NORTHERN TANZANIA TOUR REPORT 2026

1 - 15 April 2026

Nik Borrow

This incredible tour through the ‘lark plains’ at Engikaret, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, the seemingly endless grasslands of the Serengeti, and finally Arusha National Park surely has got to be the ultimate wildlife travel experience out of anywhere in Africa if not indeed the whole world! The journey is simply one of those ‘must-do’ pilgrimages that all ecotourists should make at least once in their lifetimes. Our visit was in the wet season and this year there had been plenty of early rain! However, it didn’t impinge on our birding and perhaps even enhanced it. There was lush vegetation and high grass everywhere (good for breeding weavers, bishops and whydahs) so game viewing was sometimes not so easy. Fortunately, it was mostly dry during the tour and access to all areas was not a problem. During just fourteen days in the field, we managed to record colourful endemics such as Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Fischer’s and Yellow-collared Lovebirds, Beesley’s Lark, Ashy Starling, Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill and regional specialties such as Taveta and Rufous-tailed Weavers, the little-known and recently split Maasai Apalis and the elusive Grey-crested Helmetshrike. To add to the bonanza of birds there was a wealth of mammals with cats featuring prominently during our game drives and featured some exciting chases and even a kill! We also gained a remarkable insight into the workings of this huge and virtually untouched ecosystem. Under the panoramic skies and across the expansive plains of the Ngorongoro and Serengeti, we were able to witness one of the greatest concentrations of large mammals on earth. After all the wildlife documentaries that have been made on the area the first-time visitor feels a sort of familiarity with the place but no widescreen television or Imax cinema can ever recreate or replace the amazing jaw-dropping and absolutely astonishing experience of actually being there! The sheer spectacle of being surrounded by me-you-ing gnus and hee-hawing zebras combined with the obvious pleasures of a rich and vibrant avifauna, makes this tour a marvellous and deeply moving experience. Despite the huge number of tourists passing through the region it is still possible in this enormous space to escape the gaggles of vehicles that gather around sleepy lions, stealthy cheetahs or secretive leopards and set out in order to discover one’s own wonders. It is indeed exhilarating to head off into the wide blue yonder in search of the next wildlife encounter travelling over huge tracts of country where one never sees another car or human being apart from perhaps the occasional Maasai warrior or cowherd draped in vivid red and striding purposefully across the apparently infinite landscape.

Our adventure began near Arusha at a lodge overlooking Lake Duluti. Those of us that arrived early were able to participate in some relaxed birding in the beautiful gardens that surround the lodge where regional endemic Taveta Golden Weavers were nesting and Brown-breasted Barbets were seen.

A morning visit to the plains at Engikaret gave us the exceedingly rare, endemic Beesley’s Lark gaining some prolonged views of this seriously threatened bird and we also found ‘Foxy’ Fawn-coloured, Short-tailed, Red-capped and ‘Athi’ Somali Short-toed Larks. A sighting of Southern Grosbeak Canary was an early bonus and mammals such as Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest and Eastern Thomson’s Gazelles were both present. A Little Rock Thrush was seen en route to Tarangire, a National Park dominated by its enormous Baobabs, impressive gatherings of African Elephants and endemic Ashy Starlings, Yellow-collared Lovebirds and near-endemic Rufous-tailed Weaver. A night drive produced Northern Lesser Galago, Slender-tailed Nightjars, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl and good numbers of Three-banded and Bronze-winged Coursers.

Sadly, this year we were unable to drive right through Lake Manyara National Park due to rising water levels and a river that had burst its banks. However, we still found colourful Southern Red, Black and Yellow-crowned Bishops all in breeding dress in nearby pools and rice fields. At the end of the day, we climbed up the wall of the Great Rift Valley for an overnight stay before continuing into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where fortunately, the weather was clear for tremendous views of the crater and we managed to scope our first Black Rhinos from the crater rim! In the forests that cloak the slopes we found Brown-headed Apalis and on the high grasslands we watched displaying Jackson’s Widowbirds and glittering Malachite and Golden-winged Sunbirds.

Our day in the phenomenal Ngorongoro Crater which because of all the rain was greatly flooded thus provided a spectacular flamingo experience and enabled views of African Rail. At least nine Black Rhinos were seen and included a rather close sighting of one particular individual. The unassuming Lynes’s Cisticola was found on the crater rim and in the lush forests, we scored with near-endemic Mbulu White-eye, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Montane Nightjar, glorious Schalow’s Turacos and a pretty Abyssinian Crimsonwing.

Our time in the Serengeti was divided between stays in the Seronera area in the heart of the Serengeti and at Ndutu in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where enormous numbers of Serengeti White-bearded Wildebeest and Plains Zebra were grazing and migrating. We did well for cats generally and had multiple encounters with plenty of Lions as well as two Leopards and 13 Cheetahs! We also scored well with the bird specialties and found Maasai (recently split from Karamoja) Apalis, a family of Grey-crested Helmetshrikes, Melodious and White-tailed Larks and endemic Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill and Fischer’s Lovebirds.

Returning via the fascinating museum at Oldupai Gorge we ultimately visited Arusha National Park where we found the near-endemic Broad-ringed White-eye, as well as the rarely seen Abbott’s Starling, Sentinel Lark and mouth-watering species such as Hartlaub’s Turaco. Other noteworthy species seen during the tour included Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Yellow-throated and Black-faced Sandgrouse, Chestnut-banded Plover, Nyanza Swift, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Red-and-yellow, Emin’s  and Usambiro Barbets (both sometimes split from D’Arnaud’s Barbet), Moustached Tinkerbird, Spot-flanked Barbet, Pallid Honeyguide, Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Greater Kestrel, Red-bellied Parrot, Long-tailed and Taita Fiscals, Red-throated Tit, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Rufous-naped Lark, Grey Wren-Warbler, Bar-throated Apalis, Black-headed Apalis, Grey-capped Warbler, Trilling and Hunter’s Cisticolas, Black-headed Mountain Greenbul, Olive-headed (sometimes split as Stripe-faced) and Grey-olive Greenbuls, Banded Parisoma, Pale White-eye, Rufous Chatterer, Black-lored and Northern Pied Babblers, Kenrick’s and Hildebrandt’s Starlings, Bare-eyed Thrush, Silverbird, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, ‘Schalow’s’ Abyssinian Wheatear, Tacazze, Eastern Double-collared and Gorgeous Sunbirds, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Speke’s and Golden-backed Weavers, Steel-blue and Straw-tailed Whydahs, Grey-headed Silverbill, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow, Swahili, Chestnut and Kenya Sparrows, Pangani Longclaw, Southern Citril and Reichenow’s Seedeater.

The tour started at an extremely comfortable lodge overlooking the picturesque Lake Duluti, a small crater lake that nestles between the cultivation, busy towns and the peak of Mount Meru. Early arrivals were able to explore the garden and the lake itself where a pair of Brown-breasted Barbets was seen. At night both African Wood Owl and Garnett’s Greater (or Small-eared) Galago frequented the garden.

