My friends a Dutch couple arrived with KLM late in the evening on March 14. We drove straight home to my house and retired more or less right away. Be aware that my hard drives with my RAW files were stolen, so all these pictures are generated from JPG files.
Day 1, Saturday, March 15, 2025: Kiligolf.
We spent the entire day at Kiligolf. I realised that my friends were bird photographers. They did not have binoculars and in addition were using a monopod. I am sure many people like to use a monopod, but I hate it since I loose my flexibility to quickly follow a bird. Anyway we had a successfull day at Kiligolf and recorded 73 species.
Some pictures from Day 1:
Malachite Kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
Nubian Woodpecker, Camphetera nubica, Endemic to NE Africa
Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides
Superb Starling, Lamprotornis superbus. Endemic to NE Africa
White-browed Coucal, Centropus superciliosus
Thick-billed Weaver, Amblyospiza albifrons
African Hawk-Eagle, Aquila spilogaster
Buff-bellied Warbler, Phyllolais pulchella
Trumpeter Hornbill, Bycanistes bucinator
Day 2, Sunday, March 16, 2025: Lark Plains, Oldonyo Sambo and Lengijave.
The big target on the lark plains is the endemic Beesley’s Lark. On all my visits, I have never dipped on this bird! Here are some of the other birds we registered on the Lark plains: Taita Fiscal, Martial Eagle, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Diederik Cuckoo, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Capped Wheatear, Common Buzzard, African Pipit, Sentinel Lark, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Crowned Lapwing, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Montagu’s Harrier, Lappet-faced Vulture, Temminck’s Courser, Greater Kestrel, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Fawn-coloured Lark. Then at the Acacia forest adjacent to the Lark Plains: Grey-capped Social Weaver, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Pied Crow, Augur Buzzard, Banded Parisoma, Cardinal Woodpecker, Kenya Sparrow, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, White-bellied Canary, Red-fronted Prinia, Brubru, Gorgeous Sunbird, Slate-colored Boubou, White-headed Mousebird, White-throated Robin, Fork-tailed Drongo, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Short-tailed Lark and Red-tailed Shrike. We headed for Oldonyo Sambo and got our only target there: Little Rock Thrush. Next stop Lengijave gave us amongst others, the following birds: Baglafecht Weaver, Black Bishop, Streaky Seedeater, White-fronted Bee-eater, Southern Citril, Abyssinian Wheatear, Bronze Sunbird, Northern Fiscal, Cape Robin-Chat, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Bronze Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Lyne’s Cisticola, Speckled Pigeon, Brown-throated Martin, Red-throated Rock Rock Martin, Long-billed Pipit, African Hoopoe and on the way home Taveta Weaver.
Some pictures from Day 2:
Beesley’s Lark, Chersomanes beesleyi, Endemic to a small area North of Arusha, Tanzania
Isabelline Wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
Temminck’s Courser, Cursorius temminicki
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Eremopterix leucopareia
Grey-capped Social Weaver, Pseudonigrita arnaudi, Endemic to NE Africa
Kenya Sparrow, Female, Passer rufocinctus, Endemic to E Africa
Slate-colored Boubou, Laniarius funebris, Endemic to NE Africa
Banded Parisoma, Curruca boehmi, Endemic to NE Africa
Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus minor, Endemic to E Africa
Scaly Chatterer, Argya aylmeri, Endemic to NE Africa
Gorgeous Sunbird, Cinnyris melanogastrus
Short-tailed Lark, Spizocorys fremantlii, Endemic to NE Africa
Singing Cisticola, Cisticola cantans
White-fronted Bee-eater, Merops bullockoides
Lybe’s Cisticola, Cisticola distinctus, Endemic to E Africa
Arrow-marked Babbler, Turdoides jardineii
Black Bishop, Euplectes gierowii
Bronze Sunbird, Nectarina kilimensis
Taveta Weaver, Ploceus castaneiceps, Endemic to N Tanzania and S Kenya
Day 3, Monday, March 17, 2025, Kiligolf – Tarangire National Park – Karatu
