GENERAL INFORMATION

In January 2007 I spent two weeks in northern Tanzania with Vital & Riet van Gorp and my ladyfriend Willemien van Ginneken. Tanzania boasts a large number of unusual and endemic bird species, and a list which nearly exceeds that of neighbouring Kenya and almost equals Uganda.

In the eighties of the last century we had visited Kenya four times and if we wanted to see the rarer endemics, we should have included the Usambara Mountains in our itinerary. Tanzania is poorly served by reports, except for the popular northern national parks which are of little birding interest to world-listers who have been to Kenya. However the women accompanied us and we decided to make an easy safari, visiting the northern parts of the country, where we would encounter the greatest concentration of large mammals on earth and as a bonus of course the birds. This being the high season, the parks were very busy, especially the Ngorongoro Crater and the Seronera area in Serengeti NP. At the Lobo Wildlife Lodge in the northern part of the Serengeti and at Lake Natron, we hardly saw any tourist.

FLIGHT AND VISA

We travelled to Mombasa (Kenya) via Zanzibar. Our return-ticket (Martinair) for the air journey including the first night in the Neptune Beach Hotel cost € 585,--. per person. You need a visa for Kenya and for Tanzania. We applied visas at the embassies in Brussels and both visas cost € 45, -- each. However it is possible to get a visa at the airport in Mombasa and at the border for Tanzania.

MONEY
The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). The exchange rate was about 1300 Tanzanian Shilling to the Dollar. All major credit cards and traveller cheques are accepted. Changing money at any of the commercial banks is usually easy and often, but not always, quick.

FOOD AND DRINK
Generally quite good. Stay away from uncooked fruits and vegetables that you haven't peeled yourself, and don't use ice. It is best to avoid drinking the water unless you know it is boiled.

Most of the towns have small supermarkets where you can buy most of your supplies. We also bought mineral water, fanta and sprite. We did not experience any serious stomach upsets despite regularly eating local food.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Theft is really not a problem in Tanzania unless you are careless. Tanzanians are very friendly and helpful and the country is very safe and the worst that the traveller is likely to encounter is a pickpocket in Arusha.

For vaccinations consult your own doctor for up to date advice. Malaria is a major risk so all precautions against malaria are a must. Beware of petty thieves in the larger towns. Lock your car at all times; never leave valuables in open sight.

LANGUAGE
English is the official language in Tanzania and is widely spoken nearly everywhere.

WEATHER
The weather was hot and sunny for much of the safari. Rain fell on a few days in the latter part of our trip and we had to change our itinerary in the Serengeti. It was quite cool in the Ngorongoro Crater in the early mornings.

EQUIPMENT
A good torch is a must. A telescope is useful at lakes and very useful for viewing canopy species especially from roadsides. Photography is NOT difficult, as birds are easy to approach and light conditions are good.

Clothing can be T-shirt and shorts anywhere (during the daytime) except at Kilimanjaro NP.

TRANSPORT AND ROADS
Road conditions in Tanzania vary, but are generally good by African standards, make getting around easy. The main roads are sealed, but elsewhere are poor-quality dirt, where a 4-wheel drive would be a distinct advantage.

We used a 4x4 Safari Minibus, with driver, throughout our time in Tanzania. It is forbidden to alight from one's car away from most areas in Tanzania. This is no great disadvantage as we found most of the birds and animals most confiding and the car provided a superb hide.

NOMENCLATURE & TAXONOMY
In Africa there is much confusion regarding the English names for birds, and often each author, having their own preferences which results in the same species having up to 3 or 4 different names.

I have decided to follow the English names of James F. Clements, Birds of the World, A Check List, Fifth Edition, 2000 including updates May 2000 - December 2005.

COMMON BIRDSPECIES
The following list of birds we saw frequently and if you spend any sort of time in the right habitats you will too:

Ostrich, Black-headed Heron, Cattle Egret, Abdim’s Stork, Marabou Stork, Lesser Flamingo, Egyptian Goose, White-backed Vulture, Black-shouldered Kite, Helmeted Guineafowl, Blacksmith Plover, Crowned Lapwing, Ring-necked Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Laughing Dove, African Palm-Swift, Little Swift, Speckled Mousebird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous-naped Lark, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Barn Swallow, Common Bulbul, Long-tailed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, Magpie Shrike, White-rumped Shrike, Superb Starling, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Grey-headed Sparrow, Swaheli Sparrow, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Pin-tailed Whydah.

For a detailed report of species and numbers please refer to the systematic list at the end of this report.

USEFUL ADDRESS

Swala Safaris Ltd.
http://www.swalasafaris.com/home.htm
http://www.safaris-tz.com

We booked our trip with Safaris-Tz, which is part of Swala Safaris Ltd. Safaris-Tz picked us up in our hotel in Mombasa and brought us back to Mombasa. The total trip (all included) cost US$2000 p.p.

REFERENCES

BOOKS

• Ber van Perlo. Collins Illustrated Checklist: Birds of Eastern Africa.
• James F. Clements. Birds of the World. A Check List.
• Jonathan Kingdon. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals.
• Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe. Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa
• E.K. Urban, C.H. Fry, S. Keith. The Birds of Africa, volumes I – VI * excellent reference when at home.
• Michael Walters. Complete Checklist. Vogels van de Wereld.
• Nigel Wheatley. Where to watch birds in Africa * useful at the planning stage.
• Dale A. Zimmerman, Donald A. Turner, David J. Pearson. Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania.

Nigel Wheatley's "Where to watch birds in Africa" is useful at the planning stage.

REPORTS AND ARTICLES

Erik Molgaard & Stig Jensen (DOF). Birdwatching in Tanzania in March 2006.

SOFTWARE

BIRDBASE & BIRDAREA

I use this software to keep track of the birds I have seen and to make lists of any country, labelling endemics and birds previously seen in that country, outside it, or both. BirdArea can produce checklists of the birds of any country of Clements’ world birds.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks to Vital van Gorp for arranging this trip and to John Urio, our driver-guide, who looked after us so well.

ITINERARY

KENYA

January 17    Chaam * Brussels * Mombasa
January 18    Mombasa * Voi * Tsavo East National Park * Taveta

TANZANIA

January 18    Marangu (Kilimanjaro National Park)
January 19    Kilimanjaro National Park
January 20    Marangu * Arusha * Tarangire National Park
January 21    Tarangire National Park * Lake Manyara
January 22    Lake Manyara * Ngorongoro Conservation Area
January 23    Ngorongoro Crater
January 24    Ngorongoro Conservation Area * Serengeti National Park
January 25    Serengeti National Park
January 26    Serengeti National Park
January 27    Serengeti National Park * Ngorongoro Conservation Area * Lake Manyara
January 28    Lake Manyara * Lake Natron
January 29    Lake Natron * Lake Manyara National Park * Arusha
January 30    Arusha * Taveta

KENYA

January 30    Tsavo East National Park * Voi * Mombasa
January 31    Mombasa * Brussels * Chaam

THE SITES

Most of the sites are detailed in the trip reports, so I will restrict to a brief description and mention the species we have seen.

KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK

Accommodation: Hotel Nakara near the entrance or plenty of other accommodation.

Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world, is one of Africa’s most magnificent sights. It is an extinct volcano with the summit of Kibo sitting at an impressive 5895 metres – the highest point on the whole of the continent. We birded only the rainforest (the first few kilometres) along the Marangu trail.

Birds seen:

Mountain Buzzard, Ring-necked Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Speckled Mousebird, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crowned Hornbill, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Black Sawwing, Common Bulbul, Eastern Mountain-Greenbul, Olive Thrush, Trilling Cisticola, Hunter’s Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Brown Woodland-Warbler, Blackcap, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Cape Robin-Chat, Chinspot Batis, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Amethyst Sunbird, Tacazze Sunbird, Bronze Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Broad-ringed White-eye, Eurasian Golden-Oriole, Tropical Boubou, Slate-coloured Boubou, Pied Crow, White-necked Raven, Waller’s Starling, Grey-headed Sparrow, Baglafecht Weaver, Taveta Golden-Weaver, Speke’s Weaver, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Abyssinian Crimsonfinch, African Firefinch, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Black-and-white Mannikin, Village Indigobird, Streaky Seedeater.

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge or plenty of other accommodation.

Tarangire National Park is one of the least visited of the northern Tanzanian parks and retains a real air of undiscovered Africa, particularly in the south of the park. Tarangire is a great place to avoid the crowds that one may find in the other northern Parks.

Just a two hours drive away from Arusha, Tarangire lies a little distance to the southeast of Lake Manyara and covers an area of approximately 2850 square kilometres and, in the dry season, is second only to Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area in concentrations of wildlife. It derives its name from the Tarangire River, which provides permanent water for wildlife in the area. It is the vast number of baobabs that first capture the eye as you enter Tarangire. The gently rolling countryside is dotted with these majestic trees, which seem to dwarf the animals that feed beneath them.

Tarangire has a rich avifauna and the prime specialities here area three Tanzanian endemics, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Ashy Starling and Rufous-tailed Weaver, which are commonly seen.

Birds seen:

Ostrich, Black-headed Heron, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Yellow-billed Stork, African Openbill, Abdim’s Stork Hadada Ibis, Egyptian Goose, Comb Duck, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Brown Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, Montagu’s Harrier, Eastern Chanting-Goshawk, Shikra, Augur Buzzard, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Pygmy Falcon, Eurasian Kestrel, Grey Kestrel, Crested Francolin, Yellow-necked Francolin, Red-necked Francolin, Helmeted Guineafowl, Blacksmith Plover, Crowned Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Grey-headed Gull, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Ring-necked Dove, African Mourning Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald Spotted Wood-Dove, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Red-chested Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, White-browed Coucal, Mottled Spinetail, African Palm-Swift, African Swift, Little Swift, Horus Swift, Speckled Mousebird, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, Green Woodhoopoe, Red-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Grey Woodpecker, Flappet Lark, Foxy Lark, Banded Martin, Barn Swallow, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Mosque Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, African Pied Wagtail, African Pipit, Rattling Cisticola, Winding Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola, Desert Cisticola, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Banded Warbler, Pale Flycatcher, African Grey Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Collared Palm-Thrush, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Arrow-marked Babbler, Long-tailed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, Magpie Shrike, White-rumped Shrike, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Slate-coloured Boubou, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, Superb Starling, Ashy Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Grey-headed Sparrow, Chestnut Sparrow, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Baglafecht Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Black-headed Weaver, Vitelline Masked-Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Black Bishop, Red-billed Firefinch, Red-cheeked Cordonblue, Purple Grenadier, African Quailfinch, Pin-tailed Whydah.

NGORONGORO & SERENGETI

The most awesome wildlife experience on Earth. Serengeti and the adjacent, and almost equally famous, Ngorongoro Crater are so remarkable that one cannot do justice to this incredible place in words alone.

Over two million large mammals live in this immense African wilderness that has miraculously survived, thanks to the remarkable understanding of the people of Tanzania, who despite all the pressures upon them have kept faith with the vision of the park’s founders. These vast herds still circulate across the Serengeti in the same way as they did when Man’s earliest ancestor’s walked these very plains, followed by their attendant carnivores in a cycle of life that has continued unbroken for millions of years.

NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or plenty of other accommodation.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home of Ngorongoro Crater, regarded as the 8th wonder of the world. Mention the name "Ngorongoro Crater" to any nature lover who has been there, he will have no fine words to describe this "Africa's Garden of Eden". In short, it is breath-taking in its beauty. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of earth’s most amazing natural wonders. The Ngorongoro Crater, which is 16 km wide and 600 m deep, is the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world. Lush forests clad the crater rim where the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge is situated, overlooking the grasslands and lakes of the Crater below.

Apart from the breathtaking scenery, superb birding, and great wildlife, it is particularly good for excellent photographic opportunities and one of the few safe havens in Africa for the endangered Black Rhinoceros.

This is also one of the few places where the "big five" can be found in a small area, namely Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, Lion and Cheetah.

The crater floor consists of a number of ecological environments that include grassland, swamps, forests and Lake Makat, a central soda lake filled by the Munge River. Nearby Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakeys discovered remains of primitive humans dating back over 2 million years, is also worthwhile a visit.