After a welcome night’s sleep, we departed early the next day and set out straight after breakfast boarding our sturdy Landcruiser with its open top roof hatches. Travelling north out of Arusha, we gradually descending lower and lower until we reached our first destination near the small settlement of Engikaret on the Lariboro Plains that is home to the incredibly rare endemic Beesley’s Lark. One wonders how long this taxon will survive as perhaps only c.62 of these birds are thought to survive and sadly, despite evidence that supports the validity of the species (Avibase has split it) this taxon is not currently recognised as such by some others.

The plains were green with recent rain and Fawn-coloured (sometimes split as Foxy) Larks were in full song and a pair of beautiful Rosy-patched Bushshrikes and a Southern Grosbeak Canary were there to greet us. Our Maasai guide was waiting for us out on the vast open plain to show us the Beesley’s Lark but as it happened, we found a pair before we reached him! The birds were easy to follow and everyone had great views of this endangered species. Following this great success, we were free to look for a series of other larks the most common of which appeared to be the Red-capped Larks but with some searching we also found ‘Athi’ Somali Short-toed Lark, Short-tailed Lark and our first Fischer’s Sparrow-Larks. During our meanderings across the plains there were also other things to see; large numbers of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse were seen flying over and coming down to land, perky Capped Wheatears were common and some distant game dotted around proved to be Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest and Eastern Thomson’s Gazelles.

The morning was advancing rapidly and we decided to spend some time birding the thorn scrub bordering the plains and this decision turned up a wealth of species. Typical acacia scrub species were seen such as White-bellied Go-away-bird, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Batis, Taita Fiscal, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Red-fronted Prinia, Banded Parisoma, Bare-eyed Thrush, White-browed Scrub Robin, African Grey Flycatcher and Gorgeous Sunbird and we also saw Jacobin and Black Cuckoos and a small number of migrant Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, Northern Wheatear and a female Common Rock Thrush.

It had been a highly successful morning but we now retraced our steps back towards Arusha stopping for ‘Schalow’s’ Abyssinian Wheatears, colourful White-fronted Bee-eaters and a male Little Rock Thrush before continuing towards our next destination, Tarangire National Park.

At the entrance gate there was much disturbance at this formally birdy spot due to recent construction work so we didn’t linger for long although an Upcher’s Warbler here was a great bonus. As time was pressing, we drove directly to our superb lodge with its ‘awesome view’ overlooking the Tarangire River just in time for a roosting African Scops Owl and some relaxed birding with sundowners, surrounded by endemic Ashy Starlings before a superb evening meal and finally settling into our ‘tents’ which were more like huts made out of canvas for a two nights stay.

The Tarangire ecosystem covers an area of approximately 20,000 square kilometres and comprises Baobab and Acacia woodland, Commiphora bushland and open grassland dotted with Real Fan Palms (Hyphaene petersiana) with swamps dominating the southern section. We opted for a full day drive that took us through open savanna and then followed the Tarangire River southwards to Silale Swamp where we enjoyed a pleasant picnic lunch overlooking the vast swamp where we were to see our first Lioness; a collared individual which came out to drink in front of us and then sauntered right by our vehicle.

As we set out for the day Crested Francolins and both Red-necked and Yellow-necked Spurfowl were easy to see by the roadsides and a Common Buttonquail appeared in front of the car on the road. Some ridiculously well-endowed Knob-billed Ducks were seen on pools and dams, showy ‘Black-faced’ Bare-faced Go-away-birds were seen and other goodies included spectacular Grey Crowned Cranes, Saddle-billed Stork and Goliath Heron. Richly coloured Lilac-breasted Rollers, our first Common Ostrich and a selection of vultures including Lappet-faced, Hooded, White-backed and Rüppell’s were seen letting us know that we were truly in ‘Safari Land’ Africa! We did well for raptors generally with Martial, Steppe and Tawny Eagles, Gabar Goshawk, African Fish Eagle and some pretty little Pygmy Falcons. Enormous Southern Ground Hornbills fluttered their long eyelashes at us, Pearl-spotted Owlet showed well and Red-bellied Parrots were often seen as they screeched by. Magpie Shrikes and tail-waggling Long-tailed Shrikes were common and Northern Pied Babblers were also encountered along with Bearded, Eastern Grey and Cardinal Woodpeckers. Impressive flocks of swirling Red-billed Quelea flattened the grasslands and breeding plumaged Southern Red Bishops, White-winged Widowbirds and Cardinal Queleas were also numerous. The endemic form of D’Arnaud’s Barbet which is sometimes considered a separate species ‘Emin’s’ or ‘Black-capped Barbet’ was seen incredibly well. At Silale Swamp Long-toed Lapwings, Black Coucals and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters were plentiful and babbler-like, near-endemic Rufous-tailed Weavers frequented the picnic site. The endemic Yellow-collared Lovebird can normally be seen by their hundreds in the park at this time of year but this tour they were puzzlingly absent. In fact, it was a challenge to find one but finally we succeeded in tracking down a single bird towards the end of the day!

The park is a wonderful place for observing African Savanna Elephants and we enjoyed some great encounters although after recent heavy rains the vegetation was high and the Tarangire River which runs through the park wasn’t quite the magnetic draw that it often is in the dry season. Other mammals included tail-twitching Impala, shaggy-coated Ellipsen Waterbuck, towering stately ‘Maasai’ Giraffes and tiny little Thomas’s Kirk’s Dik-diks.

At night Tarangire Safari Lodge was fortunately still offering game drives. It turned out to be an absolutely mega experience with White-tailed Mongoose as well as Northern Lesser Galago and Bat-eared Fox. The nightbirds excelled with wonderful repeated views of Slender-tailed Nightjar, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Spotted Thick-knee, Three-banded Courser and certainly no less than a dozen Bronze-winged Coursers.

The following morning it was time to continue our journey which took us out of Tarangire and towards Lake Manyara National Park. A Little Sparrowhawk and a family of Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl delayed our departure and a small pool outside of the park held some brightly coloured Yellow-crowned Bishops buzzing round in breeding plumage like some giant bumble-bees. Manyara National Park itself stretches for 50 kilometres along the edge of the imposing Rift Valley escarpment. The lake was once a famous haunt of large numbers of flamingos and other waterbirds. However, for the past several years in common with other lakes in the East African Rift Valley water levels have been rising and this has now covered and killed much of the low-lying woodland that surrounded the lake. The once famous ‘hot springs’ and ‘hippo pools’ are both underwater and it was also clear that the quality of the water wasn’t favourable to birdlife for there were hardly any waterbirds along the shores. Sadly, this year the road conditions were such that we were unable to drive right through the park and our visit was limited to the northern section only where Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Yellow-bellied Greenbul and plenty of breeding plumaged Black Bishops of the colourful race friederichseni were found. At the end of the day, we drove up the wall of the Great Rift Valley to our comfortable lodge perched on the edge of the escarpment itself which at night produced noisy Thick-tailed Greater Galagos in the garden.