We started early that morning and did some birding towards the gate of Tarangire. We added Southern Red Bishop and Rufous-tailed Weaver. Inside the park: Wattled Starling, Ashy Starling, Red-necked Spurfowl, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Red-bellied Parrot, Silverbird, Pangani Longclaw, Reichenow’s Seedeater, Bateleur, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Long-tailed Fiscal, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Namaqua Dove, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Egyptian Goose, Tawny Eagle, Mourning Collared Dove, African Jacana, Grey-crowned Crane, Knob-billed Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Yellow-billed Egret and Woodland Kingfisher. We had now reached our breakfast spot. After breakfast we continued: Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Winding Cisticola, Double-banded Courser, Magpie Shrike, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Wood Sandpiper, Black-winged Kite, Common Ostrich, Buff-crested Bustard, Harlequin Quail, Zitting Cisticola, Spotted Thick-knee, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, White-backed Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Flappet Lark and Southern Ground Hornbill. We had lunch at the gate. We still had some time and added: Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Little Sparrowhawk, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Red-rumped Swallow, Lesser Striped Swallow and Wire-tailed Swallow. We drove to Karatu, checked in to the guest house, had dinner and retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 3:
Rufous-tailed Weaver, Histurgops ruficauda, Endemic to TZ and S Kenya
Ashy Starling, Lamprotornis unicolor, Endemic to Tanzania and S Kenya
Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Pternistis leucoscepus, Endemicto NE Africa
Pangani Longclaw, Macronyx aurantiigula, Endemic to NE Africa
Red-and-yellow Barbet, Trachyphonus erythrocephalus, Endemic to E Africa
Long-tailed Fiscal, Lanius cabanisi, Endemic to NE Africa
Red-necked Spurfowl, Pternistis afer
Black-faced Sandgrouse, Pterocles decoratus, Endemic to NE Africa
Secretarybird, Sagitarrius serpentarius
Spotted Thick-knee, Burhinus capensis
Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Crinifer personatus, Endemic to E Africa
Little Sparrowhawk, Tachyspiza minulla
Pearl-spotted Owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
African Cuckoo, Cuculus gularis
Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus
Day 4, Tuesday, March 18, 2025: Endoro Trail, Karatu – Lake Eluanata, Nanja – Kiligolf.
We started birding the Endoro Trail around 7:30 that morning. Here are some of the species we registered on the way up and down: Red-faced Cisticola, African Palm Swift, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-headed Oriole, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Schalow’s Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, African Dusky Flycatcher, Grey-headed Nigrita, Tambourine Dove, Grey-backed Camaroptera, White-browed Robin-Chat, Brown-headed Apalis, Thick-billed Seed-eater, Tropical Boubou, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Grey-olive Greenbul, African Hill Babbler, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Black-headed Mountain Greenbul, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Sharpe’s Starling, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Black Saw-wing, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Crowned Eagle, African Paradise Flycatcher, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher and Baglafecht Weaver. We got back in the car, stopped at the viewpoint over Lake Manyara and drove to Nanja and Lake Eluanata. Here are some of the birds we registered there: Corn Crake (LIFER), Common Buttonquail, Harlequin Quail, Blue-billed Teal, Red-billed Teal, Southern Pochard, White-faced Whistling Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Northern Pied Babbler, Fulvous Whistling Duck, African Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Red-knobbed Coot, Ruff, Quailfinch and Common Greenshank.
Brown-headed Apalis, Apalis alticola
White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Melaernornis fischeri, Endemic to C and E Africa
Baglafecht Weaver, Juvenile, Ploceus baglafecht
Corn Crake, Crex crex – LIFER
Fulvous Whistling Duck, Dendracygna bicolor
Spur-winged Goose, Plectropterus gambensis
Day 5, Wednesday, March 19, 2025: Arusha National Park
We were at the park entrance around 08:00. Here are some of the birds we registered on our way to our breakfast spot: Spot-flanked Barbet, Red-billed Oxpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Little Bee-eater, African Stonechat, Tambourine Dove, Scaly Spurfowl, Palm-nut Vulture, Moustached Grass Warbler, Broad-ringed White-eye, African Goshawk, Golden-tailed Woodpecker and Olive-headed Greenbul. On the way to the Momella lakes, we added Great Egret and Red-cowled Widowbird. At the lakes: Reed and Great Cormorant, Banded Martin, Cape Teal, Black-crowned Tchagra, Little Stint, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Spur-winged Lapwing and Crested Francolin. We drove from the lakes and up Mt. Meru to our Lunch Spot at the waterfall. Here are some of the species added on Mount Meru: Red-fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Thrush, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, White-eared Barbet, Mountain Buzzard, Black-headed Apalis, Lesser Honeyguide, Kenrick’s Starling and Bar-tailed Trogon. We exited the Park and drove home.
