the National parks in northern Tanzania like Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire.

Marabou stork,

these are scavengers commonly seen among other vultures species eating carcass. They have a large beak plus a deep-pink pouch that swings on their neck. They are normally seen in majority of the national parks as well as game reserves across Tanzania.

Ostrich:

These are the biggest birds in the whole world. The Ostrich are mostly known because of their incapability to fly. Commonly seen in Tanzania’s northern plain, in Tarangire and the Serengeti.

Parrots

these mainly live in forest although many of them have been registered in the forest of Mount  Kilimanjaroand Mount Meru.

Secretary birds:

theses strangely looking bird are mainly seen in the Serengeti, Ruaha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire they have a quill-like feather on their heads, and they move with so much self-importance. These birds rarely fly and only do so in times when must do so.

Some of the other birds species in the country include:

Vorreaux’s eagle owl, Fischer’s lovebird, crested cranes, grey-rumped-spur fowl, hornbill, babbler-like rufous-tailed weaver, whydahs, cattle egret, flycatchers, vultures, guinea fowl, weavers, woodpeckers and several scavengers.

Therefore if the idea of enjoying a Tanzania Safari ever crosses your mind, after perusing through this yet interesting adventure in Tanzania, you can always having birding included on your itinerary by your tour operator or travel agent.