Birds seen:

Ostrich, Great White Pelican, Black-headed Heron, Cattle Egret, Yellow-billed Stork, Abdim’s Stork, White Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Red-billed Duck, Hottentot Teal, Northern Shoveler, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Rueppell’s Griffon, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, Western Marsh-Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Buzzard, Augur Buzzard, Mountain Buzzard, Tawny Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Secretary-bird, Eurasian Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Helmeted Guineafowl, Grey Crowned-Crane, Red-knobbed Coot, Kori Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Blacksmith Plover, Crowned Lapwing, Kittlitz’s Plover, Three-banded Plover, Chestnut-banded Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Grey-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Speckled Pigeon, Dusky Turtle-Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Laughing Dove, White-browed Coucal, Nyanza Swift, Little Swift, Speckled Mousebird, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Rufous-naped Lark, Flappet Lark, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Red-capped Lark, Plain Martin, Rock Martin, Barn Swallow, Mosque Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Tree Pipit, Long-billed Pipit, Common Bulbul, Olive Thrush, Hunter’s Cisticola, Rattling Cisticola, Lynes’s Cisticola, Winding Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Brown-headed Apalis, Grey-capped Warbler, Red-faced Crombec, Brown Warbler, African Grey Flycatcher, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, African Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Schalow’s Wheatear, Capped Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Anteater-Chat, Amethyst Sunbird, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Broad-ringed White-eye, White-breasted White-eye, Rufous-tailed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Long-tailed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, Cape Crow, White-necked Raven, Superb Starling, Red-winged Starling, Kenrick’s Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, House Sparrow, Grey-headed Sparrow, Baglafecht Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver, African Golden Weaver, Speke’s Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Fan-tailed Widowbird, White-winged Widowbird, Red-collared Widowbird, Jackson’s Widowbird, Red-billed Firefinch, Purple Grenadier, Bronze Mannikin, Pin-tailed Whydah, Eastern Paradise-Whydah, Yellow-crowned Canary, African Citril, Streaky Seedeater.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Accommodation: Serenora Wildlife Lodge, Lobo Wildlife Lodge and Ikoma Tented Camp or plenty of other accommodation.

The Serengeti National Park’s 14,673 square kilometres of acacia-dotted plains hold nearly two million Wildebeest and two thousand Lions; its selection of other mammals and birds is mouth-watering.

The Serengeti is a vast, unspoiled rolling savannah of grasslands and open acacia woodlands which hosts the most spectacular concentration of animals on our planet. Even the most fanatical birder will find it hard to ignore this incredible phenomenon. This world-famous area is a remarkable experience at any time of the year, but in January, February and March it witnesses a phenomenal gathering of over one million Wildebeest (along with a half-million Thomson's Gazelle and a quarter-million Common Zebra) in tight, nervous herds of tens of thousands, concentrated together to calve on the short-grass plains prior to the rains. To foil the numerous predators and to ensure the best survival of their young, all the wildebeests calve within a few short weeks, producing a glut of potential prey that overwhelms the dense gathering of predators.

Birds seen:

Ostrich, Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Bittern, Abdim’s Stork, Marabou Stork, Hadada Ibis, Egyptian Goose, Comb Duck, Black-shouldered Kite, White-backed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Black-breasted Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Augur Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Walberg’s Eagle, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Secretary-bird, Pygmy Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, Greater Kestrel, Amur Falcon, Lanner Falcon, Coqui

Francolin, Grey-breasted Francolin, Red-necked Francolin, Harlequin Quail, Helmeted Guineafowl, Black Crake, Kori Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, Double-banded Courser, Three-banded Courser, Blacksmith Plover, Crowned Lapwing, Three-banded Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Whiskered Tern, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, African Mourning Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Namaqua Dove, Fischer’s Lovebird, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Klaas’ Cuckoo, Black Coucal, White-browed Coucal, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Abyssinian Nightjar, Square-tailed Nightjar, Little Swift, Speckled Mousebird, Blue-naped Mousebird, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, European Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous-crowned Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Abyssinian Scimitar-bill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Red-fronted Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, White-headed Barbet, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Grey Woodpecker, White-tailed Lark, Rufous-naped Lark, Flappet Lark, Foxy Lark, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Somali Short-toed Lark, Short-tailed Lark, Banded Martin, Grey-rumped Swallow, Rock Martin, Barn Swallow Wire-tailed Swallow, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, African Pied Wagtail, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Plain-backed Pipit, African Pipit, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, Common Bulbul, Rattling Cisticola, Winding Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Bar-throated Apalis, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Green –backed Eremomela, African Reed-Warbler, Lesser Swamp-Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Buff-bellied Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Red-faced Crombec, Blackcap, Banded Warbler, Silverbird, Spotted Flycatcher, Rueppell’s Robin-Chat, Red-backed Scrub-Robin, African Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Capped Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Sooty Chat, Mocking Cliff-Chat, Chinspot Batis, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Black-lored Babbler, Red-throated Tit, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, African Yellow White-eye, Rufous-tailed Shrike, Grey-backed Fiscal, Long-tailed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, White-rumped Shrike, Brubru, Black-crowned Tchagra, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Slate-coloured Boubou, Fork-tailed Drongo, Cape Crow, White-necked Raven, Wattled Starling, Rueppell’s Glossy-Starling, Superb Starling, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Red-winged Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Swaheli Sparrow, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Grey-headed Social-Weaver, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Black-headed Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, White-winged Widowbird, Jackson’s Widowbird, Green-winged Pytilia, Red-billed Firefinch, Red-cheeked Cordonblue, Blue-capped Cordonblue, African Quailfinch, Pin-tailed Whydah, Reichenow’s Seedeater.

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Accommodation: Migunga Tented Camp (Lake Manyara Tented Camp) or plenty of other accommodation.

Lake Manyara National Park is an extensive park lying in a shallow depression of the western wall of the Great East African Rift Valley from which fresh water continually seeps, and in such a tropical climate the forest grows lush and dense. Lake Manyara spreads out across the valley, the alkaline lake dominating a vast landscape.

Often called Tanzania's water wonderland due to the large number of birds and animals the lake supports, Lake Manyara is also famous for its tree-climbing lions often to be found dozing in the shade up in the branch of a tree - a unique phenomenon to the area.

Birds seen:

Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Great Egret, Black Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Yellow-billed Stork, Abdim’s Stork, White Stork, Marabou Stork, Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis, African Spoonbill, Lesser Flamingo, Egyptian Goose, Hottentot Teal, Black-shouldered Kite, African Fish-Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Black-breasted Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, Western Marsh-Harrier, African Marsh-Harrier, Tawny Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Helmeted Guineafowl, Black-winged Stilt, Water Thick-knee, Double-banded Courser, Collared Pratincole, Blacksmith Plover, Crowned Lapwing, Kittlitz’s Plover, Three-banded Plover, Chestnut-banded Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Ruff, Grey-headed Gull, Whiskered Tern, African Mourning Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Emerald-Spotted Wood-Dove, Pied Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Klaas’ Cuckoo, White-browed Coucal, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, African Palm-Swift, Speckled Mousebird, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, African Hoopoe, Crowned Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Lesser Honeyguide, Rock Martin, Barn Swallow, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Mountain Wagtail, Common Bulbul, Winding Cisticola, Buff-bellied Warbler, Schalow’s Wheatear, Beautiful Sunbird, Long-tailed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, White-rumped Shrike, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, Red-billed Oxpecker, Red Bishop.

LAKE NATRON

Accommodation: Lake Natron Tented Camp

Lake Natron is the lowest point of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania (600 m). It is also home to the only active volcano in Tanzania: Ol Doinyo Lengai (Mountain of God).

The lake is extremely high in sodium carbonate, algae, and zooplankton supporting vast numbers of flamingos and other water birds, especially during and after the rainy season.

This area is quite desolate and hot. Local, fresh springs form surprising oases in this landscape.

On the drive between Lake Natron and the Arusha/Lake Manyara road, you can see many Masai villages, termite mounds, gazelle, giraffe, zebra, baboons, bee boxes, and birds such as vultures, ostrich, starlings, Cory Bustards, and kites. On the drive between Lake Natron and the Serengeti, the vast number of Masai villages and cattle is amazing.

Birds seen en route Lake Manyara– Lake Natron and at Lake Natron:

Ostrich, Cattle Egret, Pink-backed Pelican, Abdim’s Stork, White Stork, Marabou Stork, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Egyptian Goose, Black Kite, White-backed Vulture, Bateleur, Montagu’s Harrier, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Augur Buzzard, Tawny Eagle, Secretary-bird, Eurasian Kestrel, Greater Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Coqui Francolin, Crested Francolin, Yellow-necked Francolin, Helmeted Guineafowl, Small Buttonquail, Kori Bustard, Double-banded Courser, Blacksmith Plover, Crowned Lapwing, Kittlitz’s Plover, Three-banded Plover, Chestnut-banded Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff, Grey-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Speckled Pigeon, African Mourning Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, White-browed Coucal, Red-chested Cuckoo, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Common Swift, Speckled Mousebird, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, European Roller, African Grey Hornbill, Red-billed Hornbill, Black-throated Barbet, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, White-tailed Lark, Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark, Short-tailed Lark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Plain-backed Pipit, Common Bulbul, Olive Thrush, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Pale Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Cape Robin-Chat, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Northern Wheatear, Schalow’s Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, Capped Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Rufous Chatterer, Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Taita Fiscal, Black-crowned Tchagra, Fork-tailed Drongo, Superb Starling, House Sparrow, Kenya Rufous Sparrow, Swaheli Sparrow, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver., White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Red Bishop, Yellow Bishop, Red-billed Firefinch, Black-and-white Mannikin, Village Indigobird, Pin-tailed Whydah.

DAILY LOG

Wednesday 17 January

An early flight from Brussels to Kenya necessitated an alarm call at the unearthly hour of 2.30 in the Vermeulen/Van Ginneken household. Our trip started with a Martinair flight from Brussels via Zanzibar to Mombasa (Kenya). The plane was very full, but we had a comfortable flight. The flight touched down at Mombasa at 17.45 local time (2 hours time difference with the Netherlands) as scheduled and immediately we were engulfed in the thick humidity and warm air of the bustling city. From the airport we were whisked off in the dark to the Neptune Beach Hotel. After dinner we met Jon Urio, our safari driver, who had come all the way from Arusha in Tanzania. We agreed on a 7.00 a.m. breakfast.

Thursday 18 January

After a good night’s sleep we did some pre-breakfast birding along the beach and amongst the birds seen here were Ruddy Turnstone, Sooty Gull, Lesser Crested Tern and Great Crested Tern.

Today was largely a travelling day as we set out to drive to Tanzania. After breakfast we left Mombasa and headed via Voi and Tsavo East NP to Taveta on the border. In 1989 I had visited Tsavo for the last time and nothing seemed changed. The journey in Tsavo was straightforward on the fairly good dirt road all the way to Taveta.

Amongst the many birds encountered in the park were Namaqua Dove, Eastern Chanting-Goshawk, a ♂ Pallid Harrier, Pygmy Falcon, Crested Francolin, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill and White-browed Sparrow-Weaver. In the late afternoon we arrived at Marangu near the entrance of Kilimanjaro NP and checked into Hotel Nakara. It was very cloudy and the top of Africa’s highest mountain was not visible.

Vital and I strolled around the lovely garden of the hotel and amongst the birds seen were Mountain Buzzard, Red-eyed Dove, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Black Sawwing, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher, Chinspot Batis, Speke’s Weaver and Yellow-bellied Waxbill.

Friday 19 January

This morning there was a clear sky and we had a superb view of the snow-capped dome of Mount Kilimanjaro rising high above the partly-forested landscape. The trees and scrub behind the hotel provided some good birding and in the early morning we again strolled around the hotel and discovered a flowering tree ‘loaded’ with sunbirds amongst them Amethyst Sunbird, Tacazze Sunbird, Bronze Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird and Variable Sunbird.

After breakfast we headed to Kilimanjaro National Park and stopped a few times to photograph the magnificent snow-capped dome of the mountain. In the park a local guide joined us and we began our stroll along the Marangu trail.

We immediately found ourselves in the rainforest. Birds were a bit thin in the tall upland forest, but they made up for this by quality and one of the first birds we did see was the stunning Hartlaub’s Turaco.

We spent most of the day on this trail and working the mountain forest was not easy. However the forest provided a fine selection of species amongst them Eastern Mountain-Greenbul, noisy duetting Hunter’s Cisticolas, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Brown Woodland-Warbler, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Broad-ringed White-eye, Waller’s Starling, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Abyssinian Crimsonfinch and Streaky Seedeater. All in all, a great start to the safari. When we arrived back at our hotel, we saw a pair of Crowned Hornbills before the window of our room!

Saturday 20 January

The break of dawn found us standing in the garden of the hotel grounds and we found a pair of Tropical Boubous and a group of Black-and-white Mannikins. After breakfast we packed up and away into Arusha to get some local currency. We visited the office of Safaris-Tz, where we paid the rest of the trip.

After lunch we left bustling Arusha and drove westwards, first through rolling, partly cultivated landscape and then through drier bush country to Tarangire NP. We stopped briefly at a couple of places to look at raptors, adding Brown Snake-Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle and Booted Eagle to our list. Closer to the park we also saw Bare-faced-go-away-birds and 2 endemics Yellow-collared Lovebird and Rufous-tailed Weaver.
In the late afternoon we arrived at Tarangire and the entrance was very birdy. We immediately started a game drive till dusk at 19.00. New birds galore including Grey Kestrel, Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Red-necked Francolin, African Mourning Dove, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Spot-flanked Barbet, Arrow-marked Babbler, Ashy Starling and Purple Grenadier. Elephants were plentiful and we met a few at very close range and we saw many Impalas too.

We arrived at Tarangire Safari Lodge with a spectacular view over the meandering Tarangire River. The lodge had our 'tents' ready and waiting for us. These were very comfortable with bedroom and separate shower and toilet attached. While walking from our tents to the restaurant we spotted a Collared Palm-Thrush, a bird on the very northernmost limit of its range. In front of our tent we discovered a Yellow-winged Bat in a tree.

