Kudu Hills and Mererani Maasai Steppe

-3.52743 , 37.12398

Tanzania

Located on the lower maasai steppe between arusha and manyara region is this hiden bird spectacle.Largely acacia thornbush country sometimes seasonal pools and ephemeral can be seen during the wet seasons,attracting several species of waterbirds.Birds here are dry country specialists that are restricted to the maasai-somali arid zones such as the elegant golden breasted starling one of the most beautiful and outstanding species of starling in africa,the dimunitive somali golden breasted bunting, hunter's ,tsavo and blackbellied sunbirds,mouse-colored penduline tit and many more.Land here is owned by the local maasai community but the areas around kudu hills lodge is leased to a private investor so you need permits to enter here.Birds here are in plenty and easy to find,and also offers opportunities of night birding.And again if you are a fun of earbirding or sound recordings this are is undoubtedly the best for you,you can pick upto 25 different bird species by ear with less than 5 minutes

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The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : -3.5274/37.1240 (2022-12-14 12:27:04 )

Site name was changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) into "Kudu Hills And Mererani Maasai Steppe" (2021-02-17 20:42:49 )

Site name was changed by Isaac Kilusu into "Kudu Hills And Mererani Maasai Steppe" (2021-02-17 09:39:13 )

Site name was changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) into "Kudu Hills" (2021-02-15 19:57:54 )

Coordinates were set by Isaac Kilusu : -3.5644/37.0175 (2021-02-15 17:10:08 )

Site name was set by Isaac Kilusu as "Kudu Hills" (2021-02-15 17:10:08 )

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-17 11:12:21
Located on the lower maasai steppe between arusha and manyara region is this hiden bird spectacle.Largely acacia thornbush country sometimes seasonal pools and ephemeral can be seen during the wet seasons,attracting several species of waterbirds.Birds here are dry country specialists that are restricted to the maasai-somali arid zones such as the elegant golden breasted starling one of the most beautiful and outstanding species of starling in africa,the dimunitive somali golden breasted bunting, hunter's ,tsavo and blackbellied sunbirds,mouse-colored penduline tit and many more.Land here is owned by the local maasai community but the areas around kudu hills lodge is leased to a private investor so you need permits to enter here.Birds here are in plenty and easy to find,and also offers opportunities of night birdingbirding.And again if you are a fun of earbirding or sound recordings this are is undoubtedly the best for you,you can pick upto 25 different bird species by ear with less than 5 minutes
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-17 10:58:42
Located on the lower maasai steppe between arusha and manyara region is this hiden bird spectacle.Largely acacia thornbush country sometimes seasonal pools and ephemeral can be seen during the wet seasons,attracting several species of waterbirds.Birds here are dry country specialists that are restricted to the maasai-somali arid zones such as the elegant golden breasted starling one of the most beautiful and outstanding species of starling in africa,the dimunitive somali golden breasted bunting, hunter's ,tsavo and blackbellied sunbirds,mouse-colored penduline tit and many more.Land here is owned by the local maasai community but the areas around kudu hills lodge is leased to a private investor so you need permits to enter here.Birds here are in plenty and easy to find,and also offers opportunities of night birding
  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana)
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar (Caprimulgus donaldsoni)
Slender-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus clarus)
Square-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii)
White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer)
African Scops-Owl (Otus senegalensis)
Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus)
Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)
White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus)
Black Cuckooshrike (Campephaga flava)
Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo)
Pringle's Puffback (Dryoscopus pringlii)
Somali Tit (Melaniparus thruppi)
Red-fronted Prinia (Prinia rufifrons)
Northern Brownbul (Phyllastrephus strepitans)
Banded Parisoma (Curruca boehmi)
Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea)
Hildebrandt's Starling (Lamprotornis hildebrandti)
Golden-breasted Starling (Lamprotornis regius)
Fischer's Starling (Lamprotornis fischeri)
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes orientalis)
Hunter's Sunbird (Chalcomitra hunteri)
Beautiful Sunbird (Cinnyris pulchellus)
Black-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides)
Tsavo Sunbird (Cinnyris tsavoensis)
Gray-headed Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi)
Black-capped Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita cabanisi)
Lesser Masked-Weaver (Ploceus intermedius)
Vitelline Masked-Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus)
Gray-headed Silverbill (Spermestes griseicapilla)
Black-faced Waxbill (Brunhilda erythronotos)
Cut-throat (Amadina fasciata)
Blue-capped Cordonbleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus)