We woke the following morning to fantastic views over the Rift Valley towards Lake Manyara. The garden was quite productive with amazing views of a Bearded Scrub Robin in particular and some Grey-olive Greenbuls whilst a pair of African Hawk-Eagles circled overhead.

After a hearty breakfast we continued onwards, ever onwards to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area entering by the Lodoare Gate where we managed to lure Brown Parisoma, Grey-capped Warbler and Brown-headed Apalis into view and continued up along the winding road through montane forest eventually reaching a viewpoint on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. The first word on everyone’s lips was a synchronised “WOW!” because for all of the media familiarity that one might feel for the crater, actually seeing it for the first time is simply awe inspiring! Stretching out down below us was the vast caldera itself, over 16 kilometres across, and even at that great distance we could make out Black (or Browse) Rhinoceros, elephants, buffalos and numerous Serengeti White-bearded Wildebeest wandering across the grasslands! Birding here was surprisingly good with some glorious Schalow’s Turacos, Waller’s Starling, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher and Yellow-bellied Waxbill.

The weather closed in after our picnic lunch which we ate up on the crater rim but eventually the heavy downpour cleared and afterwards we went on to explore the open grasslands that surround the crater and although they seemed to be a little overgrazed these days, we soon found Hunter’s Cisticola, striking Red-cowled Widowbirds and the desirable Jackson’s Widowbird in breeding plumage performing their crazy leaping displays somewhat reminiscent of the Maasai warriors! Driving further we were on the lookout for stands of flowering Leonotis (or ‘Lion’s Paw’) normally favoured by sunbirds. Sadly, there was not a single flower in sight but we finally found our quarry; the much-wanted Golden-winged Sunbird, feeding on honeysuckle instead. We watched them for some time sharing the flowers with Bronze Sunbirds and then we went on to find some lovely Malachite Sunbirds holding territory in a different area.

Our attractive lodge was idyllically situated with fantastic views overlooking the crater. We settled into our rooms and as dusk fell, we enjoyed great views of a Montane Nightjar although it took two attempts!

The next morning, we were up early and made our way to the descent road. New rules have been introduced banning open rooves on cars whist on the crater rim but we still managed to find a Lynes’s Cisticola which is named after the respected Rear-Admiral Hubert Lynes who was responsible for sorting out the taxonomy of this confusing group of warblers in a supplement to The Ibis way back in 1930.

Shafts of sunlight played over the crater floor and we headed straight for the ‘Descent Road’ and embarked on the steep and narrow road down into the crater which was a breath-taking experience. Having reached the wide expanse of flat open grassland that spread over the floor of the crater we were even more aware of the space involved, as dots that were scattered as far as the eye could see gradually became recognisable animals.

Driving over a network of tracks that criss-crossed the caldera floor we were accompanied by good numbers of Pectoral-patch Cisticolas making their little buzzing calls in display flight and we also discovered stunning Rosy-throated Longclaws and dowdy Anteater Chats with flashing white wings. The shallow lake in the crater is called Lake Magadi which held an abundance of water this year and was deeply bordered with numerous wing-flapping, grunting Lesser Flamingos, many Greater Flamingos and a small variety of waterfowl included Blue-billed Teal and the pretty pink-billed Cape Teal.

Big birds were a feature of the day with glorious Grey Crowned Cranes and stately Kori Bustards striding across the plains but of course, our day was also about the mammals and we succeeded in finding no less than seven Black Rhinos including one that was quite close to one of the tracks. As a large portion of the crater bottom appeared to be a marsh it was perhaps no surprise that Little Rush and Lesser Swamp Warblers were found and African Rails were noisy and several were seen.

Some very large solitary bull African Elephants were feeding around the plains as well as family groups and there were ever present large numbers of game and in particular Serengeti White-bearded Wildebeest, Serengeti Thomson’s Gazelles, Grant’s Gazelles and Common Eland. Somewhat dishevelled African (or Cape) Buffalos were common but kept their distance. There was also a distant Serval, menacing Spotted Hyaenas and of course Lions. One female was obviously hungry and decided to hunt a family of Common Warthog while we were watching. She broke into a mad dash for them but was too slow to catch any however one of the hoglets had become separated from its siblings but was still chasing after them and comically behind the lioness which looked like it in turn was being chased by the tiny creature. By the time the cat had realised that it was missing a great opportunity and performed a 180 degree turn the young hog ducked and dived and made good its escape. This live event unfolded in front of our eyes and was most definitely a good watch!

The following morning, we spent our time birding the forested lodge grounds and our productive search yielded a fine Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Brown-backed Woodpecker, the near-endemic Mbulu White-eye, Bar-throated Apalis, Tacazze and Eastern Double-collared Sunbirds, Thick-billed Seedeater and a super Abyssinian Crimsonwing to name but a few.

It was time to leave the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and approaching the lonely entrance to the Serengeti the short grass plains beyond offered us our first glimpse of the great migration as there was a huge line of wildebeest with many more dotted over the sea of grass as far as the eye could see.

There are perhaps over 1.5 million wildebeest in the Serengeti and almost all of them flood into the southeast corner of the ecosystem between January and April when the heavy long rains arrive and although we were witnessing just a fraction of them, it was still absolutely awe-inspiring. The name is derived from the word “Serengit” in the Maa language, which means “Endless Plains” and we certainly experienced this incredible feeling of space as we journeyed on.

At Naabi Hills we ate our picnic lunch in the company of pink-headed Mwanza Flat-headed Agamas and tame Black-lored Babblers but we didn’t linger too long because we had a long way to go as our route took us through the picturesque Gol Kopjes. Having just driven through the broad swathes of game the plains further north were pretty much devoid of mammals although this is where we spotted our first cheetahs (six in total!) and of course more lions. Driving onwards across the grasslands on the black cotton soil, we were paying special attention to larks because in the past few years it had been discovered and now finally proven that not all of the population of White-tailed Larks are indeed that species and some appear to be Melodious Lark, a species previously only known from central Zimbabwe and South Africa! No larks were singing anywhere and flushed birds were difficult to identify. Eventually we came across several that we could identify as White-tailed Lark and then it was onwards, ever onwards! A few resident Greater Kestrels were seen and we enjoyed good looks at Hartlaub’s Bustard and our first Secretarybirds. It was a somewhat rushed journey but it was essential that we had to get to our lovely accommodation for the start of a three nights stay in the heart of the Serengeti by closing time at seven o’clock. We were in good time and made it safely.