Some pictures from Day 5:
Scaly Spurfowl, Pternistis squamatus
African Goshawk, Aerospiza tachito
Tambourine Dove, Turtur tympanistra
Olive-headed Greenbul, Arizelocichla striifacies, Endemic to NE Africa
Moustached Grass Warbler, Melocichla mentalis
Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta
Ruff, Calidris pugnax
Banded Martin, Neophedina cincta
Greater Flamingo, Phoeniconaias roseus
Mountain Buzzard, Buteo oreophilus, Endemic to NE Africa
Day 6, Thursday, March 20, 2025: The Masai Steppes
We left early and started birding around 07:30. Here are some of the birds we registered on the way in: Black-throated Barbet, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Hunter’s Sunbird, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, White-browed Scrub Robin, Cardinal Woodpecker, Pink-breasted Lark, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Black-necked Weaver, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Southern Grosbeak Canary, Green-winged Pytilia, Northern Crombec, Tsavo Sunbird, Pygmy Falcon, Von der Decken’s Hornbill and Black-capped Social Weaver. We drove towards the Shambarai Swamp. Unfortunately, too much water to drive on the Lake Shore. We only managed: African Openbill, Little Egret, Yellow-billed Egret and Black Heron. On the way home, we added Golden-breasted Starling, Abdim’s and White Stork. We drove home.
Some pictures from Day 6:
Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Melierax poliopterus, Endemic to NE Africa
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes orientalis, Endemic to NE Africa
Day 7, Friday, March 21, 2025: Kiligolf – Nyumba ya Mungu Dam – Same – South Pare Mountains – Same.
We had again an early start. On the way from the main road to Nyumba ya Mungu Dam, we added Osprey and Olive Bee-eater. We stopped for breakfast at the dam, then drove in search for the African Skimmer. We found as normal a huge flock of Skimmers. Some of the other birds recorded at the Dam included: Yellow-billed Stork, Grey-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Tern, Whiskered Tern and Kittlitz’ Plover. We drove to Elephant Motel in Same and checked in. At 15:00 we started for South Pare Mountains. Here are some of the birds we recorded: Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Usambara Double-collared Sunbird, Bar-throated Apalis, Race pareensis, South Pare White-eye (Our target bird), Moustached Tinkerbird, Olive Sunbird, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler and on the way down Striped Kingfisher and Grasshopper Bustard. We reached the motel , freshened up, had dinner and retired early to bed.
Some Pictures from Day 7:
African Skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris
Grey-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Augur Buzzard, Buteo augur
Moustached Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus leucomystax, Endemic to NE Africa
African Yellow Warbler, Iduna natalensis
Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Phylloscopus ruficapilla
South Pare White-eye, Zosterops winifredae, Endemic to Pare Mountains in Tanzania
Day 8, Saturday, March 22, 2025: Same – Magamba Forest, West Usambara
We started birding at our normal place in Same. Here are some of the birds we observed before breakfast: Fischer’s Starling, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Black-bellied Sunbird, Red-bellied Parrot, Parrot-billed Sparrow, Blue-naped Mousebird, Tiny Cisticola, Chinspot Batis, Golden Pipit, Purple Roller and European Roller. We went back to the Motel for breakfast. After Breakfast we drove to Mombo and then up past Lushoto to our camp in Magamba Forest. We did an afternoon walk and some of the spesies we recorded included: Usambara Thrush, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Cape Robin-Chat, Fülleborn’s Boubou, Red-capped Forest Warbler, Waller’s Starling and Spot-throat. We returned to Camp, had dinner and retired early to our tents.