Sunday 21 January

After early morning breakfast we left the lodge at 06.45 to drive some of the tracks of the park. We spent all morning slowly cruising the grasslands and bush, punctuated with spectacular baobab trees.

As the sun rose and it got progressively lighter so more birds were being seen. The bushes were bedecked with loose groups of White-rumped Shrikes, Long-tailed Fiscals and Magpie Shrikes. Numerous Yellow-necked and Red-necked Francolins wandered along the tracks, while Cisticolas were singing in the top of the bushes, including Winding, Croaking and Desert Cisticola.

High amongst the avian highlights this morning were Shikra, Mottled Spinetail, Red-chested Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Banded Warbler, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Foxy Lark and Black Bishop.

In the park’s rolling bush land and savannah game animals of course were conspicuous and included Common Warthog, Giraffe, Kirk’s Dikdik, Common Waterbuck and Kongoni.

At midday we headed back to the lodge for our lunch. At the lodge a Spotted Morning Thrush was a boisterous inhabitant, whilst overhead an African Hawk-Eagle put in an appearance and Little Swifts shot by.

Hereafter we left Tarangire and crossed the Great Rift Valley and headed to Lake Manyara. Our drive to the lake was punctuated by a few stops adding Collared Pratincole, Green Sandpiper and Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark to our birding tally.

At 17.00 hours we arrived at Migunga Tented Camp near Lake Manyara. At the camp we found a pair of Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls at their daytime roost with an almost full-grown young bird and a very obliging Woodland Kingfisher.

The camp consisted of self-contained tents with bathrooms having running hot and cold water, showers, and flush toilets. Dinner was excellent.

Monday 22 January

We had an early morning bird walk before breakfast, where we caught up with Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Buff-bellied Warbler, Schalow’s Wheatear, Beautiful Sunbird and Red Bishop.

After breakfast we checked out of the camp and were soon on our way to the Ngorongoro Crater. The brand-new tarmac road ended at the Lodoara Gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. At the entrance gate we stopped for the normal formalities and spent a few minutes birding, watching African Dusky Flycatcher and Broad-ringed White-eye.

From there it was not very far to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, where we stopped at a viewpoint to look over, and into, the large caldera of Ngorongoro as it spread out below. The view of the crater was spectacular, both a scenic and wildlife wonder of the world. Leaving the crater rim we headed to Olduvai Gorge —“Cradle of Mankind ”— the famous archaeological site where Dr. Leakey discovered the 2-million-year-old remains of the Nutcracker Man, alongside those of prehistoric elephants and giant ostriches. The dirt road was at some places very bad, but the drive proved less of an ordeal than we thought it would be.

Some birding stops along the road turned up Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Hottentot Teal, Hooded Vulture, Rueppell’s Vulture, Mountain Buzzard, Red-knobbed Coot, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Capped Wheatear, Jackson’s and Red-collared Widowbird, Straw-tailed Whydah and many other birds.

The 'game' element of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on these grasslands was not absent and the grasslands were heavily dotted with grazing herbivores, mostly Zebras and Gnus, but also with substantial herds of Thompson’s Gazelles and smaller counts of Grant’s Gazelles and African Buffalos. Here we also met the people of the Masai tribe, proud, elegant and well attuned to their environment and the commercial potential of incoming tourism!
In the early afternoon we arrived at Olduvai Gorge. After a picnic lunch overlooking the gorge we delved into the museum before driving east again to the Crater. Of course a lot of very tame birds were found; particularly noteworthy were Abyssinian White-eye, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Swaheli Sparrow and Purple Grenadier.
Then we returned to the crater and checked into the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, which was on the rim, with fantastic views from each room above the crater floor

We scanned the crater from the balcony with my telescope and discovered our only Saddle-billed Stork of the trip.

In the distance we also noticed vultures dropping to the crater floor and a few Hippos.

We called today’s log – the high number of species today, plus discussion on them, meant we started before dinner and finished after. A local dance troupe performed after dinner. We watched the show for a while but concluded it wasn’t very good overall - more ‘for the tourists’ than being traditional.

Tuesday 23 January

The night had been typical of the onset of the rainy season, with towering clouds, lightning, thunder and some heavy rain. Some brief pre-breakfast birding caught us up Grey-capped Warbler, Brown Warbler, the near-endemic Brown-headed Apalis, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Red-winged Starling and Kenrick’s Starling.

A good buffet breakfast at 7.00 a.m. and we were away towards the crater floor. As we drove up and along the crater rim it was still wet and slippery but soon the first blue sky was showing through. The drive down was brilliant for the scenery as well as the animals and birds. Soon we were down on the lower levels - the plains of Ngorongoro. The tracks across the plains proved hard going after the overnight rains and our driver had to be quite selective about which tracks to use, as some were almost impassable.

Down on the crater floor our aim was fairly aimless, just a pleasant meander via particular good spots, but very bad roads to the picnic site by midday. Herds of Thompson's Gazelles grazed, mixing here and there with Hartebeest. Soon Golden Jackal, Black-backed Jackal, Spotted Hyena, Eland, Elephant and, the special one for this area - Black Rhinoceros - were tallied

Kori Bustards strolled imposingly through the grasslands mixing with large numbers of Abdim’s Storks, countless Yellow Wagtails, including 4 subspecies.

Birds were everywhere, Black-bellied Bustards, many White Storks and a few Western Marsh-Harriers circling low over the grasslands. The soda lake Makat was simply spectacular with thousands of Lesser Flamingos shimmering pink in the sunlight. On the lake edge many waders were present, including Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Kittlitz’ Plover, Chestnut-banded Plover, Common Greenshank Marsh Sandpiper, Little Stint and Ruff.

Our lunch stop was at a recognised picnic site, one of the few places in the park where anybody is allowed out of the vehicles. As if by magic, birds and then baboons arrived thinking there might be a treat in store: a morsel of food. A rapacious Yellow-billed Kite scared the hell out of Vital as he lost his chicken leg in split-seconds of deft manoeuvring. Other birding highlights for the afternoon included Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Grey-crowned Crane, Plain Martin, Long-billed Pipit, Lynes’s Cisticola, Fan-tailed Widowbird and many others.

A pride of lions eventually were seen and after a while the lions crawled under our car looking for shade.

Then the heavens opened into heavy rain and the consistent rain sabotaged further birding. We hardly got out of the crater due to the very slippery roads and we had to make a long detour to return to our lodge.

Wednesday 24 January

After a comfortable night at the lodge we had to tear ourselves away from this truly splendid spot and great lodge and we descended from the Crater Highlands into the endless plains of the Serengeti. It was a long but inspiring drive giving us the opportunity to experience the full enormous scale and size of the Serengeti.

Driving across the mighty Serengeti Plains we passed through wildebeest herds possibly totalling over a million animals!

Today's picnic at the gate of Serengeti was in the company of a horde of Superb Starlings waiting for titbits, only to be robbed by ridiculously tame Rufous-tailed Weavers that walked between our feet.

In the Serengeti we often paused for photo opportunities to take in passing Giraffes, Buffalos and African Elephants. Making our way to Seronera we added a pride of 9 more Lions and of course we saw a number of birds including White-headed Vulture, Heuglin’s Courser, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Usambiro Barbet, Silverbird, Bar-throated Apalis and many other birds. The expansive plains were dotted with ungulates and as we drove we came across Grant’s and Thompson’s Gazelle, Impala, Common Zebra, Topi, Bridled Gnu and more.

Closer to the lodge White-rumped Shrike was omnipresent and Fischer’s Lovebirds were literally dripping from the trees at times. In the late afternoon we arrived at the Seronera Wildlife Lodge, location of the park headquarters on one of the granite kopjes.

Thursday 25 January

The following day found us exploring the woodlands and grasslands around Seronera. This was 'classic' Africa with concentrations of game, several large herds of Buffaloes, Giraffes, Topis, ever alert Grant’s Gazelles, Impalas and a sunbathing group of Hippopotamus out of water got the cameras clicking. We also had good looks at a Cheetah and had quite a shrill when the Cheetah attacked a group of Grant’s Gazelles. A close miss, lucky for the gazelles.

However the Serengeti was from a mammal viewpoint comparatively quiet compared with Ngorngoro, as the large herds avoid the tall grass area until the short grass plains are grazed to the limit.

A wealth of bird species quickly expanded our list and most noteworthy of these birds were Black-breasted Snake-Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, a melanistic Montagu’s Harrier, a large group of Lesser Kestrels, Coqui Francolin, Double-banded Courser, Black Coucal, an albino White-rumped Shrike and Rueppell’s Glossy-Starling.

Best of all however was an Amur Falcon perched in the top of a tree, a bird I certainly did not expect here at this time of the year.

At midday some vehicles flashed the lights and we knew they were onto something good and as we made our way over there we were delighted to see a Leopard up a tree with its paws dangling. We of course made a lot of pictures and then headed back for drinks and lunch at the lodge.

After a very pleasant lunch, we were able to take some time off to relax, look at the shop and have a siesta.

Hereafter we headed to Ikoma Safari Camp a small, semi-deluxe tented camp situated three kms from the Ikoma Gate of the Serengeti National Park, at its north-eastern border.

Most birds we did see en route where the same ones as this morning, but we added Short-tailed Lark, Sooty Chat and Grey-headed Social-Weaver to our list.
While having an excellent dinner we heard Square-tailed Nightjars calling.

Friday 26 January

Before breakfast we spent some time birding along the edge of camp. Ikoma Safari Camp was a hive of activity and birding in this area produced a variety of birds: the very tame Grey-headed Social-Weavers were everywhere and amongst the other birds we did see were Cardinal Woodpecker, Wire-tailed Swallow, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, Green-backed Camaroptera, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Red-backed Scrub-Robin.

We then headed to the Serengeti. We made a stop at the Hippo Pools, where Hippos and crocs abounded in the muddy river. A short stroll here added Brubru and Green-winged Pytilia to our list. The rest of the day we spent driving to our lodge, which produced a lot of old familiars, plus the endemic Grey-breasted Francolin and Klaas’ Cuckoo both new for the trip. Much later we did see a Red-throated Tit, which unfortunately only gave us a tantalisingly brief glimpse. Then the heavens opened into heavy rain, making plans for tomorrow only tentative.

In the late afternoon we arrived at the Wildlife Lobo Lodge, where only a few guests stayed.

Saturday 27 January

I heard a Pearl-spotted Owlet just pre-dawn from my bed! We were up at 6 o’clock doing a short bit of birding on the immense granite kopjes around which the lodge is built. We stood in the early morning light, letting the birds come to us. Some good birds located in this short period were White-headed Barbet, Mocking Cliffchat and Rueppell’s Robin-Chat. Due to the torrential downpour tonight we had to change our itinerary. It was impossible to drive to Lake Natron, because a bridge had been washed away by the river and the road to this soda lake had been turned into a quagmire.

We departed for our long drive across the plains of the Serengeti past Olduvai and Ngorongoro Crater, then on to Lake Manyara, stopping briefly only for a picnic lunch along the roadside. We also had a little time to stop and look at passing birds and mammals, finding Lesser Spotted Eagle, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike and Lesser Grey Shrike. A flurry of tiny balls of feathers from the roadside indicated a group of African Quailfinches. Near the entrance gate of Serengeti we had good views of two Cheetahs. At 4.00 p.m. we arrived at Lake Manyara and again checked into Migunga Tented Camp.

From the Dutch manager of this camp we heard that there was an access “road” to the lake itself. Joe took us via a very bad road to the lake and here we had good views of the lake and we saw tens of thousands Lesser Flamingos.

Along the lake we saw many shorebirds amongst them a group of 5000 Pied Avocets, Collared Pratincole, Kittlitz’s Plover, Chestnut-banded Plover, Little Stint and Ruff.

Sunday 28 January

At 6.00 a.m. we had breakfast and hereafter we left the main tourist circuit and headed to Lake Natron. It was a hot and dusty ride on the 150 km long unmettaled road to Lake Natron. The road was scarred by many potholes.

We stopped a few times and checked an area of open and arid grassland, finding Short-tailed Lark, a rare and local species. On the way we also found Small Buttonquail, White-throated Bee-eater, White-tailed Lark, Isabelline Wheatear, Familiar Chat, and Taita Fiscal. Perhaps the ultimate spectacle was the presence of simply hundreds of breeding Chestnut Weavers at the ‘gate’ of the Lake Natron area.

The last part of the road near the volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai was diabolical, but we arrived at Lake Natron Tented Camp at 13.30 hours, a fine accommodation near Lake Natron. Our wives were exhausted and spent the rest of the day in the shade.

Vital and I of course made a short stroll around our camp. A couple of interesting sightings included Speckled Pigeon, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Woodland Kingfisher, Black-throated Barbet, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Spotted Flycatcher, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Rufous Chatterer and Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird.