The next day we headed straight out in the fresh morning air and fortuitously soon found one of the very special birds of the Serengeti, the localised Grey-crested Helmetshrike. This scarce species is restricted to a small area stretching from northern Tanzania up into southern Kenya where it is particularly localised but also appears to hybridise there with White Helmetshrike thus perhaps making the future of this characterful bird doubtful. We enjoyed excellent views of this characterful species and couldn’t believe our luck that we had found it so quickly. Flappet Larks were displaying above our car as we continued to an area of Whistling Thorn (Vachellia drepanolobium) where we discovered a pair of the highly localised Maasai Apalis (recently split from Karamoja Apalis). This bird is strictly linked with stands of this particular thorn tree and didn’t give itself up too easily at first but after some persistent effort ultimately allowed close views. A Singing Bush Lark was found, pretty Grey-headed Silverbills were seen and we improved on views of Steel-blue and Straw-tailed Whydahs.

Lunchtime at the Seronera picnic area allowed opportunities to see and photograph some common birds that included a pair of Black-necked Weavers. It is also a good place to pick up news of where something good might be and in this case, it was a Leopard so we got back in our vehicles and headed out to the area where it had last been seen. We indeed found the animal sprawled out along the branches of a spreading acacia but unfortunately it was a little distant so we resumed lark-quest and headed back towards our lodge. Some more White-tailed Larks were seen but still no sign of the missing Melodious and it still seemed like most of the larks were silent, presumably having already bred, and the grasslands very empty. Back in the bush country a pair of endemic Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill posed nicely for us.

With most of our targets already seen we had a full day to search for the errant lark but again had no luck although we did find Meyer’s Parrot that had up to this point been mysteriously absent and also numerous endemic Fischer’s Lovebirds were seen.

Our Melodious Lark sightings arrived at last the following day as we left the Serengeti. A singing bird was seen well and just in the nick of time. We had lunch again at Naabi Hills where, returning to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area a Red-headed Weaver was seen along with Black-faced Waxbill and a pair of the regional endemic Red-throated Tit. We spent our next three nights at the charming Ndutu Safari Lodge. Entering the park we chanced across a pair of Bronze-winged Courser and this time in broad daylight.

We had two full days to explore the Ndutu area and here we could partake in some exciting off-road driving excursions during our stay in search of cats and more for here one isn’t limited to simply driving along the tracks but can also take off into the wide blue yonder creating a great sense of adventure. Our explorations took us out over the endless plains, through acacia woodlands and around the two lakes; Ndutu and Masek that lie on the border of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where and Kittlitz’s and Chestnut-banded Plovers were seen.

There were even more Lions in the Ndutu area and we were entertained by some wonderful Cheetahs. Particularly memorable will be an individual that had just managed to catch a Thomson’s Gazelle and was gorging rapidly on it. We had just missed the kill itself but that was going to change the following day when we revisited a hungry female and her two well-grown cubs. We found the animals early on and were able to witness the entire build up to the chase. A small group of Thomson’s Gazelles were feeding a little too close for comfort and slowly the female moved in closer and closer. The gazelles spooked a little but didn’t move far enough away as she hunkered down behind a ridge that hid her from view. The attentive cubs were not far behind watching every move. Having deemed the distance was close enough she bolted forward and the gazelles scattered in panic. She had singled out one individual and never lost sight of it but never caught up with it either. What she did manage to do was force the animal to double back on its tracks just as she grew weary of the chase and this was its downfall as it headed straight back into the waiting cubs who wasted no time in bringing the gazelle to the ground and rapidly dispatched it so that all three could enjoy the meal.

At the end of the first day in the Ndutu area we had just been watching a lioness trying unsuccessfully to hunt wildebeest and had turned around to head back and get back to the lodge before closing time when we hit a hole with some force and broke two of the leaf springs on a rear wheel. Our driver was well equipped with spares and he quickly set to work to fix the problem. A rescue vehicle was arranged for us and as we waited, we were witness to a spectacular sunset as the wildebeest gazed back at us warily. As dusk fell, we could see the eyeshine of a herd of zebra and we wondered if indeed the lioness was out there in the darkness waiting for an opportunity to grab an unwary tourist! Fortunately, we were soon rescued and some were lucky to see an African Wild Cat on their impromptu night drive!

During the days endemic Grey-breasted Spurfowl were common and offered numerous viewing opportunities. Pretty little Harlequin Quails were flushed from the short grass plains and some were actually seen at rest. Secretarybird was a much-wanted species during this tour and Ndutu probably gave us our best encounters with this strange raptor. By this stage of the tour, we had seen most of the new bird species likely so our time at Ndutu enabled us to improve on views and photographs but a few new ones were seen including Rufous Chatterer.

Leaving Ndutu we paid a visit to Oldupai Gorge (named after the wild sisal Sansevieria ehrenbergii that grows there), site of many important hominid discoveries by the Leakey family and now home to a fascinating museum to visit and learn a number of things about the “cradle of mankind”. Outside we found Southern Grosbeak Canary, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird and also Pale White-eye.

Our final day was spent in Arusha National Park that encompasses the volcanic slopes of Mount Meru, an impressive peak reaching some 4566m (14,979ft). It was a damp morning after heavy overnight rain and first we visited a site where we found nesting Grosbeak Weavers and a colony of near-endemic Taveta Golden Weavers.

At the park entrance we watched Scaly Spurfowl, Spot-flanked Barbet, Trilling Cisticola and Rüppell’s Robin-Chat. Entering the park, we headed inwards and upwards to the forest where we spent all of the morning. Initially all was quiet but birds were becoming active after the rain. We saw Mountain Wagtail on the road and a pair of White-backed Ducks on a flooded pool. Our first stop produced some Kenrick’s Starlings and White-eared Barbets but then perhaps the trickiest bird of the tour was spotted and we could hardly believe our eyes as two male Abbott’s Starlings settled on the top of some dead snags and stayed long enough to get some decent scope views. This difficult bird is restricted to mountain forests in northern Tanzania and Kenya and is seldom seen. Flushed with success we drove higher to the Ngurdoto Crater rim, where shaggy-coated Guereza Colobus gathered leaves in the treetops. Some superb Hartlaub’s Turacos popped into view, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters wheeled back and forth and the near-endemic Broad-ringed White-eye was seen well and other successes included African Goshawk, Moustached Tinkerbird, Narina Trogon, Pallid Honeyguide, Retz’s Helmetshrike, Olive-headed (aka Stripe-faced) Greenbul, Black-headed Apalis, Ashy Flycatcher and Olive Sunbird.

In the afternoon we headed down to the surprisingly empty Momella lakes where Brown-hooded Kingfisher, White-headed Barbet, Moustached Grass Warbler and Short-winged Cisticola, were found as well as the recently split Sentinel Lark.

Back at our hotel overlooking Lake Duluti after breakfast and when the rain had stopped, we all managed views of the handsome Brown-breasted Barbet and also added Giant Kingfisher to our list.