Somali Tit (Melaniparus thruppi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2022-12-12 14:36:20)

White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:51:00)

Blue-capped Cordonbleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:50:21)

Cut-throat (Amadina fasciata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:48:47)

Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:48:28)

Red-fronted Prinia (Prinia rufifrons) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:47:51)

Banded Parisoma (Curruca boehmi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:47:25)

White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:47:07)

Northern Brownbul (Phyllastrephus strepitans) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:46:40)

Black Cuckooshrike (Campephaga flava) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:46:22)

Gray-headed Silverbill (Spermestes griseicapilla) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:45:50)

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes orientalis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:43:47)

Black-faced Waxbill (Brunhilda erythronotos) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:42:13)

Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:41:47)

Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:41:16)

Fischer's Starling (Lamprotornis fischeri) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:40:57)

Hildebrandt's Starling (Lamprotornis hildebrandti) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:40:41)

Golden-breasted Starling (Lamprotornis regius) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:40:28)

Gray-headed Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:39:29)

Black-capped Social-Weaver (Pseudonigrita cabanisi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:38:17)

Vitelline Masked-Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:37:53)

Lesser Masked-Weaver (Ploceus intermedius) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:37:40)

Pringle's Puffback (Dryoscopus pringlii) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:37:08)

Beautiful Sunbird (Cinnyris pulchellus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:36:46)

Black-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris nectarinioides) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:36:30)

Hunter's Sunbird (Chalcomitra hunteri) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:36:06)

Tsavo Sunbird (Cinnyris tsavoensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:35:48)

Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:35:30)

African Scops-Owl (Otus senegalensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:35:07)

Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:33:57)

Square-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:33:30)

Slender-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus clarus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:32:50)

Donaldson Smith's Nightjar (Caprimulgus donaldsoni) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-17 11:32:31)

  • Timing and strategy

This area is excellent for birding anytime of the year.one night stay at kudu hills lodge is perfect for anybirder to enjoy this hidden paradise,then the following morning drive towards mererani town stopping over and taking short walks on the way birding,around afternoon get a stop at msitu wa mbogo and bird there for several hours ,then birding enroute to a lodge in or around arusha city.Since there are no dangerous game at kudu hills a full day bird walk transversing this thorn bush country taking a stop in the afternoon to have a lunch and a siesta will give you one of the best birding opportunity who have never experienced.Of all the birding sites that i have ever visited in kenya and tanzania i am sure i left my heart in kudu hills.

You can also follow the simanjiro- merani road and bird your way to Shambarai swamp and into the thorn bush country for like 32km from mererani town where you will come across a small village and on the right side of the road you will see a colony of nesting dark capped social weavers

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2022-12-12 14:51
This area is excellent for birding anytime of the year.one night stay at kudu hills lodge is perfect for anybirder to enjoy this hidden paradise,then the following morning drive towards mererani town stopping over and taking short walks on the way birding,around afternoon get a stop at msitu wa mbogo and bird there for several hours ,then birding enroute to a lodge in or around arusha city.Since there are no dangerous game at kudu hills a full day bird walk transversing this thorn bush country taking a stop in the afternoon to have a lunch and a siesta will give you one of the best birding opportunity who have never experienced.Of all the birding sites that i have ever visited in kenya and tanzania i am sure i left my heart in kudu hillshills. You can also follow the simanjiro- merani road and bird your way to Shambarai swamp and into the thorn bush country for like 32km from mererani town where you will come across a small village and on the right side of the road you will see a colony of nesting dark capped social weavers
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-17 11:09
This area is excellent for birding anytime of the year.one night stay at kudu hills lodge is perfect for anybirder to enjoy this hidden paradise,then the following morning drive towards mererani town stopping over and taking short walks on the way birding,around afternoon get a stop at msitu wa mbogo and bird there for several hours ,then birding enroute to a lodge in or around arusha city.Since there are no dangerous game at kudu hills a full day bird walk transversing this thorn bush country taking a stop in the afternoon to have a lunch and a siesta will give you one of the best birding opportunity who have never experienced.Of all the birding sites that i have ever visited in kenya and tanzania i am sure i left my heart in kudu hills
  • How to get there