In the late afternoon we headed to Lake Natron and this soda lake was teeming with birds. As well as both species of flamingos, here were Grey-headed Gull and Gull-billed Tern, and a host of waders.

Monday 29 January

Early next morning we made another stroll around the camp adding Peregrine Falcon to our list. After breakfast we departed for our long drive back to Lake Manyara, stopping briefly to photograph the Masai and to find some new birds. Everywhere we saw White and Abdim’s Storks sedately searching for locusts in the grazed areas. Some of the birds we encountered along the way were a male Ostrich with 44 chicks, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Lanner Falcon and Black-and-white Mannikin.

At midday we arrived at the entrance gates to the Lake Manyara Park. We ate our packed lunches here whilst watching Blue Monkeys which, in turn, watched us hoping for titbits to be discarded. Once inside the park the birdlife was excellent - we notched-up 15 species new for the trip, amongst them Black Heron, African Fish-Eagle, Water Thicknee, Hamerkop, Pied Cuckoo, Lesser Honeyguide, Mountain Wagtail and also saw the superb Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, a localised species within Tanzania. The lake was alive with birds. In the distance we could see the pink glow from thousands of flamingos, closer were the pelicans, whilst the smaller pools held the waders. The surrounding forests and plains had lots of Elephants, and here and there were Zebra. A few Warthogs as always ran off with tails pointing straight up. We did not find the tree-climbing Lions.

In the late afternoon we left Lake Manyara and headed to Arusha. En route to Arusha there were raptors galore with Eurasian Kestrels and Black-shouldered Kite appearing every few kilometres. Every telegraph pole or stretch of wire seemed to harbour a Black-shouldered Kite. We checked into the Outpost Lodge in Arusha, where we met a lot of countrymen who had just climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tuesday 30 January

In the morning we made a stroll in the neighbourhood of our hotel adding Western Olive-Sunbird to the list.

We then we set off for the long drive to Mombasa. It took more than one hour before we were allowed to cross the border at Taveta, time enough to look at the large colony of Black-headed Herons. During the long and dusty drive in Tsavo East we did see African Harrier-Hawk, an immature Martial Eagle, African Orange-bellied Parrot, Pied Cuckoo, Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, Yellow Bishop among many other birds.

At 18.30 we arrived in Mombasa and again checked into the Neptune Beach Hotel. On our last night, sitting outside in the warm air at a beachside seafood restaurant, we had time to reflect on all the wonderful things we had seen, as we watched the sun dip into the Indian Ocean.

Wednesday/Thursday 31January/1 February

Early next morning we made a long stroll along the beach, arriving at high tide when the waders were close to the shore. Many species of waders were present, including Common Ringed Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone and Curlew Sandpiper.

In the afternoon we made our way to Mombasa airport. The daily rush of birds was over and a fine trip had come to a close. At 17.00 hours we left Kenya and at 3.45 a.m. the next day we arrived in Brussels. 2 hours later we were back in the Netherlands

---

This was my 14th trip to Africa and probably not the last one. Gabon is on my list of countries I want to visit one of the next years.

The final total for the two weeks trip was 380 species of birds. I finished the trip with 7 lifers, mostly of birds found only in Tanzania. In addition to all these birds 38 species of mammals were seen on the trip.

My 10 best birds of the trip? Amur Falcon, Three-banded Courser, Grey-breasted Francolin, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Black Coucal, Somali Short-tailed Lark, Red-throated Tit, Ashy Starling, African Quailfinch and Rufous-tailed Weaver.

Chaam, 15 April 2007,                                                                                                                           

If you need any help or further information, contact me at the following address and I'll try and help if I can!

Jan Vermeulen
Bredaseweg 14
4861 AH Chaam
The Netherlands
Telephone: (031) – 161 – 491327
E-mail:         jem.vermeulen@wxs.nl
Web:            http://home.planet.nl/~verme860

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRDS

This list follows the taxonomy, names and sequence of James F. Clements, Birds of the World, A Check List, Fifth Edition, 2000 including updates May 2000 - December 2005.

This specific treatment follows Dr. Charles Sibley and Dr. Burt L. Monroe, Jr (1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World, Yale University Press).

Species in brackets are the English names in "Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa” by Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe, but only mentioned when these differ substantially from the Clements Check List.

The Dutch names follow the translated "Complete Checklist of Birds of the World" (Complete Checklist van Vogels van de Wereld) of Michael Walters.

Numbers quoted are estimates of the minimum numbers seen.

The following abbreviations are used:

(K)     = Kenya
NP     = National Park
CA     = Conservation Area
*        = endemic species
c        = circa (approximate numbers)

1.     OSTRICH, Struthio camelus, Struisvogel
Up to 15 a day. En route from Lake Natron to Lake Manyara we saw 3 males with a group of 44 chicks.

2.     GREAT WHITE PELICAN, Pelecanus onocrotalus, Roze Pelikaan
2 at the Ngorongoro CA and 4 at Lake Manyara NP.

3.     PINK-BACKED PELICAN, Pelecanus rufescens, Kleine Pelikaan
c50 at Lake Manyara NP.

4.     GREAT CORMORANT, Phalacrocorax carbo, Aalscholver
7 at Lake Manyara NP.

5.     GREY HERON, Ardea cinerea, Blauwe Reiger
1 at Serengeti NP, 3 at Lake Manyara NP and 3 at Mombasa beach (K).

6.     BLACK-HEADED HERON, Ardea melanocephala, Zwartkopreiger
C10 at Tarangire NP, small numbers at the Ngorongoro CA, Serengeti NP and Lake Manyara NP, a colony of c50 at the border (Taveta) with Kenya.

7.     GREAT EGRET, Ardea alba, Grote Zilverreiger
Only 1 at Lake Manyara NP.

8.     BLACK HERON, Egretta ardesiaca, Zwarte Reiger
A single sighting at Lake Manyara NP.

9.     INTERMEDIATE EGRET, Egretta intermedia, Middelste Zilverreiger
A single sighting near Arusha.

10.  LITTLE EGRET, Egretta garzetta, Kleine Zilverreiger
4 at Lake Manyara NP.

11.  WESTERN REEF-HERON, Garzetta gularis, Westelijke Rifreiger
3 at Mombasa beach (K).

12.  CATTLE EGRET, Bubulcus ibis, Koereiger
Widespread and locally numerous, with up to 1000 a day.

13.  LITTLE BITTERN, Ixobrychus minutus, Woudaap
A single one at Serengeti NP.

14.  HAMERKOP, Scopus umbretta, Hamerkop
A single one at Lake Manyara NP.

15.  YELLOW-BILLED STORK, Mycteria ibis, Afrikaanse Nimmerzat
2 at Tarangire NP, a few at the Ngorongoro CA and 5 at Lake Manyara NP.

16.  AFRICAN OPENBILL, Anastomus lamelligerus, Afrikaanse Gaper
A single one at Tarangire NP.

17.  ABDIM’S STORK, Ciconia abdimii, Abdims Ooievaar
Up to 2000 a day in the Ngorongoro CA and near Lake Natron, elsewhere fairly common.

18.  WHITE STORK, Ciconia ciconia, Oooievaar
C200 in the Ngorongoro Crater, c50 at the Ngorongoro CA, c20 near Lake Natron and c25 at Lake Manyara NP.

19.  SADDLE-BILLED STORK, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis, Zadelbekooievaar
Only one bird seen in the Ngorongoro Crater.

20.  MARABOU STORK, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, Afrikaanse Maraboe
Fairly widespread and sometimes quite common, with a maximum of c100 a day.

21.  SACRED IBIS, Threskiornis aethiopicus, Heilige Ibis
Small numbers at the Ngorongoro CA and Lake Manyara NP.

22.  HADADA IBIS, Bostrychia hagedash, Hadada-ibis
Small numbers at Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP and Lake Manyara NP.

23.  GLOSSY IBIS, Plegadis falcinellus, Zwarte Ibis
A single one in the Ngorongoro Crater.

24.  AFRICAN SPOONBILL, Platalea alba, Afrikaanse Lepelaar
4 at Lake Manyara NP.

25.  GREATER FLAMINGO, Phoenicopterus roseus, Flamingo
Around c100 identifiable amongst the distant flamingo hordes at Lake Natron.

26.  LESSER FLAMINGO, Phoenicopterus minor, Kleine Flamingo
Numerous at Lake Natron and Lake Manyara.

27.  FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK, Dendrocygna bicolor, Rosse Fluiteend
A single one at the Ngorongoro CA.

28.  EGYPTIAN GOOSE, Alopochen aegyptiacus, Nijlgans
Widespread and sometimes fairly common.

29.  SPUR-WINGED GOOSE, Plectropterus gambensis, Spoorwiekgans
2 at the Ngorongoro CA.

30.  COMB (KNOB-BILLED) DUCK, Sarkidiornis melanotos, Knobbeleend
Singles at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

31.  RED-BILLED DUCK (RED-BILLED TEAL), Anas erythrorhyncha, Roodsnavelpijlstaart
C20 at the Ngorongoro CA.

32.  HOTTENTOT TEAL, Anas hottentot, Hottentottaling
C30 in the Ngorongoro CA, c50 in the Ngorongoro Crater and c25 at Lake Manyara NP.

33.  NORTHERN SHOVELER, Anas clypeata, Slobeend
C300 in the Ngorongoro Crater.

34.  OSPREY, Pandion haliaetus, Visarend
A single one at Mombasa beach (K).

35.  BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE, Elanus caeruleus, Grijze Wouw.
Small numbers in Tarangire NP, the Ngorongoro CA and Serengeti NP, c50 en route Lake Manyara - Arusha.

36.  BLACK KITE, Milvus migrans, Zwarte Wouw
Widespread and sometimes fairly common.

37.  AFRICAN FISH-EAGLE, Haliaeetus vocifer, Afrikaanse Zeearend
2 at Lake Manyara NP.

38.  HOODED VULTURE, Necrosyrtes monachus, Kapgier
2 at the Ngorongoro CA.

39.  WHITE-BACKED VULTURE, Gyps africanus, Witruggier
A common and widespread species.

40.  RUEPPELLL’S GRIFFON, Gyps rueppellii, Rüppells Gier
Only 1 seen in a group of White-backed Vultures at the Ngorongoro CA.

41.  LAPPET-FACED VULTURE, Torgos tracheliotus, Oorgier
6 at the Ngorongoro CA and 11 at Serengeti NP.

42.  WHITE-HEADED VULTURE, Trigonoceps occipitalis, Wikopgier
7 at Serengeti NP.

43.  BLACK-BREASTED SNAKE-EAGLE, Circaetus pectoralis, Zwartborstslangenarend
2 at Serengeti NP and 1 at Lake Manyara NP.

44.  BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE, Circaetus cinereus, Bruine Slangenarend
Singles at Tarangire NP and the Ngorongoro CA.

45.  BATELEUR, Terathopius ecaudatus, Bateleur
A widespread and sometimes fairly common species.

46.  WESTERN MARSH-HARRIER, Circus aeruginosus, Bruine Kiekendief
2 at the Ngorongoro CA and 4 at Lake Manyara NP.

47.  AFRICAN MARSH-HARRIER, Circus ranivorus, Afrikaanse Bruine Kiekendief
A single sighting at Lake Manyara NP.

48.  PALLID HARRIER, Circus macrourus, Steppekiekendief
2 at Serengeti NP.

49.  MONTAGU’S HARRIER, Circus pygargus, Grauwe Kiekendief
This Palearctic migrant was widespread from Tarangire NP to Serengeti NP with a maximum daily count of c35 at Serengeti NP.

50.  AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK, Polyboroides typus, Kaalkopkiekendief
A single sighting at Tsavo East NP (K).

51.  DARK CHANTING-GOSHAWK, Melierax metabates, Donkere Zanghavik
5 at Serengeti NP.

52.  EASTERN CHANTING-GOSHAWK, Melierax poliopterus, Bleke Zanghavik
2 at Tarangire NP, 1 at Lake Manyara NP and 2 near Arusha.

53.  SHIKRA, Accipiter badius, Shikra
A single one at Tarangire NP.

54.  EURASIAN BUZZARD, Buteo buteo, Buizerd
4 in the Ngorongoro CA.

55.  MOUNTAIN BUZZARD, Buteo oreophilus, Bergbuizerd
1 at Kilimanjaro NP and 2 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

56.  AUGUR BUZZARD, Buteo augur, Augurbuizerd
Widespread in small numbers from Arusha to Serengeti with a maximum daily count at Ngorongoro of 11.

57.  LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE, Aquila pomarina, Schreeuwarend
Single sightings in Serengeti NP and en route Lake Natron – Lake Manyara.

58.  TAWNY EAGLE, Aquila rapax, Taankleurige Arend
Widespread from Arusha to Serengeti.

59.  STEPPE EAGLE, Aquila nipalensis, Steppearend
2 at Tarangire NP and a few in Serengeti NP.

60.  IMPERIAL EAGLE, Aquila heliaca, Keizerarend
1 en route Arusha – Tarangire NP.

61.  WAHLBERG'S EAGLE, Aquila wahlbergi, Wahlbergs Arend
1 in Serengeti NP.

62.  AFRICAN HAWK-EAGLE, Hieraaetus spilogaster, Afrikaanse Havikarend
3 en route Arusha – Tarangire NP and 2 at Tarangire NP.