The tour was over and there was nothing else to do but baton down the hatches and head back carrying home with us a myriad of marvellous experiences both on numerous memory cards but better still in our own internal memories! There are over 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras in the Serengeti and almost all of them flood into the southeast corner of the ecosystem between January and April when the heavy long rains arrive and their calves and foals are born and numbers swell considerably and it felt that we must have seen a fair number of them! It had been a stunning fortnight packed full of amazing wildlife encounters and the amount of time spent at each location had actually helped us feel a part of the Ngorongoro and Serengeti rather than just visitors. Our talented driver/guide had manoeuvred the car over all manner of difficult terrain and without his driving and mechanical skills we might never have had the marvellous views of the wildlife that we had enjoyed on this tour. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater is home to one of the greatest wildlife scenarios on this planet and we were privileged to have witnessed it for ourselves.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows Avilist v2025 (Avilist Core Team 2025. Avilist: The Global Avian Checklist v2025)

Common Ostrich  Struthio camelus

White-backed Duck  Thalassornis leuconotus

White-faced Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna viduata

Fulvous Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna bicolor

Maccoa Duck  Oxyura maccoa

Spur-winged Goose  Plectropterus gambensis

Egyptian Goose  Alopochen aegyptiaca

Knob-billed Duck  Sarkidiornis melanotos

Southern Pochard  Netta erythrophthalma

Blue-billed Teal  Spatula hottentota

Cape Teal  Anas capensis

Red-billed Teal (R-b Duck)  Anas erythrorhyncha

Helmeted Guineafowl  Numida meleagris

Coqui Francolin  Campocolinus coqui

Crested Francolin  Ortygornis sephaena

Common Quail  Coturnix coturnix  (H) Heard only

Harlequin Quail  Coturnix delegorguei

Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl ◊  Pternistis hildebrandti

Scaly Spurfowl  Pternistis squamatus

Yellow-necked Spurfowl  Pternistis leucoscepus

Grey-breasted Spurfowl ◊  Pternistis rufopictus

Red-necked Spurfowl  Pternistis afer

Lesser Flamingo  Phoeniconaias minor

Greater Flamingo  Phoenicopterus roseus

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis

Black-necked Grebe (Eared G)  Podiceps nigricollis

Bare-faced Go-away-bird (Black-f G-a-b)  Crinifer [personatus] leopoldi

White-bellied Go-away-bird  Crinifer leucogaster

Schalow’s Turaco  Tauraco schalowi

Hartlaub’s Turaco ◊  Tauraco hartlaubi

Kori Bustard  Ardeotis kori

White-bellied Bustard (Northern W-b B)  Eupodotis senegalensis

Hartlaub’s Bustard ◊  Lissotis hartlaubii

Black-bellied Bustard  Lissotis melanogaster

White-browed Coucal  Centropus superciliosus

Black Coucal  Centropus grillii

Great Spotted Cuckoo  Clamator glandarius

Levaillant’s Cuckoo  Clamator levaillantii

Jacobin Cuckoo (Black-and-white C)  Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo (Didric C)  Chrysococcyx caprius

Klaas’s Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx cupreus  (H) Heard only

Black Cuckoo  Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo  Cuculus solitarius

Common Cuckoo (Eurasian C)  Cuculus canorus

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse  Pterocles exustus

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse ◊  Pterocles gutturalis

Black-faced Sandgrouse ◊  Pterocles decoratus

Laughing Dove  Spilopelia senegalensis

Dusky Turtle Dove  Streptopelia lugens

Ring-necked Dove  Streptopelia capicola

Red-eyed Dove  Streptopelia semitorquata

Mourning Collared Dove (African M D)  Streptopelia decipiens

African Olive Pigeon (Rameron P)  Columba arquatrix

Speckled Pigeon  Columba guinea

Rock Dove (introduced)  Columba livia

Namaqua Dove  Oena capensis

Tambourine Dove  Turtur tympanistria

Blue-spotted Wood Dove  Turtur afer

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove  Turtur chalcospilos

African Green Pigeon  Treron calvus  (NL) Non leader

Grey Crowned Crane  Balearica regulorum

African Rail (A Water R)  Rallus caerulescens

Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot (Crested C)  Fulica cristata

Purple Swamphen (African S)  Porphyrio [porphyrio] madagascariensis

Black Crake  Zapornia flavirostra

Spotted Thick-knee  Burhinus capensis

Water Thick-knee  Burhinus vermiculatus

Pied Avocet  Recurvirostra avosetta

Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus

Common Ringed Plover  Charadrius hiaticula

Three-banded Plover  Thinornis tricollaris

Long-toed Lapwing (L-t Plover)  Vanellus crassirostris

Blacksmith Lapwing (B Plover)  Vanellus armatus

Black-winged Lapwing (B-w Plover)  Vanellus melanopterus

Crowned Lapwing (C Plover)  Vanellus coronatus

Kittlitz’s Plover  Anarhynchus pecuarius

Chestnut-banded Plover ◊  Anarhynchus pallidus

African Jacana  Actophilornis africanus

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Marsh Sandpiper  Tringa stagnatilis

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

Ruff  Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper  Calidris ferruginea

Little Stint  Calidris minuta

Common Buttonquail (Small B)  Turnix sylvaticus

Double-banded Courser (Two-b C)  Smutsornis africanus

Bronze-winged Courser ◊ (Violet-tipped C)  Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Three-banded Courser (Heuglin’s C)  Rhinoptilus cinctus

Temminck’s Courser  Cursorius temminckii

Collared Pratincole  Glareola pratincola

Gull-billed Tern  Gelochelidon nilotica

Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern (W-w Black T)  Chlidonias leucopterus

Grey-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

African Openbill (A O-billed Stork)  Anastomus lamelligerus

Marabou Stork  Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork  Mycteria ibis

Saddle-billed Stork  Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

White Stork  Ciconia ciconia

African Woolly-necked Stork  Ciconia microscelis

Reed Cormorant (Long-tailed C)  Microcarbo africanus

Great Cormorant (White-breasted C)  Phalacrocorax [carbo] lucidus

Glossy Ibis  Plegadis falcinellus

Hadada Ibis  Bostrychia hagedash

African Spoonbill  Platalea alba

African Sacred Ibis  Threskiornis aethiopicus

Hamerkop  Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican  Pelecanus onocrotalus

Black Heron (Black E)  Egretta ardesiaca

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax

Little Heron (Green-backed H)  Butorides atricapilla

Squacco Heron  Ardeola ralloides

Great Egret (Western G E)  Ardea [alba] melanorhynchos

Yellow-billed Egret  Ardea brachyrhyncha

Western Cattle Egret  Ardea ibis

Black-headed Heron  Ardea melanocephala

Goliath Heron  Ardea goliath

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Montane Nightjar ◊  Caprimulgus poliocephalus

Slender-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus clarus

African Palm Swift  Cypsiurus parvus

Scarce Swift  Schoutedenapus myoptilus

White-rumped Swift  Apus caffer

Horus Swift  Apus horus

Little Swift  Apus affinis

Nyanza Swift ◊  Apus niansae

Pearl-spotted Owlet  Glaucidium perlatum

African Scops Owl  Otus senegalensis

Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl  Ketupa lactea

African Wood Owl  Strix woodfordii

Secretarybird  Sagittarius serpentarius

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene)  Polyboroides typus

Palm-nut Vulture  Gypohierax angolensis  (NL) Non-leader

White-headed Vulture  Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture  Torgos tracheliotos