Some pictures from Day 8:
Fischer’s Starling, Lamprotornis fischeri, Endemic to NE Africa
Black-bellied Sunbird, Female, Cinnyris nectarinioides, Endemic to E Africa
Black-bellied Sunbird, Juvenile male, Cinnyris nectarinioides, Endemic to E Africa
Parrot-billed Sparrow, Passer gongonensis, Endemic to NE Africa
D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Trachyphonus darnaudii, Endemic to E Africa
Brown-tailed Apalis, Apalis flavocincta, Endemic to NE Africa
Blue-naped Mousebird, Urocolius macrourus
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Merops persicus
Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus
Cape Robin-Chat, Dessornis caffer
Bar-throated Apalis, Apalis thoracica, Race griceiceps
Day 9, Sunday, March 23, 2025: Magamba Forest
We birded Magamba all day and added amongst others, added the following species: Olive Woodpecker, Mosque Swallow, Black-headed Apalis, African Black Swift, Usambara Weaver, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Southern Citril and Grey Wagtail.
Usambara Thrush, Turdus roehli, Endemic to Pare and Usambara Mountains in Tanzania
Red-capped Forest Warbler, Artisornis metopias, Endemic to East Africa
Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Coccopygia quartinia
Day 10, Monday, March 24, 2025: Magamba Forest, West Usambara to Amani Forest
We did morning birding in Magamba without adding any new species, we stopped North of Muheza and added Coastal Cisticola, Village and Eastern Golden Weaver. We drove up to Amani Forest Head Quarters, checked in and birded the Botanical Garden in the afternoon. Here are some of the birds we registered: Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Green Barbet, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, African Harrier-Hawk, Red-throated Rock Martin, White-eared Barbet, Palm-nut Vulture and late at night, I heard the Frazer’s (Usambara) Eagle-Owl. We had dinner and retired early to bed.
No Pictures from Day 10
Day 11, Tuesday, March 25, 2025: Amani Forest
As normal, we went uphill from the headquarters that day. Here are some of the birds we registered: Mountain Wagtail, Long-billed Forest Warbler, Black Sparrowhawk, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Little Greenbul, Fischer’s Turaco, Shelley’s Greenbul, Kretschmer’s Longbill, Shelley’s Greenbul, Green-headed Oriole and Waller’s Starling. We drove down to Zigy Guest House in the afternoon.
Some pictures from Day 11:
Kretschmer’s Longbill, Macrosphenus kretschmeri, Endemic to E and C Africa
Green-headed Oriole, Oriolus chlorocephalus
Black Sparrowhawk, Astur melanoleucus
Shelley’s Greenbul, Arizelocichla masukuensis, Endemic to E and C Africa
Long-billed Forest Warbler, Artisornis moreaui, Endemic to East Usambara, Tanzania and NE Mozambique
White-eared Barbet, Stactolaema leucotis
Day 12, Wednesday, March 26, 2025: Zigy Forest.
We drove down to Zigi Forest in the morning. Here are some of the birds we registered: Green Twinspot, Green Tinkerbird, Trumpeter Hornbill, Eastern Nicator, Crowned Hornbill, Little Spotted Woodpecker, Half-collared Kingfisher, Red-tailed Ant Thrush, African Broadbill, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Dark-backed Weaver, Lowland Tiny Greenbul, Fischer’s Greenbul, Little Yellow Flycatcher, Grey Tit Flycatcher, Plain-backed Sunbird, African Golden Oriole, Square-tailed Drongo and Green Malkoha.
We returned to camp.
Some pictures from Day 12:
Black-headed Apalis, Apalis nigriceps, Endemic to E Africa
Plain-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes reichenowi
Littlee Yellow Flycatcher, Erythrocercus holochlorus, Endemic to coastal NE Africa
Half-collared Kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata
Day 13, Thursday, March 27, 2025: Zigy Forest – Kiligolf.
We packed the car and birded Zigy Forest in the morning. We added: Pale Batis,Common Buzzard and Black-winged Red Bishop, then took the long drive home.
Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo
Day 14, Kiligolf – Kilimanjaro International Airport.
My friends were leavin on KLM late at night, so we had a full day birding on Kiligolf. Here are some of the new species we registered: European Honey Buzzard, Grey-olive Greenbul, Red-headed Weaver, Little Sparrowhawk and Pangani Longclaw.
My friends left for the airport.
Some pictures from Day 14:
Rattling Cisticola, Cisticola chiniana
Red-faced Cisticola, Cisticola erythrops
European Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus
Grey-olive Greenbul, Phyllastrephus cerviniventris
Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
Pangani Longclaw, Macronyx aurantiigula, Endemic to NE Africa
We registered around 400 species on the Trip. My friends got about 270 lifers. So a fairly successful trip. Keep posted for my next trip report.