Birds in Selous Game Reserve
With more than 440 bird species that have been recorded inside the park, the Selous is a wonderful place for bird watching. The most eye-catching habitats of birds in this reserve are the islands, channels, sandbanks plus lagoons, together with mighty River Rufiji. A great way to watch the bird species here is taking a boat safari. From November up to April, there are various Migratory birds.
Notable birds
The Common Spur-winged lapwing
The Common African spoonbill
The rare Pel’s fishing owl Rare
The Common White-headed vulture
The Common White-fronted bee-eater
African wattled lapwing
Birding specials
African skimmer
Black-winged stilt
Böhm’s bee-eater
Broad-billed roller
Brown-headed parrot
Brown-necked parrot
Carmine bee-eater
Dickinson’s kestrel
Palm-nut vulture
Pearl-spotted owlet
Pel’s fishing owl
Racket-tailed roller
Rock pratincole
Thick-billed cuckoo
White-backed night heron
White-backed vulture
White-fronted plover
White-headed lapwing
Yellow-billed stork
Best time for bird watching
The Selous is a wonderful bird watching destination throughout the year. Since migratory birds coming from Europe or the northern part of Africa are present starting in April, this the finest time for watching birds. The resident species begin Nesting almost at the same time therefore it is really easy to see the birds while in breeding plumage. Towards the finish of the wet season, the majority of the camps closed (in April), and then opens again in the month of June. For the best game views we recommend that you travel then which is from June up to October.
Some of the most commonly spotted bird species within the Selous Game Reserve are: the brown-breasted barbet, Mangrove kingfishers, African skimmers, palm-nut vulture, freckled nightjars, grey-hooded kingfisher, waders, broad-billed roller, green-billed coucal, long-tailed fiscal, red-winged warbler, Boehm’s bee-eater, black cuckoo-shrike, green-capped eremomela, spotted-flanked barbet, Bennett’s woodpecker, a pearl-spotted owl, Dickinson’s kestrel, yellow-bellied bulbul, red-billed helmetshrike, red-faced Crombec, green-capped eremomela, red-throated twin spot, white helmet-shrikes, Sterling’s barred warbler, Livingstone’s flycatcher, Arnot’s chat, spotted-flanked barbet, wattle-eyed flycatchers, red-throated twinspot, grey Penduline-tit, Layard’s black-headed weavers, a pearl-spotted owl, purple-banded sunbird, Von der Decken’s hornbill as well as the mosque swallow.
Best parks for birding in Tanzania
All the renowned safari parks provide amazing opportunities for watching birds and also specials may easily be seen almost everywhere you go. Arusha National Park which is usually overlooked offers a wonderful variety of habitats and prides in an overwhelming list of approximately 400 species living within its small area. Also Lake Manyara presents a great diversity of water associated bird species.
A Southern Tanzania Safari
Safaris to the Southern part of Tanzania incorporate visits to Selous and Ruaha wildlife reserves, although the more costly Western areas has Katavi as well as Mahale game reserves.
Southern Tanzania whose most well like national parks are Ruaha plus the Selous is really less visited as compared to the parks in the northern part of the country, however these parks offer short and long safaris, boat safaris, game drives in open sided safri vehicles as well as the unique yet very thrilling walking safaris.
These parks offer small tented lodges that offer more privacy as compared to the large hotels in the North, and this is pretty cheaper compared to accommodation offered in the north
Selous is just 45 minutes flight from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, and is cheaper than the return flight to the town of Arusha, or North of Serengeti.
Selous Game Reserve Safari
Getting To Selous
When To Visit Selous
Birding in Selous