Hooded Vulture  Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture (African W-b V)  Gyps africanus

Rüppell’s Vulture (R’s Griffon V)  Gyps rueppelli

Bateleur  Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle  Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle  Circaetus cinereus

Martial Eagle  Polemaetus bellicosus

Long-crested Eagle  Lophaetus occipitalis

Steppe Eagle  Aquila nipalensis

Tawny Eagle  Aquila rapax

African Hawk-Eagle  Aquila spilogaster

Gabar Goshawk  Micronisus gabar

Dark Chanting Goshawk  Melierax metabates

Eastern Chanting Goshawk (E Pale C G)  Melierax poliopterus

African Goshawk  Aerospiza tachiro

Little Sparrowhawk  Tachyspiza minulla

Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk  Accipiter rufiventris

Pallid Harrier  Circus macrourus

Montagu’s Harrier  Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier (Eurasian M H)  Circus aeruginosus

Black Kite (Yellow-billed K)  Milvus [migrans] aegyptius

African Fish Eagle  Icthyophaga vocifer

Augur Buzzard  Buteo augur

Common Buzzard (Steppe Buzzard)  Buteo [buteo] vulpinus

Blue-naped Mousebird  Urocolius macrourus

Speckled Mousebird  Colius striatus

Narina Trogon  Apaloderma narina

Common Hoopoe (African H)  Upupa [epops] africana

Common Scimitarbill  Rhinopomastus cyanomelas  (H) Heard only

Abyssinian Scimitarbill ◊  Rhinopomastus minor

Green Wood Hoopoe  Phoeniculus purpureus

Southern Ground Hornbill  Bucorvus leadbeateri

Crowned Hornbill  Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill  Lophoceros nasutus

Von der Decken’s Hornbill ◊  Tockus deckeni

Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill ◊ (Ruaha R-b H)  Tockus ruahae

Northern Red-billed Hornbill  Tockus erythrorhynchus

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill  Bycanistes brevis

Purple Roller (Rufous-crowned R)  Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller  Coracias caudatus

European Roller (Eurasian R)  Coracias garrulus

White-fronted Bee-eater  Merops bullockoides

Little Bee-eater  Merops pusillus

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater ◊  Merops oreobates

European Bee-eater (Eurasian B-e)  Merops apiaster

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater  Merops persicus

African Pygmy Kingfisher  Ispidina picta

Giant Kingfisher  Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher  Ceryle rudis

Woodland Kingfisher  Halcyon senegalensis

Striped Kingfisher  Halcyon chelicuti

Brown-hooded Kingfisher  Halcyon albiventris

Grey-headed Kingfisher (Chestnut-bellied K)  Halcyon leucocephala

Red-and-yellow Barbet ◊  Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

D’Arnaud’s Barbet ◊ (Emin’s B)  Trachyphonus [darnaudii] emini

D’Arnaud’s Barbet ◊ (Usambiro B)  Trachyphonus [darnaudii] usambiro

White-eared Barbet  Stactolaema leucotis

Moustached Tinkerbird ◊ (M Green T)  Pogoniulus leucomystax

Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus uropygialis

Red-fronted Barbet  Tricholaema diademata

Spot-flanked Barbet ◊  Tricholaema lacrymosa

Brown-breasted Barbet ◊  Pogonornis melanopterus

White-headed Barbet  Lybius leucocephalus

Green-backed Honeybird  Prodotiscus zambesiae

Pallid Honeyguide ◊ (Eastern H)  Indicator meliphilus

Lesser Honeyguide  Indicator minor

Nubian Woodpecker  Campethera nubica

Bearded Woodpecker  Chloropicus namaquus

Brown-backed Woodpecker  Dendropicos obsoletus

Eastern Grey Woodpecker ◊  Dendropicos spodocephalus

Cardinal Woodpecker  Dendropicos fuscescens

Pygmy Falcon  Polihierax semitorquatus

Lesser Kestrel  Falco naumanni

Greater Kestrel ◊ (White-eyed K)  Falco rupicoloides

Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus

Grey Kestrel  Falco ardosiaceus

Eurasian Hobby  Falco subbuteo

Lanner Falcon  Falco biarmicus

Meyer’s Parrot (Brown P)  Poicephalus meyeri

Red-bellied Parrot ◊ (African Orange-bellied P)  Poicephalus rufiventris

Fischer’s Lovebird ◊  Agapornis fischeri

Yellow-collared Lovebird ◊  Agapornis personatus

Black Cuckooshrike  Campephaga flava

Brubru  Nilaus afer

Brown-crowned Tchagra  Tchagra australis

Grey-headed Bushshrike  Malaconotus blanchoti

Black-backed Puffback  Dryoscopus cubla

Rosy-patched Bushshrike  Rhodophoneus cruentus

Orange-breasted Bushshrike (Sulphur-b B)  Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Tropical Boubou  Laniarius major

Slate-coloured Boubou  Laniarius funebris

Chinspot Batis  Batis molitor

Pygmy Batis  Batis perkeo

Grey-crested Helmetshrike ◊  Prionops poliolophus

Retz’s Helmetshrike  Prionops retzii

Black-headed Oriole (African B-H O, Eastern B-h O)  Oriolus larvatus

Fork-tailed Drongo (Common D)  Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher  Terpsiphone viridis

Magpie Shrike  Urolestes melanoleucus

Long-tailed Fiscal ◊  Lanius cabanisi

Grey-backed Fiscal  Lanius excubitoroides

Taita Fiscal ◊  Lanius dorsalis

Lesser Grey Shrike  Lanius minor

Northern Fiscal  Lanius humeralis

Red-backed Shrike  Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike (Rufous-tailed, Turkestan S)  Lanius phoenicuroides

Northern White-crowned Shrike  Eurocephalus ruppelli

Cape Crow (C Rook, Black C)  Corvus capensis

White-necked Raven (W-naped R)  Corvus albicollis

Pied Crow  Corvus albus

House Crow (introduced)  Corvus splendens

Red-throated Tit ◊  Melaniparus fringillinus

Beesley’s Lark ◊ (Pygmy Spike-heeled L)  Chersomanes beesleyi

Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark ◊  Eremopterix leucopareia