63.  BOOTED EAGLE, Aquila pennatus, Dwergarend
A single sighting in the Arusha area.

64.  MARTIAL EAGLE, Polemaetus bellicosus, Vechtarend
1 at Serengeti NP and 1 at Tsavo East NP (K).

65.  LONG-CRESTED EAGLE, Lophaetus occipitalis, Langkuifarend
1 near Arusha, 2 at Tarangire NP, a pair at the nest near Lake Manyara and 3 at Serengeti NP.

66.  SECRETARY-BIRD, Sagittarius serpentarius, Secretarisvogel
1 in the Ngorongoro CA, 1 in Serengeti NP and 1 en route Lake Natron – Lake Manyara.

67.  PYGMY FALCON, Polihierax semitorquatus, Dwergvalk
1 in Tarangire NP and 7 in Serengeti NP.

68.  LESSER KESTREL, Falco naumanni, Kleine Torenvalk
Common in Serengeti NP, where we recorded up 75 a day and c50 in the Arusha area.

69.  EURASIAN KESTREL, Falco tinnunculus, Torenvalk
Widespread, but generally uncommon except in Serengeti NP, where fairly common.

70.  GREATER KESTREL, Falco rupicoloides, Grote Torenvalk
5 in Serengeti NP and 2 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

71.  GREY KESTREL, Falco ardosiaceus, Grijze Torenvalk
3 at Tarangire NP and 2 at Serengeti NP.

72.  AMUR FALCON, Falco amurensis, Amoerroodpootvalk
A pleasant surprise when we saw this bird in Serengeti NP.

73.  LANNER FALCON, Falco biarmicus, Lannervalk
1 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim, 1 at Serengeti NP and 2 en route Lake Natron – Lake Manyara.

74.  PEREGRINE FALCON, Falco peregrinus, Slechtvalk
2 at Mount Lengai near Lake Natron.

75.  COQUI FRANCOLIN, Francolinus coqui, Coquifrankolijn
6 at Serengeti NP.

76.  CRESTED FRANCOLIN, Francolinus sephaena , Kuiffrankolijn
A few at Tarangire NP.

77.  HILDEBRANDT’S FRANCOLIN, Francolinus hildebrandti, Hildebrandts Frankolijn
5 at the Ngorongoro Crater.

78.  YELLOW-NECKED FRANCOLIN, Francolinus leucoscepus, Geelkeelfrankolijn
Common at Tarangire NP and en route Lake Natron – Lake Manyara and in Tsavo East NP (K).

79.  GREY-BREASTED FRANCOLIN, Francolinus rufopictus, Grijshalsfrankolijn
Up to 5 a day at Serengeti NP.

80.  RED-NECKED FRANCOLIN, Francolinus afer, Roodkeelfrankolijn
C10 at Tarangire NP and 1 at Serengeti NP.

81.  HARLEQUIN QUAIL, Coturnix delegorguei, Harlekijnkwartel
A single one at Serengeti NP.

82.  HELMETED GUINEAFOWL, Numida meleagris, Helmparelhoen
Common and widespread from Tarangire NP to Serengeti NP.

83.  SMALL BUTTON-QUAIL, Turnix sylvatica, Gestreepte Vechtkwartel
2 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

84.  GREY CROWNED-CRANE, Balearica regulorum, Grijze Kroonkraan
2 in the Ngorongoro CA and 6 in the Ngorongoro Crater.

85.  BLACK CRAKE, Amaurornis flavirostra, Zwart Porseleinhoen
2 at Serengeti NP.

86.  RED-KNOBBED COOT, Fullica cristata, Knobbelmeerkoet
6 in the Ngorongoro CA.

87.  KORI BUSTARD, Ardeotis kori, Koritrap
C25 in the Ngorongoro Crater (often in display), small numbers in Serengeti NP and 6 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

88.  WHITE-BELLIED BUSTARD, Eupodotis senegalensis, Senegaltrap
A single sighting in Serengeti NP.

89.  BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD, Lissotis melanogaster, Zwartbuiktrap
5 in the Ngorongoro Crater and 3 in Serengeti NP.

90.  EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER, Haematopus ostralegus, Scholekster
3 at Mombasa beach (K).

91.  BLACK-WINGED STILT, Himantopus himantopus, Steltkluut
Common at the Ngorongoro Crater and several in Lake Manyara NP.

92.  PIED AVOCET, Recurvirostra avosetta, Kluut
C20 in the Ngorongoro Crater and c5000 at Lake Manyara.

93.  WATER THICK-KNEE, Burhinus vermiculatus, Watergriel
2 in Lake Manyara NP.

94.  DOUBLE-BANDED COURSER, Rhinoptilus africanus, Dubbelbandrenvogel
Up to 11 a day in Serengeti NP, 4 en route Lake Natron – Lake Manyara and 2 in Lake Manyara NP.

95.  THREE-BANDED (HEUGLIN’S) COURSER, Rhinoptilus cinctus, Driebandrenvogel
Brilliant views of a single bird near a kopje in Serengeti NP.

96.  COLLARED PRATINCOLE, Glareola pratincola, Vorkstaartplevier
C100 en route Arusha – Tarangire NP and c75 at Lake Manyara.

97.  BLACKSMITH PLOVER, Vanellus armatus, Smidsplevier
Common and fairly widespread from Tarangire NP – Serengeti NP.

98.  CROWNED LAPWING, Vanellus coronatus, Diadeemkievit
Common and fairly widespread from Tarangire NP – Serengeti NP, with up to 100 a day.

99.  COMMON RINGED PLOVER, Charadrius hiaticula, Bontbekplevier
10 at Mombasa beach (K).

100.    KITTLITZ'S PLOVER, Charadrius pecuarius, Herdersplevier
Common in the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, c25 at Lake Natron.

101.    THREE-BANDED PLOVER, Charadrius tricollaris, Driebandplevier
C10 in the Ngorongoro Crater, small numbers in Serengeti NP, a few near Lake Natron and Lake Manyara.

102.    CHESTNUT-BANDED PLOVER, Charadrius pallidus, Kaapse Plevier
A few in the Ngorongoro Crater, common at Lake Manyara and Lake Natron.

103.    LESSER SANDPLOVER, Charadrius mongolus, Mongoolse Plevier
C50 at Mombasa beach (K).

104.    WHIMBREL, Numenius phaeopus, Regenwulp
3 at Mombasa beach (K).

105.    EURASIAN CURLEW, Numenius arquata, Wulp
1 at the Ngorongoro Crater.

106.    MARSH SANDPIPER, Tringa stagnatilis, Poelruiter
Fairly common in the Ngorongoro Crater (Lake Makat), small numbers at Lake Natron and 1 at Mombasa beach (K).

107.    COMMON GREENSHANK, Tringa nebularia, Groenpootruiter
4 at the Ngorongoro Crater (Lake Makat), 2 at Lake Natron and 1 at Mombasa beach (K).

108.    GREEN SANDPIPER, Tringa ochropus, Witgat
2 at Tarangire NP.

109.    WOOD SANDPIPER, Tringa glareola, Bosruiter
C25 in the Ngorongoro Crater, a few at Serengeti NP and Lake Natron.

110.    COMMON SANDPIPER, Actitis hypoleucos, Oeverloper
1 at Serengeti NP and 6 at Mombasa beach (K).

111.    RUDDY TURNSTONE, Arenaria interpres, Steenloper
9 at Mombasa beach (K).

112.    LITTLE STINT, Calidris minuta, Kleine Strandloper
C30 in the Ngorongoro Crater (Lake Makat), fairly common at Lake Manyara and Lake Natron.

113.    TEMMINCK’S STINT, Calidris temminckii, Temmincks Strandloper
2 at Lake Manyara.

114.    CURLEW SANDPIPER, Calidris ferruginea, Krombekstrandloper
2 in the Ngorongoro Crater (Lake Makat) and 5 at Mombasa beach (K).

115.    RUFF, Philomachus pugnax, Kemphaan
Common in the Ngorongoro Crater (Lake Makat), c25 at Lake Natron, c200 at Lake Manyara.

116.    SOOTY GULL, Larus hemprichii, Hemprichs Meeuw
Fairly common at Mombasa beach (K).

117.    GREY-HEADED GULL, Larus cirrocephalus, Grijskopmeeuw
1 en route Tarangire NP – Lake Manyara, c10 in the Ngorongoro CA and c10 at Lake Natron.

118.    GULL-BILLED TERN, Sterna nilotica, Lachstern
2 in the Ngorongoro Crater, 1 at Lake Manyara and 6 at Lake Natron.

119.    LESSER CRESTED TERN, Sterna bengalensis, Bengaalse Stern
C75 at Mombasa beach (K).

120.    GREAT CRESTED TERN, Sterna bergii, Grote Kuifstern
3 at Mombasa beach (K).

121.    WHISKERED TERN, Chlidonias hybridus, Witwangstern
C25 in the Ngorongoro Crater, a few in Serengeti NP and c100 at Lake Manyara.

122.    WHITE-WINGED TERN, Chlidonias leucopterus, Witvleugelstern
3 in the Ngorongoro Crater.

123.    CHESTNUT-BELLIED SANDGROUSE, Pterocles exustus, Roodbuikzandhoen
4 at the Serengeti NP and c10 near Lake Natron.

124.    YELLOW-THROATED SANDGROUSE, Pterocles gutturalis, Geelkeelzandhoen
C200 in the Ngorongoro CA and c30 in Serengeti NP.

125.    BLACK-FACED SANDGROUSE, Pterocles decoratus, Maskerzandhoen
C25 in Tarangire NP, c10 in Serengeti NP and 4 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

126.    ROCK PIGEON, Columba livia, Stadsduif
Small numbers in cities and villages.

127.    SPECKLED PIGEON, Columba guinea, Gespikkelde Duif
1 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim, c100 near Lake Natron and a few near Lake Manyara.

128.    DUSKY TURTLE-DOVE, Streptopelia lugens, Rouwtortel
C30 in the Ngorongoro Crater and on the rim.

129.    AFRICAN MOURNING DOVE, Streptopelia decipiens, Treurtortel
Rather common at Tarangire NP and in Serengeti NP.

130.    RING-NECKED DOVE, Streptopelia capicola, Kaapse Tortel
A very common and widespread species.

131.    RED-EYED DOVE, Streptopelia semitorquata, Roodoogtortel
Fairly common at Lake Manyara and in the Ngorongoro Area

132.    LAUGHING DOVE, Streptopelia senegalensis, Palmtortel
Widespread and often fairly common in drier areas.

133.    EMERALD-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE, Turtur chalcospilos, Smaragdvlekduif
Singles at Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP and at Mombasa (K).

134.    NAMAQUA DOVE, Oena capensis, Maskerduif
1 at Tsavo East (K), 1 at Serengeti NP and fairly common en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

135.    * FISCHER’S LOVEBIRD, Agapornis fischeri, Fischers Agapornis
Common in Serengeti NP.

136.    * YELLOW-COLLARED LOVEBIRD, Agapornis personatus, Zwartmaskeragapornis
Common at Tarangire NP, a few en route Arusha – Tarangire NP.

137.    RED-BELLIED (AFRICAN ORANGE-BELLIED) PARROT, Poicephalus rufiventris, Roodbuikpapegaai
A single one in Tsavo East NP (K).

138.    HARTLAUB’S TURACO, Tauraco hartlaubi, Hartlaubs Toerako
Fairly common at Kilimanjaro NP.

139.    BARE-FACED GO-AWAY-BIRD, Corythaixoides personata, Maskertoerako
6 en route Arusha – Tarangire NP, 2 at Tarangire NP, 2 at Serengeti NP and 2 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

140.    WHITE-BELLIED GO-AWAY-BIRD, Corythaixoides leucogaster, Witbuiktoerako
2 at Tarangire NP and 4 at Tsavo East NP (K).

141.    PIED (BLACK-AND-WHITE) CUCKOO, Clamator jacobinus, Jacobijnkoekoek
2 at Lake Manyara and 2 at Tsavo East NP (K).

142.    RED-CHESTED CUCKOO, Cuculus solitarius, Heremietkoekoek
Scattered records of ones and twos from Tarangire NP to the Ngorongoro area and en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

143.    KLAAS’ CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx klaas, Klaas' Koekoek
Single ones at Serengeti NP and Lake Manyara NP.

144.    DIDERIC CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx caprius, Diederikkoekoek
A single one at Tarangire NP.

145.    BLACK COUCAL, Centropus grillii, Zwarte Spoorkoekoek
A single sighting in Serengeti NP.

146.    WHITE-BROWED COUCAL, Centropus superciliosus, Wenkbrauwspoorkoekoek
6 at Tarangire NP, 4 at Lake Manyara NP and small numbers at Serengeti NP

147.    VERREAUX'S (GIANT) EAGLE-OWL, Bubo lacteus, Verreaux' Oehoe
A pair with an almost full-grown young at the Migunga Tent Camp near Lake Manyara.

