DAY 01:
ARRIVAL DAR ES SALAAM

Upon arrival at Dar Es Salaam Julius Nyerere International Airport met with Biko Adventures Tours representative and transfer to Tiffany Diamond Hotel for overnight (BB)

DAY 02:
DAR ES SALAAM TO SELOUS GAME RESERVE

After breakfast drive to Selous arrive in time for late lunch at Rufiji River Lodge Rufiji River Camp located at the banks of great Rufiji River. After lunch and little rest set off for a boat cruise along the river looking at hippos and crocodiles which enjoying the sunset. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp

DAY 03:

FULL DAY SELOUS GAME RESERVE

After breakfast set off for a full day game drive in a specially modified safari vehicle with a professional guide exploring the bush game viewing the greater Selous. Waterbuck, southern reedbuck and bushbuck are common. Rare sable antelope, lion and greater kudu also frequent this area. Packed lunch will be served by your guide who will select a location with shade and water nearby to watch animals coming to drink – a place with a clear view all round so that no predator can creep up unseen! Late evening return to the Camp for sunset viewing. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp

DAY 04:

FULL DAY SELOUS GAME RESERVE

Wake up early and set off for a walk through the bush and along the riverbank to learn about environment accompanied by an armed ranger return for breakfast then set off for big game and bird watching on the last northern edge from southern Africa. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp

DAY 05:

SELOUS TO MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK

After an early Breakfast, long drive crossing through the Selous – East to West into Morogoro and Mikumi. You will enjoy unscheduled stretching and birding stops en route arriving in time for dinner and overnight at Tan Swiss Camp

DAY 06: MIOMBO WOODLANDS BIRDING THEN MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK

Pre-Breakfast dawn and mid morning bird walk in the Miombo woodlands Afternoon Check out and drive inside Mikumi NP. Dinner and overnight at Vuma Hill Tented Camp

Birding in Miombo woodlands
Mikumi has a estimated 400 species of birds from black bellied bustards, guinea fowls, marabou storks, bateleur eagles, ox peckers, lilac breasted rollers just to mention a few

DAY 07: FULL DAY MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK

Morning and afternoon birding & big game viewing in Mikumi National Park. Dinner and overnight at Vuma Hill Tented Camp

DAY 08: MIKUMI TO UDZUNGWA NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast drive southwards into Udzungwa and Kilombero flood plains for afternoon birding for the Kilombero flood plains endemics. Dinner and overnight at Twiga Hotel near Udzungwa

Endemic bird species Kilombero flood plains
Some endemic bird species such as the Kilombero weaver, Kilombero cisticola, Melodius cisticola, Iringa akalat and the dappled throated mountain robin

DAY 09: BIRDING THE KILOMBERO VALLEY ENDEMICS

After breakfast set off for birding on foot / hiking the East Udzungwa forest for forest birds and endemic primates. All meals and overnight at Twiga Hotel near Udzungwa

Endemic primates
Udzungwa mountain is one the most important for diversity of primates there are two endemic monkeys species (Udzungwa red colobus Procolobus gordonorum and Sanje mangabey Cercocebus [galeritus] sanjei), and the near-endemic kipunji monkey Rungwecebus kipunji

DAY 10: UDZUNGWA TO RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast set off for a long day drive with picnic lunch connecting the Udzungwas to the Great Ruaha National Park via Mikumi and Iringa Towns into Ruaha with bird stop and game viewing en-route the late afternoon arriving at Ruaha River Lodge for dinner and overnight

DAY 11: FULL DAY RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast big game viewing, Photography and birding. All meals and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge

Birding in Ruaha
The birding activity in Ruaha National Park is extremely interesting and rewarding as there are approximately 574 species recorded within the Park up to date.

Serious and exciting birding can be done during the wet season at inaccessible remote areas with difficulty which makes it more fun those seldom visited areas as one will never expect what to see

14 Days Birdwatching in Southern Tanzania to see in Ruaha National Park
The crested barbet, yellow-collared lovebird plus ashy starling. As well as migratory birds from November up to April

Other notable birds are the common Tanzanian red- billed hornbill, The common Bateleur, Giant kingfisher, Collared palm-thrush, White-browed coucal, Spur-winged goose, Birding specials, African fish eagle, Ashy starling (endemic to Tanzania), Black-bellied bustard, Collared palm-thrush, Crested barbet, Eleonora’s falcon, Emerald-spotted wood dove, Goliath heron, Long-crested eagle, Namaqua dove, Southern ground hornbill, Tanzanian red-billed hornbill, White-bellied go-away bird, Yellow-collared lovebird (near endemic to Tanzania)

DAY 12: FULL DAY RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast big game viewing, Photography and birding. All meals and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge

DAY 13: FULL DAY RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast big game viewing, Photography and birding. All meals and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge

DAY 14: FLY OUT TO DAR ES SALAAM
After breakfast transfer to the airstrip for domestic flight to Dar es Salaam in time for evening International outbound flight