Tanzania’s diverse topographies and microclimates are part of the reason for the country’s large number and variety of species. We’ve listed a few of them in the most popular tourist destinations below… However, for the truly daring, it is also possible to venture further afield in search of a few rarities (the shoebill in the central western wetland complex of the Moyowosi-Kigozi, for example)

The Tanzania-Malawi Endemic Bird Area and the Eastern Arc Mountains

Tanzania’s ancient mountain ranges, which run from north to south and include the Pare and Usumbara mountain ranges in the north and Udzungwa and Mahenge mountain ranges in the south, are the oldest in East Africa and home to some of the world’s greatest endemic biodiversity.

The Estern Arc Mountains became a haven for all types of flora and fauna due to their isolation approximately 10 million years ago, and it is now one of the last places on the planet where it is possible to encounter truly endemic species and, for the truly intrepid birder, some completely new species.

The Udzungwa Range National Park, located to the north of the Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania, is probably the most important reserve within the EBA. Many of the country’s endemic species can be found in this park. The nearby Amani Nature Reserve, on the other hand, is a more accessible haven for those hoping to see these rare species.

In the north of Tanzania, you can go birding.

The national parks to the north of Tanzania were formed by the collision of two tectonic plates, and as a result, they are both barren and fertile in equal measure. The Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire National Parks are excellent for large raptors and scavengers, but if you want to get away from the “flock,” there are a few other options.

In Tanzania’s south, there’s a lot of birding to be done.

The main parks of the Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Parks, like Tanzania’s northern parks, are excellent birding destinations in their own right.