Arusha and Moshi are not just stopovers. Within an hour or two you can bird mountain forest, soda lakes and dry plains, each with very different species. A morning here makes a good start or end to a safari.
Arusha National Park
About 400 species are recorded in this small park on the slopes of Mount Meru. The forest has Hartlaub’s turaco, narina trogon, silvery-cheeked hornbill and cinnamon-chested bee-eater. The Momella Lakes hold flamingos, little grebes, ducks and waders. Walking safaris with a ranger are allowed. Read our Arusha National Park guide.
Kilimanjaro’s forests
The montane forest on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro has turacos, white-eyes, sunbirds and the rare Abbott’s starling. Higher in the moorland, look for alpine chats, scarlet-tufted sunbirds and, with luck, lammergeier. Read Kilimanjaro’s climate zones.
Longido
The dry plains around Longido, on the road to Kenya, are famous among birders for Beesley’s lark, one of the rarest birds in Africa, found only in a small area near Engikaret. The area also holds dry-country species such as larks, sparrow-weavers and hornbills. Local Maasai guides know where to look.
North Pare Mountains
These small mountains between Moshi and Mkomazi have forest patches with sunbirds, greenbuls and other montane species, and easy hiking with village guides.
Birding tips
- Go out at dawn, when birds are most active.
- Bring 8×42 or 10×42 binoculars and an East Africa field guide or app.
- Ask for a guide with birding experience, and allow time to stop for small birds.
Many guests add a birding morning before a climb on Machame or a safari on the Northern Loop. Start with our beginner’s guide to the birds of Tanzania.
Frequently asked questions
Arusha National Park and the Momella Lakes, Longido’s dry plains and the forests of Kilimanjaro and the Pare Mountains.
A critically endangered lark found only in a small area of grassland near Longido and Engikaret.
Yes. Walking safaris with an armed ranger are allowed.