148.    PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET, Glaucidium perlatum, Geparelde Dwerguil
Heard at Serengeti NP.

149.    ABYSSINIAN (MONTANE) NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus poliocephalus, Ethiopische Nachtzwaluw
1 at the Lobo Wildlife Lodge in Serengeti NP.

150.    SLENDER-TAILED NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus clarus, Reichenows Nachtzwaluw
4 at Lake Natron Tented Camp near Lake Natron.

151.    SQUARE-TAILED NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus fossii, Gabonnachtzwaluw
Heard at Ikoma Tented Camp in Serengeti NP.

152.    MOTTLED SPINETAIL, Telacanthura ussheri, Boababgierzwaluw
C10 at Tarangire NP.

153.    AFRICAN PALM-SWIFT, Cypsiurus parvus, Afrikaanse Palmgierzwaluw
Common in the Arusha area and at Tarangire NP.

154.    COMMON (EURASIAN) SWIFT, Apus apus, Gierzwaluw
Small numbers near the volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai.

155.    NYANZA SWIFT, Apus niansae, Nyanzagierzwaluw
C15 in the Ngorongoro area.

156.    AFRICAN SWIFT, Apus barbatus, Kaapse Gierzwaluw
A few at Tarangire NP was thought to be this species.

157.    LITTLE SWIFT, Apus affinis, Huisgierzwaluw
A very common and widespread species.

158.    HORUS SWIFT, Apus horus, Horusgierzwaluw
A total of 15+ at Tarangire NP.

159.    SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD, Colius striatus, Bruine Muisvogel
A fairly common and widespread species.

160.    BLUE-NAPED MOUSEBIRD, Urocolius macrourus, Blauwnekmuisvogel
Only 3 seen in Serengeti NP.

161.    GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER, Halcyon leucocephala, Grijskopijsvogel
Seen 1 or 2 nearly every day of the trip.

162.    WOODLAND KINGFISHER, Halcyon senegalensis, Senegalijsvogel
2 at Lake Manyara NP and a single one at Serengeti NP.

163.    STRIPED KINGFISHER, Halcyon chelicuti, Gestreepte IJsvogel
2 at Serengeti NP and 1 at Lake Manyara NP.

164.    PIED KINGFISHER, Ceryle rudis, Bonte IJsvogel
3 at Mombasa beach (K).

165.    LITTLE BEE-EATER, Merops pusillus, Dwergbijeneter
Small numbers at Tarangire NP and in Serengeti NP.

166.    CINNAMON-CHESTED BEE-EATER, Merops oreobates, Bergbijeneter
2 at Kilimanjaro NP and small numbers at the Ngorongoro CA.

167.    WHITE-THROATED BEE-EATER, Merops albicollis, Witkeelbijeneter
Common en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

168.    BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER, Merops persicus, Groene Bijeneter
Only 1 seen at Tarangire NP.

169.    EUROPEAN BEE-EATER, Merops apiaster, Bijeneter
A few at Tarangire NP.

170.    EUROPEAN ROLLER, Coracias garrulus, Scharrelaar
Common at Tsavo East NP (K), fairly common in Serengeti NP and a few in Lake Manyara NP.

171.    LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER, Coracias caudata, Vorkstaartscharrelaar
A common and widespread species, with up to 40 species a day in Serengeti NP.

172.    RUFOUS-CROWNED ROLLER, Coracias noevia, Roodkruinscharrelaar
4 in Serengeti NP.

173.    EURASIAN HOOPOE, Upupa epops, Hop
Singles at Kilimanjaro NP, Migungunga Tent Camp and the Ngorongoro CA, 5 at Serengeti NP.

174.    GREEN WOODHOOPOE, Phoeniculus purpureus, Groene Kakelaar
4 at Tarangire NP.

175.    ABYSSINIAN SCIMITAR-BILL, Rhinopomastus minor, Abessijnse Boomhop
6 at Serengeti NP.

176.    RED-BILLED HORNBILL, Tockus erythrorhynchus, Roodsnaveltok
Fairly common in Tarangire NP and 3 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

177.    EASTERN YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL, Tockus flavirostris, Ethiopische Geelsnaveltok.
3 in Tsavo East NP (K).

178.    VON DER DECKEN’S HORNBILL, Tockus deckeni, Von der Deckens Tok
Small numbers in Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

179.    CROWNED HORNBILL, Tockus alboterminatus, Kuiftok
2 at Kilimanjaro NP and 3 at Lake Manyara NP.

180.    AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL, Tockus nasutus, Grijze Tok
Small numbers in Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro CA, Serengeti NP and en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

181.    SILVERY-CHEEKED HORNBILL, Ceratogymna brevis, Zilveroorneushoornvogel
1 at Kilimanjaro NP, 9 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim and 6 at Lake Manyara NP.

182.    SOUTHERN GROUND-HORNBILL, Bucorvus leadbeateri, Zuidelijke Hoornraaf
1 at Tarangire NP, 1 at Serengeti NP and 3 en route Lake Natron – Lake Manyara.

183.    RED-FRONTED TINKERBIRD, Pogoniulus pusillus, Roodvoorhoofdketellapper
2 at Lake Manyara NP.

184.    RED-FRONTED BARBET, Tricholaema diademata, Diadeembaardvogel
1 at Serengeti NP.

185.    SPOT-FLANKED BARBET, Tricholaema lacrymosa, Rouwbaardvogel
Singles at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

186.    BLACK-THROATED BARBET, Tricholaema melanocephala, Zwartkopbaardvogel
2 near Lake Natron.

187.    WHITE-HEADED BARBET, Lybius leucocephalus, Witkopbaardvogel
A single one at Serengeti NP.

188.    RED-AND-YELLOW BARBET, Trachyphonus erythrocephalus, Vuurkopbaardvogel
4 at Tarangire NP and 2 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

189.    USAMBIRO BARBET, Trachyphonus darnaudii usambiro, Usambiro Baardvogel
10 at Serengeti NP. Usambiro Barbet is a subspecies of D’Arnaud’s Barbet.

190.    LESSER HONEYGUIDE, Indicator minor, Kleine Honingspeurder
A single one at Lake Manyara NP.

191.    NUBIAN WOODPECKER, Campethera nubica, Nubische Specht
1 at Tarangire NP and also 1 at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

192.    CARDINAL WOODPECKER, Dendropicos fuscescens, Kardinaalspecht
1 at Tarangire NP, 2 at Serengeti NP and 1 at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

193.    GREY WOODPECKER, Dendropicos goertae, Grijsgroene Specht
Single ones at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

194.    WHITE-TAILED LARK, Mirafra albicauda, Witstaartleeuwerik
A total of 4 at Serengeti NP, 3 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

195.    RUFOUS-NAPED LARK, Mirafra africana, Roodnekleeuwerik
A widespread and often common lark, although absent in Tarangire NP.

196.    FLAPPET LARK, Mirafra rufocinnamomea, Ratelleeuwerik
1 at Tarangire NP, 2 at the Ngorongoro CA and a few at Serengeti NP.

197.    FOXY LARK, Calendulauda alopex, Vosleeuwerik
Small numbers at Tarangire NP and in Serengeti NP.

198.    FISCHER'S SPARROW-LARK, Eremopterix leucopareia, Bruinkapvinkleeuwerik
A common and widespread species with up to c100 recorded in a day.

199.    RED-CAPPED LARK, Calandrella cinerea, Roodkapleeuwerik
Small numbers in the Ngorongoro CA.

200.    SOMALI SHORT-TOED LARK, Calandrella somalica, Somalische Kortteenleeuwerik
A few in Serengeti NP.

201.    SHORT-TAILED LARK, Pseudalaemon fremantlii, Kortstaartleeuwerik
2 at Serengeti NP and c10 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

202.    PLAIN MARTIN, Riparia paludicola, Vale Oeverzwaluw
Small numbers in the Ngorongoro Crater and in the Ngorongoro CA.

203.    BANDED MARTIN, Riparia cincta, Witbrauwzwaluw
1 at Tarangire NP and 3 at Serengeti NP.

204.    GREY-RUMPED SWALLOW, Hirundo griseopyga, Grijsstuitzwaluw
A few in Tsavo East NP (K) and 3 in Serengeti NP.

205.    ROCK MARTIN, Hirundo fuligula, Kaapse Rotszwaluw
2 near Lake Manyara, 2 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim and fairly common in Serengeti NP.

206.    BARN SWALLOW, Hirundo rustica, Boerenzwaluw
A very common and widespread species.

207.    ETHIOPIAN SWALLOW, Hirundo aethiopica, Ethiopische Zwaluw
2 near Mombasa beach (K).

208.    WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW, Hirundo smithii, Roodkruinzwaluw
C25 at Serengeti NP.

209.    LESSER STRIPED-SWALLOW, Hirundo abyssinica, Savannezwaluw
Fairly common at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

210.    MOSQUE SWALLOW, Hirundo senegalensis, Moskeezwaluw
A few in Tarangire NP and in the Ngorongoro CA.

211.    RED-RUMPED SWALLOW, Hirundo daurica, Roodstuitzwaluw
A few in Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

212.    HOUSE MARTIN, Delichon urbica, Huiszwaluw
C200 at Ol Doinyo Lengai.

213.    BLACK SAWWING, Psalidoprocne holomelas, Zwarte Kamzwaluw
C15 at Kilimanjaro NP and 1 in the Ngorongoro Crater.

214.    AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL, Motacilla aguimp, Afrikaanse Bonte Kwikstaart
Small numbers at Kilimanjaro NP, Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

215.    YELLOW WAGTAIL, Motacilla flava, Gele Kwikstaart
Abundant at the Ngorongoro Crater with subspecies flava, beema, lutea and thunbergi seen.

216.    MOUNTAIN WAGTAIL, Motacilla clara, Bergkwikstaart
A pair at Lake Manyara NP seen.

217.    YELLOW-THROATED LONGCLAW, Macronyx croceus, Geelkeellangklauw
A single one at Serengeti NP.

218.    ROSY-THROATED LONGCLAW, Macronyx ameliae, Roodkeellangklauw
A single one at the Ngorongoro CA.

219.    PLAIN-BACKED PIPIT, Anthus leucophrys, Bruinrugpieper
A few at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

220.    AFRICAN PIPIT, Anthus cinnamomeus, Kaneelpieper
Small numbers at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

221.    LONG-BILLED PIPIT, Anthus similis, Langsnavelpieper
Small numbers at the Ngorongoro Crater.

222.    TREE PIPIT, Anthus trivialis, Boompieper
A few at the Ngorongoro CA.

223.    GREY CUCKOO-SHRIKE, Coracina caesia, Bostrupsvogel
A single one at Serengeti NP.

224.    BLACK CUCKOO-SHRIKE, Campephaga flava, Kaapse Rupsvogel
A pair at Serengeti NP.

225.    COMMON BULBUL, Pycnonotus barbatus, Grauwe Buulbuul
A widespread and fairly common species.

226.    SOMBRE GREENBUL, Andropadus importunus, Vale Buulbuul
2 at Mombasa beach (K).

227.    EASTERN MOUNTAIN-GREENBUL, Andropadus nigriceps, Oostelijke Grijskeelbuulbuul
6 at Kilimanjaro NP.

228.    RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK-THRUSH, Monticola saxatilis, Rode Rotslijster
Single ones at Taveta and in Tsavo East NP (K).

229.    OLIVE THRUSH, Turdus olivaceus, Kaapse Lijster
2 at Kilimanjaro NP, 1 at the Ngorongoro CA and 1 at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

230.    TRILLING CISTICOLA, Cisticola woosnami, Miombograszanger
A single one at Kilimanjaro NP.

231.    HUNTER’S CISTICOLA, Cisticola hunteri, Hunters Graszanger
3 at Kilimanjaro NP and a few at the Ngorongoro Crater.

232.    RATTLING CISTICOLA, Cisticola chinianus, Ratelgraszanger
A fairly widespread and common species.

233.    LYNES’S CISTICOLA, Cisticola lais distinctus, Lynes’ Graszanger
Small numbers at the Ngorongoro Crater. Lynes’s Cisticola is a subspecies of Wailing Cisticola.

234.    WINDING CISTICOLA, Cisticola galactotes, Zwartruggraszanger
Rather common at Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro CA and Serengeti NP.

235.    CROAKING CISTICOLA, Cisticola natalensis, Natalgraszanger
A few at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

236.    ZITTING CISTICOLA, Cisticola juncidis, Graszanger
A few at Tarangire NP and in Tsavo East NP (K).

237.    DESERT CISTICOLA, Cisticola aridulus, Kalaharigraszanger
3 at Tarangire NP.

238.    PECTORAL-PATCH CISTICOLA, Cisticola brunnescens, Bleekkopgraszanger
Common in the Ngorongoro Crater and a few in Serengeti NP.