Fawn-coloured Lark ◊ (Foxy L)  Calendulauda [africanoides] alopex

White-tailed Lark ◊  Mirafra albicauda

Melodious Lark ◊  Mirafra cheniana

Singing Bush Lark  Mirafra javanica

Flappet Lark  Amirafra rufocinnamomea

Rufous-naped Lark ◊  Corypha africana

Sentinel Lark ◊  Corypha athi

Short-tailed Lark ◊  Spizocorys fremantlii

Red-capped Lark  Calandrella cinerea

Somali Short-toed Lark ◊ (Athi S-t L)  Alaudala [somalica] athensis

Eastern Nicator  Nicator gularis  (H) Heard only

Moustached Grass Warbler (African M W)  Melocichla mentalis

Red-faced Crombec  Sylvietta whytii

Yellow-bellied Eremomela  Eremomela icteropygialis

Grey Wren-Warbler ◊  Calamonastes simplex

Bleating Camaroptera (Grey-backed C)  Camaroptera brachyura

Buff-bellied Warbler  Phyllolais pulchella

Bar-throated Apalis ◊  Apalis thoracica

Yellow-breasted Apalis  Apalis flavida

Black-headed Apalis ◊  Apalis melanocephala

Brown-headed Apalis ◊  Apalis alticola

Maasai Apalis ◊  Apalis stronachi

Tawny-flanked Prinia  Prinia subflava

Red-fronted Prinia  Prinia rufifrons

Grey-capped Warbler ◊  Eminia lepida

Red-faced Cisticola  Cisticola erythrops

Singing Cisticola  Cisticola cantans

Trilling Cisticola ◊  Cisticola woosnami

Hunter’s Cisticola ◊  Cisticola hunteri

Rattling Cisticola  Cisticola chiniana

Lynes’s Cisticola ◊  Cisticola distinctus

Winding Cisticola  Cisticola marginatus

Croaking Cisticola  Cisticola natalensis

Short-winged Cisticola (Siffling C)  Cisticola brachypterus

Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis

Desert Cisticola  Cisticola aridulus

Pectoral-patch Cisticola  Cisticola brunnescens

Upcher’s Warbler  Hippolais languida

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler  Iduna pallida

African Yellow Warbler (Dark-capped Y W)  Iduna natalensis

Sedge Warbler  Acrocephalus schoenobaenus  (H) Heard only

Lesser Swamp Warbler  Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Cinnamon Bracken Warbler  Bradypterus cinnamomeus  (H) Heard only

Little Rush Warbler  Bradypterus baboecala

Black Saw-wing  Psalidoprocne [pristoptera] holomelas

Banded Martin  Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin (Plain M)  Riparia paludicola

Red-throated Rock Martin  Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Wire-tailed Swallow  Hirundo smithii

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica

Western House Martin  Delichon urbicum

Lesser Striped Swallow  Cecropis abyssinica

Red-breasted Swallow (Rufous-chested S)  Cecropis semirufa

Mosque Swallow  Cecropis senegalensis

African Red-rumped Swallow  Cecropis melanocrissus

Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus

Black-headed Mountain Greenbul ◊  Arizelocichla nigriceps

Olive-headed Greenbul ◊ (Stripe-faced G)  Arizelocichla striifacies

Yellow-bellied Greenbul  Chlorocichla flaviventris

Grey-olive Greenbul ◊  Phyllastrephus cerviniventris

Common Bulbul (Dark-capped B)  Pycnonotus [barbatus] tricolor

Banded Parisoma ◊  Curruca boehmi

Brown Parisoma  Curruca lugens

Common Whitethroat  Curruca communis  (NL) Non leader

Pale White-eye ◊ (P Scrub W-e)  Zosterops flavilateralis

Mbulu White-eye ◊  Zosterops mbuluensis

Broad-ringed White-eye ◊  Zosterops eurycricotus

Rufous Chatterer ◊  Argya rubiginosa

Arrow-marked Babbler  Turdoides jardineii

Black-lored Babbler ◊  Turdoides sharpei

Northern Pied Babbler ◊  Turdoides hypoleuca

Red-billed Oxpecker  Buphagus erythroryncha

Yellow-billed Oxpecker  Buphagus africanus

Wattled Starling  Creatophora cinerea

Violet-backed Starling  Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling  Onychognathus morio

Waller’s Starling  Onychognathus walleri

Abbott’s Starling  Arizelopsar femoralis

Kenrick’s Starling ◊  Poeoptera kenricki

Hildebrandt’s Starling ◊  Lamprotornis hildebrandti

Rüppell’s Starling  Lamprotornis purpuroptera

Ashy Starling ◊  Lamprotornis unicolor

Superb Starling  Lamprotornis superbus

Abyssinian Thrush (Mountain or Northern Olive T)  Turdus abyssinicus

Bare-eyed Thrush ◊ (African B-e T)  Turdus tephronotus

Bearded Scrub Robin  Tychaedon quadrivirgata

White-browed Scrub Robin  Cercotrichas leucophrys

Ashy Flycatcher  Fraseria caerulescens

Silverbird ◊  Empidornis semipartitus

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher  Melaenornis fischeri

African Grey Flycatcher  Bradornis microrhynchus

African Dusky Flycatcher  Muscicapa adusta

Spotted Flycatcher  Muscicapa striata

Rüppell’s Robin-Chat ◊  Cossypha semirufa

White-browed Robin-Chat  Cossypha heuglini

Spotted Palm Thrush (S Morning T)  Cichladusa guttata

Cape Robin-Chat  Dessonornis caffer

Little Rock Thrush  Monticola rufocinereus

Common Rock Thrush (Rufous-tailed R T)  Monticola saxatilis

Whinchat  Saxicola rubetra

African Stonechat  Saxicola torquatus

Mocking Cliff Chat  Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Anteater Chat (Northern A C)  Myrmecocichla aethiops

Northern Wheatear  Oenanthe oenanthe

Capped Wheatear  Oenanthe pileata

Familiar Chat (Red-tailed C)  Oenanthe familiaris

Abyssinian Wheatear ◊ (Schalow’s W)  Oenanthe [lugubris] schalowi

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird (Kenya V-b S)  Anthreptes orientalis

Collared Sunbird  Hedydipna collaris

Olive Sunbird  Cyanomitra olivacea

Tacazze Sunbird ◊  Nectarinia tacazze

Bronze Sunbird (Bronze S)  Nectarinia kilimensis

Malachite Sunbird  Nectarinia famosa

Golden-winged Sunbird ◊  Drepanorhynchus reichenowi

Amethyst Sunbird  Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird  Chalcomitra senegalensis

Eastern Double-collared Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris mediocris

