Bird Watching Safari in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Birdwatching Safari in Ngorongoro Conservation Area: The Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the Crater Highlands of northern Tanzania is an international destination noted for its outstanding wildlife. Also, it is known worldwide for its large mammal populations, which include the Big Five, but also for the very large variety of bird species that live in its many ecosystems.
With over 500 species of birds reported, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a top game-viewing destination for bird watchers in East Africa. What it may lack in terms of size, it makes up for in diversity, from the open short grass plains and floor of the crater, which give way to the marshes of the crater’s water bodies, to the high-altitude rainforests, which climb the highland rim, and the large savannah, which makes up the outlying conservation area. Each habitat is a different ecosystem which supports a great deal of bird diversity, which can be seen at any time of the year.
Whether a visitor goes out with a team of bird experts or includes birdwatching as a part of a larger wildlife adventure in Tanzania, birdwatching in Ngorongoro is a very special experience from a scientific, ecological, and aesthetic point of view. In that area, one will find permanent resident breeding species as well as a large number of Palearctic and intra-African migrant birds, which makes it a great destination for birders of all skill levels.
Birding hot spots in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The biodiversity in birds of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is due to the variety of its ecosystems. Each different ecological zone has its own set of bird species, which in turn makes for a full and complete birding safari that covers many environments and reports high species diversity.
- Ngorongoro Crater Floor Waterbirds, Raptors and Ground-Dwelling Species.
The crater floor, which has a variety of open grasslands, acacia woodlands, swamps, and soda lakes, supports what is by far the greatest and most diverse bird population in Tanzania. Lake Magadi, the shallow alkaline lake at the centre of the crater, is the main focus for water bird activity and is also home to the seasonal great flocks of the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) and the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), which present what may be the most spectacular visual display of wildlife in the area.
Additional waterbird species which are reported to frequent Lake Magadi and the surrounding wetlands include the grey-crowned crane (Balearica regulorum), which is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, as well as various heron, egret, ibis, and stork species. The Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), which is known for its bright multi-coloured bill, is among the top species that birders seek out and which is also seen birding at the crater’s wetland margins.
In the open plains of the caldera floor, we see a great variety of raptor species, which include the martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus), the bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) and the augur buzzard (Buteo augur). Also, we have the common ostrich (Struthio camelus) and the Kori bustard (Ardeotis kori), which is the heaviest flying bird in Africa, and many species of francolin and lapwing, which are also reported to be seen in the crater grasslands.
- The Crater Rim and Ngorongoro Highland Forests: Montane and Forest Species
In the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot, which includes the forested zones along the Ngorongoro Crater rim and larger highland areas, we see a home to a great number of forest and montane bird species. These forests, which are in that region, also support a variety of species which are of great conservation and ornithological value.
The Schalow’s turaco (Tauraco schalowi), which is known for its brilliant green and red plumage, and the Hartlaub’s turaco (Tauraco hartlaubi) are reported to be very common in the highland forest canopy and are the most often photographed birds in the conservation area. Also present in the rim forests is the African Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), which is the preeminent African bird of prey, and reports a great variety of sunbirds, weavers, and robin-chats in the forest undergrowth.
The inmontane grasslands and heathlands of the outer Ngorongoro highlands are home to the mountain chat (Myrmecocichla monticola) and many cisticola and pipit species, which in turn add to the birding value of this often-ignored area.
- The Outer Conservation Area and Savannah Zones: Raptors, Rollers and Iconic Species
Beyond the crater, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is much larger in scale, includes diverse savannah and open bush habitats that support a great variety of native East African bird species. Raptors are very well represented there; we see the secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), an atypical terrestrial predator, frequently out and about in open grassland in search of prey. Also reported are a few vulture species, including the White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) and the Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), which do very well in this area that has a stable population of large mammals that serve as a continuous food source.
The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus), which is recognised to have some of the most brilliant colours of any bird in Africa, is very common and present in the savannah areas. The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus), with its shiny plumage, is also very abundant and is among the most often photographed bird species in the Ngorongoro setting.
Best time to watch birds in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
It is important to know when to visit Ngorongoro for birdwatching, which in turn will maximise species diversity and the quality of sightings.
The rainy season is from the short rains in November to December and the long rains in March to May, which also includes the peak of migratory activity and at the same time the best time for great bird diversity. During this period, Palearctic migrants, which include the European roller (Coracias garrulus), Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus) and Eurasian bee-eater (Merops apiaster), show up together with many warbler and flycatcher species, which in turn greatly augment the resident bird population. At this time, total species counts in the conservation area see their annual high.
The dry season from June to October, which sees accessible roads, reduced growth of vegetation, and large mammal visibility and which at the same time presents a great opportunity for resident species viewing. Also, during this time, waterbirds are easy to see around permanent water bodies, and raptor activity over the open grasslands is very visible.
For birders looking for a mix of species diversity and easy access, the shoulder months of November and April are a great balance between peak migration and moderate field conditions.
Practical Tips for a Birdwatching Safari in Ngorongoro.
Engage a Specialist Ornithological Guide: While most Tanzania safari guides have a good base of knowledge on common birds, it is advised for those who are very interested in Ngorongoro birding to choose a specialist guide who has in-depth knowledge of birds. These specialists have extensive field identification skills; they know which microhabitats which species prefer and also can find more elusive or rare species which may be passed over in a general game viewing tour.
Use Appropriate Optical Equipment: A good set of binoculars that has a min spec of 8×42 is what a traveller will want for productive birding in Ngorongoro’s many habitat types. Also, get yourself a current edition of a field guide which is specific to East African bird species. We recommend Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe; that’s an indispensable resource for species identification in the field.
Time Visits for Peak Activity: In the early mornings, from dawn till around 09:00, we see the highest level of avian activity in all habitat zones. At dawn in the highland forest, the birdsong is at its peak, which in turn is the best time for identifying forest-based species via their voice. Also, there is a second peak of activity in the late afternoons between 16:00 and sunset.
Incorporate Multiple Habitat Zones: At large in Ngorongoro, for the birdwatching experience, should include the crater floor, the rim forest and the outer savannah zones. We have designed an itinerary which includes a waterbird study at Lake Magadi, forest bird species along the rim, and migration of raptors in the open savannah. This structured approach we found to greatly increase the species count as compared to one which is focused on one habitat.
Conclusion: Ngorongoro Conservation Area: A World-Class Birdwatching Safari Destination.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to what may be considered the best avian life in East Africa, and by that, I mean the entire African continent. It is a place which has it all in terms of habitat diversity, is accessible year-round, hosts resident as well as migratory species and is a great stage to see in the field species which are threatened on a global scale, like the grey-crowned crane and Rüppell’s griffon vulture, which are protected in a very managed conservation environment. Thus, it is a top-tier destination for birdwatchers, who range from the novice to the expert.
Incorporated in a larger Northern Tanzania game-viewing tour or a standalone Ngorongoro birding safari, the flora and fauna of this exceptional setting will not disappoint a guest with a great interest in the natural world.
To plan a specialist birdwatching safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, consult a licensed Tanzania tour operator with demonstrable expertise in ornithological safari programming.