239.    TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA, Prinia subflava, Roestflankprinia
2 at Tarangire NP.

240.    BAR-THROATED APALIS, Apalis thoracica, Halsbandapalis
3 at Serengeti NP.

241.    YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS, Apalis flavida, Geelborstapalis
A single one at Serengeti NP.

242.    CHESTNUT-THROATED APALIS, Apalis porphyrolaema, Bergapalis
A single sighting at Kilimanjaro NP.

243.    BROWN-HEADED APALIS, Apalis alticola, Bruinkopapalis
8 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

244.    GREY-CAPPED WARBLER, Eminia lepida, Eminiazanger
A single bird at the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

245.    GREEN-BACKED CAMAROPTERA, Camaroptera bachyura, Mekkercamaroptera
4 at Serengeti NP.

246.    AFRICAN REED-WARBLER, Acrocephalus baeticatus, Kortvleugelkarekiet
A single one at Serengeti NP.

247.    LESSER SWAMP-WARBLER, Acrocephalus gracilirostris, Kaapse Rietzanger
A single one at Serengeti NP.

248.    EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, Hippolais pallida, Oostelijke Vale Spotvogel
2 at Serengeti NP.

249.    BUFF-BELLIED WARBLER, Phyllolais pulchella, Acacia-apalis
1 near Lake Manyara and 5 at Serengeti NP.

250.    YELLOW-BELLIED EREMOMELA, Eremomela icteropygialis, Geelbuikeremomela
Singles at Kilimanjaro NP, Serengeti NP and at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

251.    RED-FACED CROMBEC, Sylvietta whytii, Roodteugelkrombek
2 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim and 5 at Serengeti NP.

252.    BROWN WOODLAND-WARBLER, Phylloscopus umbrovirens, Rüppels Boszanger
A single one at Kilimanjaro NP.

253.    BLACKCAP, Sylvia atricapilla, Zwartkop
3 at Kilimanjaro NP and 1 at Serengeti NP.

254.    BROWN WARBLER, Sylvia lugens, Bruine Meeszanger
2 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

255.    BANDED WARBLER,Sylvia boehmi, Gebandeerde Meeszanger
Singles at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

256.    SILVERBIRD, Empidornis semipartitus, Zilvervliegenvanger
Locally fairly common in Serengeti NP.

257.    PALE FLYCATCHER, Bradornis pallidus, Vale Vliegenvanger
2 at Tarangire NP and 3 near Lake Manyara.

258.    AFRICAN GREY FLYCATCHER, Bradornis microrhynchus, Streepkopvliegenvanger
Small numbers at Tarangire NP and the Ngorongoro CA.

259.    WHITE-EYED SLATY-FLYCATCHER, Dioptrornus fischeri, Bergdrongovliegenvanger
C10 at Kilimanjaro NP and a few at the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

260.    SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa striata, Grauwe Vliegenvanger
1 at Kilimanjaro NP and 2 at lkoma Tented Camp near Serengeti NP.

261.    AFRICAN DUSKY FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa adusta, Kaapse Vliegenvanger
3 at Kilimanjaro NP and a few in the Ngorongoro CA.

262.    ASHY FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa caerulescens, Blauwgrijze Vliegenvanger
6 at Tarangire NP.

263.    WHITE-STARRED ROBIN, Pogonocichla stellata, Sterrepaapje
5 at Kilimanjaro NP.

264.    CAPE ROBIN-CHAT, Cossypha caffra, Kaapse Lawaaimaker
1 at Kilimanjaro NP and 2 at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

265.    RUEPPELL’S ROBIN-CHAT, Cossypha semirufa, Rüppells Lawaaimaker
3 at Serengeti NP.

266.    COLLARED PALM-THRUSH, Cichladusa arquata, Zambesipalmlijster
A splendid sighting at the lodge in Tarangire NP, at the very northernmost limits of its range.

267.    SPOTTED MORNING-THRUSH, Cichladusa guttata, Gevlekte Palmlijster
2 at Tarangire NP and 6 at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

268.    RED-BACKED SCRUB-ROBIN, Cercotrichas leucophrys, Witbrauwwaaierstaart
A single one at Serengeti NP.

269.    RUFOUS-TAILED SCRUB-ROBIN, Cercotrichas galactotes, Rosse Waaierstaart
1 near Kilimanjaro NP.

270.    AFRICAN STONECHAT, Saxicola torquata, Afrikaanse Roodborsttapuit
C15 in the Ngorongoro CA and a few in Serengeti NP.

271.    NORTHERN WHEATEAR, Oenanthe oenanthe, Tapuit
Up to 7 a day in Serengeti NP, small numbers in Serengeti NP and en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

272.    SCHALOW’S WHEATEAR, Oenanthe lugens schalowi, Schalows Tapuit
A few in the Ngorongoro Crater and c10 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron. Schalow’s Wheatear is a subspecies of Mourning Wheatear.

273.    PIED WHEATEAR, Oenanthe pleschanka, Bonte Tapuit
5 in Serengeti NP and a few en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

274.    CAPPED WHEATEAR, Oenanthe pileata, Aardtapuit
Common at the Ngorongoro CA, small numbers in the Serengeti NP and en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

275.    ISABELLINE WHEATEAR, Oenanthe isabellina, Izabeltapuit
Small numbers in the Ngorongoro CA, Serengeti NP and en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

276.    FAMILIAR CHAT, Cercomela familiaris, Roodstaartspekvreter
A single sighting en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

277.    NORTHERN ANTEATER-CHAT, Myrmecocichla aethiops, Bruine Miertapuit
3 in the Ngorongoro Crater.

278.    SOOTY CHAT, Myrmecocichla nigra, Zwarte Miertapuit
4 in Serengeti NP.

279.    MOCKING CLIFF-CHAT, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris, Roodbuikkliftapuit
2 at the Lobo Wildlife Lodge in Serengeti NP.

280.    CHINSPOT BATIS, Batis molitor, Witflankvliegenvanger
3 at Kilimanjaro NP and 1 near the Lobo Wildlife Lodge in Serengeti NP.

281.    AFRICAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER, Terpsiphone viridis, Afrikaanse Paradijsmonarch
6 at Kilimanjaro NP and 2 at Serengeti NP.

282.    RUFOUS CHATTERER, Turdoides rubiginosus, Rosse Babbelaar
A single one at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

283.    BLACK-LORED BABBLER, Turdoides sharpie, Sharps Babbelaar
4 at Serengeti NP.

284.    ARROW-MARKED BABBLER, Turdoides jardineii, Pijlpuntbabbelaar
Small numbers at Tarangire NP.

285.    RED-THROATED TIT, Melaniparus fringillinus, Roodkeelmees
A single sighting at Serengeti NP.

286.    KENYA VIOLET-BACKED SUNBIRD, Anthreptes orientalis, Zwaluwhoningzuiger
A single sighting at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

287.    COLLARED SUNBIRD, Anthreptes collaris, Halsbandhoningzuiger
A few at Kilimanjaro NP and at Mombasa beach (K).

288.    WESTERN OLIVE-SUNBIRD, Nectarinia olivacea, Olijfgroene Honingzuiger
A single bird in the Arusha area.

289.    AMETHYST SUNBIRD, Nectarinia amethystina, Amethisthoningzuiger
6 at Kilimanjaro NP and 2 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

290.    SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD, Nectarinia senegalensis, Roodborsthoningzuiger
3 at Serengeti NP.

291.    TACAZZE SUNBIRD, Nectarinia tacazze, Tacazzehoningzuiger
Only seen at Kilimanjaro NP.

292.    BRONZE SUNBIRD, Nectarinia kilimensis, Bronshoningzuiger
A single one at Kilimanjaro NP.

293.    MALACHITE SUNBIRD, Nectarinia famosa, Emeraldhoningzuiger
Up to 6 a day at Kilimanjaro NP.

294.    EASTERN DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD, Nectarinia mediocris, Fülleborns Honingzuiger
4 at the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

295.    BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD, Cinnyris pulchellus, Feeënhoningzuiger
2 at Migunga Tented Camp near Lake Manyara, 2 in the Ngorongoro CA, 2 at Serengeti NP and 1 at Lake Natron Tented Camp.

296.    VARIABLE SUNBIRD, Nectarinia venusta, Ornaathoningzuiger
Fairly common from Kilimanjaro area to Serengeti NP.

297.    AFRICAN YELLOW WHITE-EYE, Zosterops senegalensis, Afrikaanse Brilvogel
A few at Serengeti NP.

298.    BROAD-RINGED WHITE-EYE, Zosterops poliogaster, Hooglandbrilvogel
C15 at Kilimanjaro NP and small numbers at the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

299.    WHITE-BREASTED WHITE-EYE, Zosterops abyssinicus, Somalische Brilvogel
A few at Olduvai Gorge in the Ngorongoro CA.

300.    EURASIAN GOLDEN-ORIOLE, Oriolus oriolus, Wielewaal
1 at Kilimanjaro NP and 3 at Mombasa beach (K).

301.    AFRICAN GOLDEN-ORIOLE, Oriolus auratus, Afrikaanse Wielewaal
A single one at Mombasa beach (K).

302.    RUFOUS-TAILED SHRIKE, Lanius isabellinus, Izabelklauwier
Small numbers in the Ngorongoro CA and Serengeti NP.

303.    LESSER GREY SHRIKE, Lanius minor, Kleine Klapekster
A single sighting at the Ngorongoro CA.

304.    GREY-BACKED FISCAL, Lanius excubitoroides, Grijsrugklapekster
Small numbers daily in Serengeti NP.

305.    LONG-TAILED FISCAL, Lanius cabanisi, Cabanis' Klapekster
Small numbers in the Arusha area, Tarangire NP and the Ngorongoro CA.

306.    TAITA FISCAL, Lanius dorsalis, Taitaklauwier
C30 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

307.    COMMON FISCAL, Lanius collaris, Gekraagde Klauwier
A widespread and fairly common species.

308.    MAGPIE SHRIKE, Corvinella melanoleuca, Eksterklauwier
Common in Tarangire NP and fairly common in Serengeti NP.

309.    WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE, Eurocephalus rueppelli, Rüppells Witkruinklauwier
Common in Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP and also en route in Tsavo East NP (K).

310.    BRUBRU, Nilaus afer, Broebroe
2 in Serengeti NP.

311.    BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA, Tchagra senegala, Zwartkruintsjagra
2 at Serengeti NP and 1 at Ol Doinyo Lengai.

312.    BROWN-CROWNED TCHAGRA, Tchagra australis, Bruinkoptsjagra
A few in Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

313.    TROPICAL BOUBOU, Laniarius aethiopicus, Ethiopische Fiskaal
A pair at Kilimanjaro NP.

314.    SLATE-COLOURED BOUBOU, Laniarius funebris, Leikleurige Fiskaal
3 at Kilimanjaro NP and 2 at Serengeti NP.

315.    FORK-TAILED DRONGO, Dicrurus adsimilis, Fluweeldrongo
Small numbers at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

316.    HOUSE CROW, Corvus splendens, Huiskraai
Fairly common in Kenya.

317.    CAPE CROW, Corvus capensis, Kaapse Roek
A few at the Ngorongoro CA and Serengeti NP.

318.    PIED CROW, Corvus albus, Schildraaf
Small numbers at Kilimanjaro NP, Tarangire NP and in Kenya.

319.    WHITE-NECKED RAVEN, Corvus albicollis, Witnekraaf
3 at Kilimanjaro NP, small numbers in the Ngorongoro CA and 2 in Serengeti NP.

320.    WATTLED STARLING, Creatophora cinerea, Lelspreeuw
Only 1 seen in Serengeti NP.

321.    GREATER BLUE-EARED GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis chalybaeus, Groenstaartglansspreeuw
A few in Tarangire NP.

322.    RUEPPELL’S GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis purpuropterus, Blauwe Langstaartglansspreeuw
Fairly common in central Serengeti NP.

323.    SUPERB STARLING, Lamprotornis superbus, Driekleurige Glansspreeuw
A very common and widespread species.

324.    HILDEBRANDT’S STARLING, Lamprotornis hildebrandti, Hildebrandts Glansspreeuw
C20 in Tarangire NP and fairly common in Serengeti NP.

325.    * ASHY STARLING, Cosmopsarus unicolor, Grijze Glansspreeuw
Fairly common in Tarangire NP.

326.    RED-WINGED STARLING, Onychognathus morio, Roodvleugelspreeuw
Scattered records of small numbers from Arusha to the Serengeti.

327.    WALLER’S STARLING, Onychognathus walleri, Wallers Spreeuw
4 at Kilimanjaro NP.

328.    KENRICK’S STARLING, Poeoptera kenricki, Kenricks Spreeuw
2 at the Ngorongoro Crater Rim.

329.    RED-BILLED OXPECKER, Buphagus erythrorhynchus, Roodsnavelossenpikker
6 at Tarangire NP, a few in the Ngorongoro CA and c50 in Serengeti NP.

330.    YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER, Buphagus africanus, Geelsnavelossenpikker
Small numbers in the Ngorongoro Crater and in Serengeti NP.

