Join us to explore Tanzania beyond the Serengeti! We are thrilled to announce this exciting and popular safari is back, timed to coincide with Southern Tanzania’s dry season, a time when wildlife and birds are concentrated along waterways. During this time we also have more complete access to several stunning national parks that are too wet in other seasons. We have prime tented camps and lodges booked and are excited to explore Tanzania’s wildest and less-traveled terrain, a stronghold for African wildlife species including predators. To include habitat diversity, we also visit a coastal park on the Indian Ocean and isolated mountain ranges that feature unique flora and fauna. Our route samples a great mix of habitats including Miombo forest, giving us a rich array of birds as well as mammals, including some isolated endemics and species not found in northern parts of the country.

From the modern and bustling city of Dar es Salaam, enjoy a boat ride in the mangroves of a coastal park at Saadani where the ocean meets the bush. Driving inland, on this Tanzania wildlife safari we sample Afromontane forests in the foothills of the largest and most diverse range of Africa’s Eastern Arc, the Udzungwa Mountains. From here we visit three famous national parks with ample time for finding wildlife and birds of savannah, acacia woodland, and Miombo woodland at Ruaha, Mikumi, and Nyerere (formerly Selous Game Reserve) National Parks.

This is a new Tanzania safari trip for Naturalist Journeys, but well researched and we are confident it is a superb opportunity. We are once again teaming up with Cisticola Tours to pair their local expertise with that of our company founder, Peg Abbott, veteran of over twenty Africa trips. We travel in rugged and well-equipped land cruisers between parks. The group size is limited to just 10 participants in two vehicles.

“Throughout the journey, you are immersed in the splendor of wildlife, both mammals and birds, and our timing is set for the peak of the great Wildebeest migration. Because of this timing, we must confirm our tour early; we visit at PRIME time! East Africa is still the ultimate safari experience, hands down.”
— Peg Abbott, Owner of Naturalist Journeys

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Tour Highlights

  • Explore the more remote reaches of Tanzania, beyond the Serengeti
  • Visit key national parks and conservation sites known for abundant wildlife
  • Join expert local birding guides who have deep experience with the region
  • Find wading birds as you boat through coastal mangroves and wetlands north of Dar es Salaam at Saadani National Park
  • Search for unique forest birds in the Udzungwa Mountains, the largest of Africa's isolated chain of mountains known as the Eastern Arc
  • Spend three nights in Ruaha National Park, known for its Lions, Leopards, and classic grazing mammals
  • Find Zebra, Wildebeest, Giraffe, and beautiful, colorful birds at Mikumi National Park
  • Watch for wildlife along the Sand Rivers of Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), made famous in the writings of Peter Matthiesson
  • Stay 3 nights in well-appointed safari tents at Rufiji River Camp with a river view; dine under the stars
  • Bird in Miombo Woodland and watch for stately Ground Hornbill on more open plains
  • Surrender to the rhythm of safari life; renew your spirits on this NEW! African journey
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Cost of the Journey

Cost of this Tanzania safari is $TBD DBL (singles are limited, please ask for pricing), from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This cost includes accommodations for 15 nights, all meals as specified in the itinerary, professional guide services, other park and program entrance fees and miscellaneous program expenses.

Tour cost do not include: round-trip transportation from your home city to Dar es Salaam, optional activities, or items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone charges, gratuities for guides, lodges and drivers, or beverages from the bar; personal, medical, cancellation insurance.

Travel Details

Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.

Plan to arrive in Dar es Salaam at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in time for a welcome dinner on September 7. Most flights from the USA will originate one or two days ahead of time to get you in September 7. If you would like to arrive early, please let us know and we can help you book additional nights at our hotel (additional cost). Please ask to be connected with our travel agent if you would like help booking your flights; we’ll pay her ticketing fee.

Please plan departure flights after 8:00 PM on September 22. We can help you book an additional night’s hotel if you need to fly out the next day.

 

Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.

Tanzania

Southern Tanzania

Map for Southern Tanzania: Wildlife & Birding Safari

Pace & Protocols +

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of Read more

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect

You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.

Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain. It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.

We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.

Naturalist Journeys International Trips: Guide Role

Naturalist Journeys supports ecotourism and the development of excellent local guides. Once we know our international partners and guides well, we can send out small groups working directly with these trusted partners, adding a Naturalist Journeys guide to assist the local expert when we have a group of 6-7 or more. This helps us keep your costs down while retaining tour quality. The local guide is your main guide. You can expect your Naturalist Journeys guide to be well-researched and often they are experienced in the destination, but their role is not to be primary, it is to help to organize logistics, help you find birds, mammals, and interesting other species in the field, keep reports, help facilitate group interactions, and to keep the trip within Naturalist Journeys' style. Local guides live in the countries we travel to, know the destinations intimately, and are often the strongest force for conservation in their countries. They open many doors for us to have a rich experience.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

As a courtesy to each other, we ask that all travelers please rotate seating. On international trips we may all be in one small bus, on some trips we are in vans, particularly the roomy Sprinter Vans when available. Some areas require us to be in smaller 4-wheel drive or safari vehicles. Rotation allows you to sit with different drivers and alternate front and back seating.

Photo Release & Sharing

We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.

By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

Travel Insurance

You are traveling in remote areas. Naturalist Journeys strongly recommends you have full medical and evacuation insurance from a company such as Allianz, for all international travel. If you do not have medical coverage or evacuation coverage on your existing travel insurance policy or for some reason elected not to take that out, we advise getting an evacuation plan with Global Rescue, World Nomads, Medjet, Allianz (they can do evacuation only) or a similar company. These plans are typically $300-$400 for a year for multiple destinations. This coverage may be a part of a larger Travel Insurance policy but can also be purchased on its own.

Questions?

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.

 

Suggested Reading List +

  There are many titles of interest for Tanzania; the following are a few that we Read more

 

There are many titles of interest for Tanzania; the following are a few that we have enjoyed that can get you started.

General Wildlife

Safari Companion, a Guide to Watching African Mammals

Bradt Safari Guide Northern Tanzania: Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar

Antelope of Africa  

The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals

Portraits of the Wild: Behavior Studies of East African Mammals

Island Africa, The Evolution of Africa’s Rare Animals and Plants

Savage Paradise, The Predators of Serengeti

Field Guides

A Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Tanzania.  

Animals of the Serengeti

National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife

Wildlife of East Africa (Princeton Pocket Guides)

The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals (Princeton Pocket Guide)

Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa

Birds of the Serengeti. Adam Scott Kennedy

Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania

Collins Guide to the Wildflowers of East Africa

Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa

Species Profiles

Giraffe: Biology, Behavior and Conservation

The Gnu’s World: Serengeti Wildebeest Ecology and Life History

Lions in the Balance: Man-Eaters, Manes, and Men with Guns

The Serengeti Lion: A Study of Predator-Prey Relations

Cheetahs of the Serengeti Plains: Group Living in an Asocial Species

Big Cat Diary: Leopard

The Big Cat Diary: Lion

The Spotted Hyena: A Study of Predation and Social Behavior

The African Wild Dog, Behavior, Ecology and Conservation

Among the Elephants

Elephant Memories: Thirteen Years in the Life of an Elephant Family

Coming of Age with Elephants: A Memoir

Also, there are SO MANY DVD’s on African wildlife, go browse and enjoy. It’s a really great way to prepare for your tour. Don’t miss David Attenborough’s Echo the Elephant, and the Nature Series various Africa titles, including Firebirds – the Flamingoes of the Great Rift Valley.

History & Culture

East Africa: An Introductory History

Africa

Africa’s Great Rift Valley

The Scramble for Africa

The Blue Nile

The White Nile

African Ceremonies

Africa Adorned

Maasai and The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior

Origins Reconsidered

Serengeti, The Eternal Beginning

The Africans

Literature

I Dreamed of Africa

Out of Africa

Safari, A Chronicle of Adventure

The Flame Trees of Thika

The End of the Game

The Tree Where Man Was Born

Green Hills of Africa and The Snows of Kilimanjaro

West with the Night

Your guide will also have a selection of reference books and materials for participants to share. As an Amazon Associate, Naturalist Journeys earns from qualifying purchases, and may get commissions for purchases made through links on this page at no added cost to you.