Gorgeous Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris melanogastrus

Marico Sunbird (Mariqua S)  Cinnyris mariquensis

Variable Sunbird  Cinnyris venustus

Thick-billed Weaver (Grosbeak-W)  Amblyospiza albifrons

Rufous-tailed Weaver ◊  Histurgops ruficauda

Speckle-fronted Weaver  Sporopipes frontalis

Grey-capped Social Weaver ◊ (Grey-headed S W)  Pseudonigrita arnaudi

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver  Plocepasser mahali

White-headed Buffalo Weaver  Dinemellia dinemelli

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver  Bubalornis niger

Baglafecht Weaver  Ploceus baglafecht

Black-necked Weaver  Ploceus nigricollis

Holub’s Golden Weaver  Ploceus xanthops

Taveta Weaver ◊ (T Golden W)  Ploceus castaneiceps

Lesser Masked Weaver  Ploceus intermedius

Vitelline Masked Weaver  Ploceus vitellinus

Speke’s Weaver ◊  Ploceus spekei

Village Weaver ◊ (Layard’s W)  Ploceus cucullatus

Golden-backed Weaver ◊  Ploceus jacksoni

Chestnut Weaver  Ploceus rubiginosus

Cardinal Quelea  Quelea cardinalis

Red-billed Quelea  Quelea quelea

Southern Red Bishop  Euplectes orix

Black-winged Red Bishop  Euplectes hordeaceus

Black Bishop  Euplectes gierowii

Yellow-crowned Bishop  Euplectes afer

Yellow Bishop  Euplectes capensis

White-winged Widowbird  Euplectes albonotatus

Red-cowled Widowbird (R-naped W)  Euplectes laticauda

Fan-tailed Widowbird (Red-shouldered W)  Euplectes axillaris

Jackson’s Widowbird ◊  Euplectes jacksoni

Red-headed Weaver  Anaplectes rubriceps

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Eastern P W)  Vidua paradisaea

Pin-tailed Whydah  Vidua macroura

Steel-blue Whydah ◊  Vidua hypocherina

Straw-tailed Whydah ◊  Vidua fischeri

Village Indigobird (Red-billed Firefinch I)  Vidua chalybeata

Grey-headed Silverbill ◊  Spermestes griseicapilla

Bronze Mannikin  Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin (Red-backed M)  Spermestes [bicolor] nigriceps

Yellow-bellied Waxbill  Coccopygia quartinia

Abyssinian Crimsonwing ◊  Cryptospiza salvadorii

Grey-headed Nigrita (G-h Negrofinch)  Nigrita canicapillus

Black-faced Waxbill  Brunhilda erythronotos

Common Waxbill  Estrilda astrild

Crimson-rumped Waxbill  Estrilda rhodopyga

Quailfinch  Ortygospiza atricollis

Cut-throat Finch  Amadina fasciata

Purple Grenadier  Granatina ianthinogaster

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu  Uraeginthus bengalus

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu ◊  Uraeginthus cyanocephalus

Green-winged Pytilia  Pytilia melba

Red-billed Firefinch  Lagonosticta senegala

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow ◊ (Y-s Petronia)  Gymnoris pyrgita

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow  Passer griseus

Swahili Sparrow ◊  Passer suahelicus

Chestnut Sparrow ◊  Passer eminibey

Kenya Sparrow ◊ (Rufous S)  Passer rufocinctus

House Sparrow (introduced)  Passer domesticus

Mountain Wagtail  Motacilla clara

Western Yellow Wagtail (Yellow-headed W)  Motacilla [flava] lutea

Western Yellow Wagtail (Grey-headed W)  Motacilla [flava] thunbergi

African Pied Wagtail  Motacilla aguimp

Yellow-throated Longclaw  Macronyx croceus

Pangani Longclaw ◊  Macronyx aurantiigula

Rosy-throated Longclaw (R-breasted L)  Macronyx ameliae

Plain-backed Pipit  Anthus leucophrys

African Pipit (Grassland P)  Anthus cinnamomeus

Yellow-fronted Canary  Crithagra mozambica

Southern Citril ◊ (East African C)  Crithagra hyposticta

Reichenow’s Seedeater ◊ (Kenya Yellow-rumped S)  Crithagra reichenowi

White-bellied Canary  Crithagra dorsostriata

Southern Grosbeak-Canary ◊  Crithagra buchanani

Streaky Seedeater  Crithagra striolata

Thick-billed Seedeater  Crithagra burtoni

Yellow-crowned Canary  Serinus flavivertex

Golden-breasted Bunting (African G-b B)  Emberiza flaviventris

MAMMALS

Bush Hyrax (Bush H)  Heterohyrax brucei

Rock Hyrax (Black-necked R H)  Procavia capensis

African Savanna Elephant  Loxodonta africana

Cheetah  Acinonyx jubatus

Afro-Asiatic Wildcat  Felis lybica  (NL) Non leader

Serval  Leptailurus serval

Lion  Panthera leo

Leopard  Panthera pardus

Common Genet (Small-spotted G)  Genetta genetta

Spotted Hyena  Crocuta crocuta

Common Dwarf Mongoose  Helogale parvula

Common Slender Mongoose  Herpestes sanguineus

White-tailed Mongoose  Ichneumia albicauda

Banded Mongoose  Mungos mungo

African Golden Wolf  Canis lupaster

Black-backed Jackal  Lupulella mesomelas

Bat-eared Fox  Otocyon megalotis

Plains Zebra (Common Z)  Equus quagga

Black Rhinoceros (Browse R)  Diceros bicornis

Common Warthog  Phacochoerus africanus

Maasai Giraffe  Giraffa tippelskirchi

Impala (Common I)  Aepyceros melampus

Hartebeest (Coke’s H, Kongoni)  Alcelaphus [buselaphus] cokii

Natal Red Duiker (Harvey’s D)  Cephalophorus [natalensis] harveyi

Blue Wildebeest (Eastern White-bearded W)  Connochaetes [taurinus] albojubatus

Blue Wildebeest (Serengeti White-bearded W)  Connochaetes [taurinus] mearnsi

Tsessebe (Topi)  Damaliscus [lunatus] jimela

Thomson’s Gazelle (Serengeti T G)  Eudorcas [thomsonii] nasalis

Thomson’s Gazelle (Eastern T G)  Eudorcas [thomsonii] thomsonii

Waterbuck (Defassa W)  Kobus [ellipsiprymnus] defassa

Waterbuck (Ellipsen W)  Kobus [ellipsiprymnus] ellipsiprymnus

Cavendish’s Dik-dik  Madoqua cavendishi

Thomas’s Dik-dik  Madoqua thomasi

Grant’s Gazelle  Nanger granti

Suni  Nesotragus moschatus

Cape Buffalo (African B)  Syncerus caffer

Common Eland  Tragelaphus oryx

Northern Bushbuck  Tragelaphus scriptus

Common Hippopotamus  Hippopotamus amphibius

Yellow-winged False-vampire (Y-w Bat)  Lavia frons

Minor Epauletted Fruit Bat  Epomophorus minor

Wahlberg’s Epauletted Fruit Bat  Epomophorus wahlbergi  (H) Heard only

Northern Lesser Galago (Senegal G)  Galago senegalensis

Thick-tailed Greater Galago (G G)  Otolemur crassicaudatus

Garnett’s Greater Galago (Small-eared G G)  Otolemur garnettii

Blue Monkey (Sykes’s M)  Cercopithecus [mitis] albogularis

Vervet Monkey (Savanna M)  Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Guereza (Eastern Black-and-white Colobus)  Colobus guereza

Olive Baboon  Papio anubis

African Savanna Hare  Lepus microtis

Ochre Bush Squirrel (Huet’s B S)  Paraxerus ochraceus

Unstriped Ground Squirrel  Xerus rutilus

African Grass Rat  Arvicanthis niloticus