331.    HOUSE SPARROW, Passer domesticus, Huismus
Commonly observed near settlements.

332.    KENYA RUFOUS SPARROW, Passer rufocinctus, Kenyaroestmus
Fairly common in Serengeti NP and a few en route Lake Natron – Lake Manyara.

333.    GREY-HEADED SPARROW, Passer griseus, Grijskopmus
Common in Tarangire NP and en route Tarangire NP – Lake Manyara.

334.    SWAHELI SPARROW, Passer suahelicus, Swahilimus
Very common in Serengeti NP.

335.    YELLOW-SPOTTED PETRONIA, Petronia pyrgita, Sahelrotsmus
1 in Lake Manyara NP.

336.    RED-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER, Bubalornis niger, Roodsnavelbufferwever
Common in Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

337.    WHITE-HEADED BUFFALO-WEAVER, Dinemellia dinemelli, Witkopbuffelwever
Common in Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

338.    SPECKLE-FRONTED WEAVER, Sporopipes frontalis, Schubkopwever
6 at Tarangire NP and fairly common at Serengeti NP.

339.    WHITE-BROWED SPARROW-WEAVER, Plocepasser mahali, Mahaliwever
Common at Serengeti NP.

340.    * RUFOUS-TAILED WEAVER, Histurgops ruficauda, Roodstaartwever
C15 at Tarangire NP and common at Serengeti NP.

341.    GREY-HEADED SOCIAL-WEAVER, Pseudonigrita arnaudi, Marmerwever
Fairly common in Serengeti NP.

342.    BAGLAFECHT WEAVER, Ploceus baglafecht, Baglafechtwever
Small numbers in the Kilimanjaro area and at the Ngorongoro CA.

343.    LESSER MASKED WEAVER, Ploceus intermedius, Kleine Textorwever
Not uncommon in the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti NP.

344.    BLACK-NECKED WEAVER, Ploceus nigricollis, Zwartnekwever
1 at Tarangire NP.

345.    GOLDEN PALM WEAVER, Ploceus bojeri, Palmwever
4 at Mombasa beach (K).

346.    AFRICAN GOLDEN-WEAVER, Ploceus subaureus, Gouden Wever
1 at the Ngorongoro Crater.

347.    TAVETA GOLDEN-WEAVER, Ploceus castaneiceps, Tavetawever
2 at the feet of the Kilimanjaro and a few near Arusha.

348.    VITELLINE MASKED-WEAVER, Ploceus vitellinus, Vitellinewever
Quite common in Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

349.    SPEKE’S WEAVER, Ploceus spekei, Spekes Wever
1 at Kilimanjaro NP and a few at the Ngorongoro CA.

350.    BLACK-HEADED WEAVER, Ploceus melanocephalus, Zwartkopwever
2 at Tarangire NP and c10 at Serengeti NP.

351.    CHESTNUT WEAVER, Ploceus rubiginosus, Kastanjewever
A colony of c50 birds en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

352.    RED-BILLED QUELEA, Quelea quelea, Roodbekwever
A common and widespread species.

353.    YELLOW-CROWNED BISHOP, Euplectes afer, Napoleonwever
A single one at the Ngorongoro CA.

354.    BLACK BISHOP, Euplectes gierowii, Zwarte Vuurwever
5 at Tarangire NP.

355.    RED BISHOP, Euplectes orix, Grenadierwever
1 near Lake Manyara, 2 at Serengeti NP and 1 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

356.    YELLOW BISHOP, Euplectes capensis, Fluweelwidavink
5 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron and 1 at Tsavo East NP (K).

357.    FAN-TAILED WIDOWBIRD, Euplectes axillaris, Roodschouderwidavink
C30 at the Ngorongoro Crater.

358.    WHITE-WINGED WIDOWBIRD, Euplectes albonotatus, Spiegelwidavink
Small numbers at the Ngorongoro CA and Serengeti NP.

359.    RED-COLLARED WIDOWBIRD, Euplectes ardens, Roodkeelwidavink
A few in the Ngorongoro CA.

360.    JACKSON’S WIDOWBIRD, Euplectes jacksoni, Lierstaartwidavink
Small numbers at the Ngorongoro CA and a few at Serengeti NP.

361.    GREY-HEADED NEGROFINCH, Nigrita canicapilla, Grijskopnegervink
A single one at Kilimanjaro NP.

362.    GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA, Pytilia melba, Melba-astrild
A pair at Serengeti NP.

363.    ABYSSINIAN CRIMSONWING, Cryptospiza salvadorii, Salvadori's Bergastrild
A single one at Kilimanjaro NP.

364.    RED-BILLED FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta senegala, Vuurvinkje
Scattered records of small numbers from the Kilimanjaro area to Serengeti.

365.    AFRICAN FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta rubricata, Donkerrode Amarant
1 at Kilimanjaro NP.

366.    RED-CHEEKED CORDONBLUE, Uraeginthus bengalus, Blauwfazantje
Small numbers at Kilimanjaro NP, Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

367.    BLUE-CAPPED CORDONBLUE, Uraeginthus cyanocephalus, Blauwkopastrild
Not uncommon at Serengeti NP.

368.    PURPLE GRENADIER, Uraeginthus ianthinogaster, Blauwbuikgranaatastrild
1 at Tarangire NP, 1 at Olduvai Gorge and 1 at the Ngorongoro CA.

369.    YELLOW-BELLIED WAXBILL, Estrilda quartinia, Geelbuikastrild
1 at Kilimanjaro NP.

370.    AFRICAN QUAILFINCH, Ortygospiza fuscocrissa, Kwartelastrild
Flight views only of small groups at Tarangire NP and Serengeti NP.

371.    BRONZE MANNIKIN, Lonchura cucullata, Gewoon Ekstertje
2 at the Ngorongoro CA.

372.    BLACK-AND-WHITE MANNIKIN, Lonchura bicolor, Glansekstertje
C10 at Kilimanjaro NP and c15 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron, 2 at Mombasa beach (K).

373.    VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD, Vidua chalybeata, Staalvink
1 en route Arusha – Tarangire NP and 1 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

374.    PIN-TAILED WHYDAH, Vidua macroura, Dominikanerwida
Fairly common at Tarangire NP and the Ngorongoro CA, up to 15 a day at Serengeti NP and 1 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

375.    EASTERN PARADISE-WHYDAH, Vidua paradisaea, Smalstaartparadijswida
A single sighting at the Ngorongoro CA.

376.    YELLOW-CROWNED CANARY, Serinus flavivertex, Geelkruinkanarie
Not uncommon at the Ngorongoro CA.

377.    AFRICAN CITRIL, Serinus citrinelloides, Dunbekkanarie
3 at the Ngorongoro Crater.

378.    REICHENOW’S SEEDEATER, Serinus reichenowi, Reichenows Kanarie
3 at Serengeti NP.

379.    WHITE-BELLIED CANARY, Serinus dorsostriatus, Witbuikkanarie
1 at Tarangire NP.

380.    STREAKY SEEDEATER, Serinus striolatus, Gestreepte Kanarie
Fairly common at Kilimanjaro NP and in the Ngorongoro Crater highlands.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF MAMMALS

This list follows the sequence and scientific nomenclature of “The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals” by Jonathan Kingdon. Data are estimates of the minimum numbers seen.

The Dutch names follow "Elseviers Gids van de Afrikaanse Zoogdieren" by Haltenorth/Diller/Smeenk.

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1.    OLIVE BABOON, Papio anubis, Baviaan
A common and widespread species.

2.    VERVET MONKEY, Cercopithecus pygerythrus, Groene Meerkat
Small numbers almost every day.

3.    GENTLE (BLUE) MONKEY, Cercopithecus mitis, Diadeemmeerkat
5 at Lake Manyara NP.

4.    YELLOW-WINGED BAT, Lavia frons, Afrikaanse Geelvleugelvleermuis
2 at Tarangire NP.

5.    SCRUB HARE, Lepus saxatilis, Struikhaas
2 near Ol Doinyo Lengai.

6.    UNSTRIPED GROUND SQUIRREL, Xerus rutilus, Ongestreepte Grondeekhoorn
C10 at Tsavo East NP (K), 1 at Tarangire NP and 1 at Serengeti NP.

7.    OCHRE BUSH SQUIRREL, Paraxerus ochraceus, Okerkleurige Boomeekhoorn
2 at Tarangire NP.

8.    RED-LEGGED SUN SQUIRREL, Heliosciurus rufobrachium, Roodpootzonne-eekhoorn
2 at Kilimanjaro NP.

9.    AFRICAN GRASS RAT, Arvicanthis niloticus. Kusu Grasrat
Very common in some areas in Serengeti NP.

10.     GOLDEN JACKAL, Canis aureus, Goudjakhals
5 at the Ngorongoro Crater and 3 at Serengeti NP.

11.     BLACK-BACKED JACKAL, Canis mesomelas, Zadeljakhals
1 at the Ngorongoro Crater and 6 at Serengeti NP.

12.     DWARF MONGOOSE, Helogale parvula, Dwergmangoeste
Common at Tarangire NP and c30 at Serengeti NP.

13.     BANDED MONGOOSE, Mungos mungo, Zebramangoeste
21 at Tarangire NP and c20 at Serengeti NP.

14.     SPOTTED HYENA, Crocuta crocuta, Gevlekte Hyena
C25 at the Ngorongoro Crater and 6 at Serengeti NP.

15.     LEOPARD, Panthera pardus, Luipaard
A splendid observation of this mammal in a tree near the Serenora Wildlife Lodge in Serengeti NP.

16.     LION, Panthera leo, Leeuw
12 at the Ngorongoro Crater and 9 at Serengeti NP.

17.     CHEETAH, Acinonyx jubatus, Jachtluipaard
2 at Serengeti NP.

18.     BUSH (YELLOW-SPOTTED) HYRAX, Heterohyrax brucei, Steppenklipdas
Fairly common at Serengeti NP.

19.     AFRICAN ELEPHANT, Loxodonta africana, Savanneolifant
C50 at Tarangire NP, c15 at the Ngorongoro Crater, c10+ at Serengeti NP and c50 at Lake Manyara NP.

20.     COMMON ZEBRA, Equus quagga, Zebra
3 at Tarangire NP, very common at the Ngorongoro CA, c200 at Serengeti NP and c200 en route Lake Natron – Lake Manyara.

21.     BLACK RHINOCEROS, Diceros bicornis, Zwarte Neushoorn
4 at the Ngorongoro Crater.

22.     HIPPOPOTAMUS, Hippopotamus amphibius, Nijlpaard
C15 at the Ngorongoro Crater, c125 at Serengeti NP and c15 at Lake Manyara NP.

23.     COMMON WARTHOG, Phacochoerus africanus, Wrattenzwijn
Widespread and often fairly common.

24.     GIRAFFE, Giraffa camelopardalis, Giraffe
Up to 30 a day in the game parks.

25.     AFRICAN BUFFALO, Syncerus caffer, Kaapse Buffel
C100 in the Ngorongoro Crater, numerous in the Ngorongoro CA, c500 at Serengeti NP and c300 at Lake Manyara NP.

26.     ELAND, Taurotragus oryx, Elandantilope
5 at the Ngorongoro Crater.

27.     KLIPSPINGER, Oreotragus oreotragus, Klipspringer
6 near the Lobo Wildlife Lodge in Serengeti NP.

28.     KIRK’S DIKDIK, Madoqua kirki, Kirkdikdik
Fairly common at Tarangire NP and 2 at Serengeti NP.

29.     COMMON WATERBUCK, Kobus ellipsiprymnus, Waterbok
6 at Tarangire NP and 3 at Serengeti NP.

30.     DEFASSA WATERBUCK, Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa, Defassa-waterbok
A single one at Lake Manyara NP.

31.     GRANT’S Gazelle, Gazella granti, Grants Gazelle
Fairly common at the Ngorongoro CA and Serengeti NP.

32.     THOMSON’S GAZELLE, Gazella rufifrons thomsoni, Thomsons Gazelle
Common at the Ngorongoro CA and c50 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron.

33.     IMPALA, Aepyceros melampus, Impala
Common at Tarangire NP, c25 at the Ngorongoro Crater, abundant at Serengeti NP and common at Lake Manyara NP.

34.     TOPI, Damaliscus lunatus, Topi
Small numbers daily at Serengeti NP.

35.     KONGONI, Alcelaphus buselaphus, Hartebeest
3 at Tarangire NP, 10 at the Ngorongoro Crater and c10 at Serengeti NP.

36.     BRINDLED GNU (WILDEBEEST), Connochaetes taurinus, Gnoe
Abundant in the Ngorongoro CA and uncountable, c200 en route Lake Manyara – Lake Natron, small numbers at Lake Manyara NP.

37.     BEISA ORYX, Oryx beisa, Spiesbok
5 near Lake Natron.

OTHER SPECIES RECORDED

NILE CROCODILE, MONITOR LIZARD, AGAMA LIZARD, FLAP-NECKED CHAMELEON, LEOPARD TORTOISE