Useful Links +

Learn more about your destination at these external websites, carefully researched for you. Read more

General

Dar es Salaam

Morogoro

11-minute video by Travelindex Network and Travel & Tourism Foundation

Fast facts about Tanzania

Nature, Wildlife & Biology

Birds of Tanzania

Bird Checklist

African Bird Club

Species of Tanzania – iNaturalist.org

 “The Greatest Animal Migration” – 43-minute (wildebeest migration) video

Conservation, Parks & Reserves

Tanzania Conservation Program – Lincoln Park Zoo

Wildlife Conservation in Tanzania – USAID

African Wildlife Foundation

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) – Tanzania

The Nature Conservancy – Tanzania

One Earth – Tanzania

Parks:

Saadani National Park

Udzungwa National Park

Ruaha National Park

Mikumi National Park

Nyerere National Park

Geology & Geography

Geology

Travels in Geology: Tanzania’s Natural Wonders – Article, Earth Magazine

Geology and mineral map of Tanzania

Geography of Tanzania

Eastern Arc Mountains

Udzungwa Mountains

History & Culture

Basic Swahili for Travelers

Online pronunciation of key words and phrases

History of Tanzania

Culture of Tanzania

Customes and Cuisine of Tanzania – Etiquette and Recipes

Cuisine

Helpful Travel Websites

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)

National Passport Information Center

U.S. Department of State International Travel Information - Tanzania

Homeland Security Real ID Act

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) - Tanzania

Canada Travel Advice and Advisories - Tanzania

Travel Health Pro (UK) - Tanzania

Foreign Exchange Rates

ATM Locator

Electricity and Plugs - Tanzania

Date, Time, and Holidays - Tanzania


Photo credits: Banners: Elephants by Peg Abbott; Saddle-billed by Greg Smith; Africa Pygmy Kingfisher, by Gisela Gerson Lohman-Braun; Wildebeest and Zebra by Peg Abbott; Giraffes under Baobab by Peg Abbott; Leopard by Greg Smith; African Fish Eagle, Crowned Crane, Elephant with Infant, Lion Cub, Yellow-billed Stork Rookery, Zebra Greeting, European Bee-eater, Wildebeest and Calf by Peg Abbott; Secretary Bird, Peg Abbott; African Hoopoe, Peg Abbott; Knob-billed Duck, Peg Abbott; Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Peg Abbott; Gazelle, Peg Abbott; Malachite Kingfisher, Peg Abbott; Red-billed Hornbill, Greg Smith; Arusha National Park, Peg Abbott; Striped Kingfisher, Peg Abbott; Black-and-white Colobus, Peg Abbott; Lilac-breasted Roller, Peg Abbott; Ndutu Sunrise, Peg Abbott; Zebra, Peg Abbott; Wildebeest, Peg Abbott; Kori Bustard, Peg Abbott; Tawny Eagle, Peg Abbott; Red-cheeked Cordon-blue, Peg Abbott; Fork-tailed Drongo, Peg Abbott; Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Peg Abbott; Bar-throated Apalis, George Bakken; Giraffe, Peg Abbott; African Fish Eagle, Peg Abbott; Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Washington Wachira; Saddle-billed Stork, Peg Abbott; Greater Flamingo, Bob Rodrigues; Chestnut-banded Plover, Bob Rodrigues; Bat-eared Fox, Peg Abbott; Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Peg Abbott; Brown-crowned Tchagra, Peg Abbott; Crowned Crane, Peg Abbott; Hammerkop, Peg Abbott; Helmeted Guineafowl, Peg Abbott; Ostrich, Peg Abbott; Red-billed Oxpecker, Peg Abbott; Sandgrouse, Peg Abbott; Yellow-billed Stork, Peg Abbott; Red-headed Barbet, Peg Abbott.

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