The quiet coast south of Dar es Salaam is a rewarding area for birders who enjoy shorebirds and seabirds. Mafia Island, the Rufiji Delta and the coast around Kilwa have few visitors and plenty of birds.
Mafia Island
- Sandbanks and shores: crab plovers, greater and lesser sand plovers, whimbrels, curlew sandpipers and several species of tern.
- Mangroves: herons, egrets, kingfishers and mangrove-dwelling sunbirds.
- Coastal forest and farmland: sunbirds, bee-eaters, rollers and coastal forest species.
- Chole Island: large fruit bat roosts, and birds in the old baobabs and ruins.
Boat trips to sandbanks at low tide are the best way to see waders and terns close up. Read about Mafia Island.
The Rufiji Delta
East Africa’s largest mangrove forest lies where the Rufiji River meets the sea, opposite Mafia. It holds large numbers of waterbirds and is visited by boat. Upstream, the river flows through Nyerere National Park.
Kilwa
Around the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, mudflats and mangroves attract waders, while nearby forest patches hold coastal species.
When to go
September to April for migrant shorebirds. The sea is calmest from October to March, which also suits whale shark trips on Mafia.
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.
See Mafia whale sharks. Start with our beginner’s guide to the birds of Tanzania.
Frequently asked questions
Crab plovers, sand plovers, whimbrels, terns, herons, kingfishers and coastal forest birds.
The largest mangrove forest in East Africa, where the Rufiji River meets the Indian Ocean opposite Mafia Island.
September to April, when migrant shorebirds are present.
