13 May 2025 - 24 May 2025 (12 days)
USD6,995 - 3 Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Ryan Tyrer
Tour price (Per person): USD6,995 * GBP5,440 * EUR6,527 * AUD10,675
Single Supplement: USD520 * GBP404 * EUR485 * AUD794
12 May 2026 - 23 May 2026 (12 days)
USD7,295 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Julian Parsons
Tour price (Per person): USD7,295 * GBP5,674 * EUR6,807 * AUD11,133
Single Supplement: USD530 * GBP412 * EUR495 * AUD809
Our Northern Tanzania Bird Photo Tour explores the bird-and wildlife-rich reserves of the northern parts of this exceptionally diverse country. The savanna of East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia) is the richest habitat on Earth for birds (as far as sheer volume/density is concerned) and we will be continually surrounded by the most spectacular and cooperative avian treasures, most of which are outstandingly beautiful and extremely easy to see and photograph. A joy indeed and a bird photographer’s paradise! Not that birds are the only focus of this adventure, since we will find ourselves also marvelling at some of the highest concentrations of mammals to be found anywhere on our planet, and all this amidst spectacular scenery in one of Africa’s wildest, most stable, and least spoilt destinations!
Highlights
Fischer’s & Yellow-collared Lovebirds; Ashy Starling; Grey-breasted Spurfowl; Rufous-tailed Weaver; Blue-naped Mousebird; Pygmy Falcon; Yellow-throated Sandgrouse; Von der Decken’s & Silvery-cheeked Hornbills; White-bellied Go-away-bird; White-headed Buffalo Weaver; Grey-crested Helmetshrike; Secretarybird; Bateleur; Silverbird; Blue-capped Cordonbleu; Lappet-faced Vulture; Schalow’s & Purple-crested Turacos; Tacazze, Golden-winged & Eastern Double-collared Sunbirds; Crowned & Martial Eagles; Kori Bustard; Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill; Saddle-billed & Marabou Storks; Grey Crowned Crane.
African Elephant; Black Rhinoceros; Lion; Leopard; African Buffalo (the 'Big Five'); Cheetah; Serval; Maasai Giraffe; Spotted Hyena; Thomson’s & Grant’s Gazelles; Tsessebe; Hartebeest; Bohor Reedbuck; Common Eland; Common Hippopotamus; Oribi; Waterbuck; Blue Wildebeest; Plains Zebra.
lowland & afromontane forests, Acacia savanna, rivers and wetlands, rocky gorges, grassland, Baobab-studded grasslands.
warm to hot, dry conditions, but cool at higher elevations and rain can be expected
6 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Undemanding. Suitable for all photography / birding / wildlife interest levels and mobility capabilities. • Our Bird Photo Tours are a hybrid between our Classic birding tours and dedicated photographic tours. You don’t have to be a professional photographer or have the biggest lens; this is for everyone with an interest in photography and birding. Whether you’re using a bridge camera or the latest body and prime lens, our aims are the same. • These tours are not aimed at seeing the most species possible on the route, rather taking time to photograph key targets and any other interesting species we may find. Naturally, the overall species list will be lower than a comparable birding focused tour. • Whilst we may use blinds, feeders and hide setups on some of these tours, we will not be spending an entire day nor even several hours fixed in one spot. • These tours are suitable for photographers who prefer opportunistic photography over entire days in a hide. • Our leaders will assist in helping everyone secure good photographic opportunities and advise as much as they can on camera setup. However, they are not professional photographic tour leaders.
Comfortable lodges & tented safari camps
Undemanding. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions. Forest edge birding is limited.
Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Maasai
Excellent throughout. Mostly from the vehicle and in lodge gardens. No dedicated hides.
Paul Varney was a superb guide. He worked hard throughout the tour, ensured everyone got what they wanted from the trip and had incredible patience always answering (even often repeated) questions and had excellent knowledge of the birds and game. What really impressed was he was always open and willing to say he didn’t know or wasn’t sure, knew when to let an ID go and would make effort to work out a tricky ID from images overnight and confirm later. We thoroughly enjoyed his company and he made it a great experience. Moses our driver was fantastic. He has great knowledge of the areas visited, is an excellent, careful and confident driver and has incredible eyes. He is also a genuinely caring and lovely man who helped make the time in the vehicle a lot of fun. Your ground agents are brilliant. I guess you know that, but they made everything work very smoothly and helped with organising transfers.
The tour was amazing and probably one of the best we have been on. Paul and Moses were great guides and managed to get us on birds and good opportunities for photographing birds and animals. I appreciated Paul's patience and constant enthusiasm. Moses really understood the animals and what birds or mammals might do next - he got us in good position for great photos. Moses also had a great sense of humor and responded quickly when one of our tour members became sick. I really like that Rockjumper takes care of all the tipping and takes care of local staff and guides. This is a real benefit in the tours for me.
I really can’t think of a way this tour could have been improved.... The itinerary was wonderful, the accommodations lovely, and the birds fantastic. Greg de Klerk is one of my all-time favorite guides. He genuinely cares about his guests, and does his best to make sure they have a great experience. This was truly a trip I have dreamed of since I was a kid, and it certainly fulfilled my expectations.
We very much enjoyed our East Africa experience, finding it to be the adventure we dreamed it would be. With Greg de Klerk as our excellent and informative guide and the incredible wildlife, the tour exceeded our expectations. Greg took care of us all throughout the tour and was extremely patient and considerate to make certain that all were able to find the birds we were seeking. We had a group with different levels of birding experience and Greg worked so well with all. Thanks to all who made this wonderful experience happen for us.
Our Tanzania: Highlights of the North tour was a wonderful experience. Nigel Redman was a superb leader with an in-depth knowledge of the birds of East Africa which he generously shared throughout the trip. His many years of experience in leading birding tours showed: he was an expert in spotting and identifying birds and, most importantly, getting participants on the bird quickly. Nigel's own enthusiasm and delight in birds was contagious and his good humour set the tone for a very enjoyable tour. He and local guide Roger were true professionals and we would love to travel with either again.
Tanzania - Mega Birding Tour 2024 - September 2024
Tanzania - Mega Birding Tour 2023 - September 2023
Tanzania - Highlights of the North: Birds & Big Game I 2022 - September 2022
Tanzania - Highlights of the North: Birds & Big Game II 2022 - September 2022
Tanzania - Matson 2021 - November 2021
Tanzania - Highlights of the North: Birds & Big Game 2019 - November 2019
Tanzania - Mega Birding Tour 2017 - September 2017
Tanzania - Kennedy 2017 - March 2017
Tanzania - Knox 2010 - December 2010
Tanzania - Mega Birding Tour 2009 - June 2009