If you are coming from kilimanjaro international airport drive towards mererani past kishapui school for the maasai on  your left you will see a sign board directing to kudu hills lodge

If you are driving from arusha town,just before leganga turn right to the east africa road and follow that road towards mererani or drive from the city centre to chekereni then follow the arusha mererani road,while on mererani turn left and follow the nasinyai primary school road follow the road going down towards the Chinese mining camp,you will start birding from there,You can also turn right and bird the maasai steppes and shambarai swamp from mererani town,drive following the simanjiro road

Several buses can be booked from the city centre which goes to mererani town

if you are using the jro airport road you will use a motorcycle to get to kudu hills

There is also a very dirty road which connects in between nyumba ya mungu and Tpc suger plantations but i dont recommend it because it is rarely used and sometimes during the rains it can be eroded by running water leaving huge depressions

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2022-12-12 14:41
If you are coming from kilimanjaro international airport drive towards mererani past kishapui school for the maasai on  your left you will see a sign board directing to kudu hills lodge If you are driving from arusha town,just before leganga turn right to the east africa road and follow that road towards mererani or drive from the city centre to chekereni then follow the arusha mererani road;few kilometres before road,while on mererani town turn left and follow the nasinyai primary school road follow the road going down towards the Chinese mining camp,you will start you birding from there heading to kudu hills. there,You can also turn right and bird the maasai steppes and shambarai swamp from mererani town,drive following the simanjiro road Several buses can be booked from the city centre which goes to mererani town if you are using the jro airport road you will use a motorcycle to get to kudu hills There is also a very dirty road which connects in between nyumba ya mungu and Tpc suger plantations but i dont recommend it because it is rarely used and sometimes during the rains it can be eroded by running water leaving huge depressions
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-17 11:20
If you are coming from kilimanjaro international airport drive towards mererani past kishapui school for the maasai on  your left you will see a sign board directing to kudu hills lodge If you are driving from arusha town,just before leganga turn right to the east africa road and follow that road towards mererani or drive from the city centre to chekereni then follow the arusha mererani road;few kilometres before mererani town turn left and start you birding from there heading to kudu hills. Several buses can be booked from the city centre which goes to mererani town if you are using the jro airport road you will use a motorcycle to get to kudu hills There is also a very dirty road which connects in between nyumba ya mungu and Tpc suger plantations but i dont recommend it because it is rarely used and sometimes during the rains it can be eroded by running water leaving huge depressions

The best entry points is either from kilimanjaro international airport or from mererani .permission is only needed when you are near kudu hills lodge but once you have booked to stay with them you will not need a permit.Permits to kudu hills are always negotiable depending on the group size,on the other side near mererani no permits are needed

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-17 11:24
The best entry points is either from kilimanjaro international airport or from mererani .permission is only needed when you are near kudu hills lodge but once you have booked to stay with them you will not need a permit.Permits to kudu hills are always negotiable depending on the group size,on the other side near mererani no permits are needed
  • Other attractions

other attractions include girrafes,zebra,kudus, fringe eared oryx,impalas,a visit to a maasai boma,paranomas views of mt Kilimanjaro ,a visit to mererani tanzanite mines and beautiful landscapes

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-17 11:27
other attractions include girrafes,zebra,kudus, fringe eared oryx,impalas,a visit to a maasai boma,paranomas views of mt Kilimanjaro ,a visit to mererani tanzanite mines and beautiful landscapes

the only facility available here is the kudu hills lodge which can be booked on  a self catering basis.Rooms are excellent with hot water and located on top of a hill overlooking the nearby thornbush country,with good views of moshi town and nyumba ya mungu dam

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-17 11:30
the only facility available here is the kudu hills lodge which can be booked on  a self catering basis.Rooms are excellent with hot water and located on top of a hill overlooking the nearby thornbush country,with good views of moshi town and nyumba ya mungu dam

No cases of theft to tourist visiting the area but also at the kudu hills lodge you will be escorted by a maasai askari if you opt for a night bird walk hunting for nightjars and owls

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-17 11:31
No cases of theft to tourist visiting the area but also at the kudu hills lodge you will be escorted by a maasai askari if you opt for a night bird walk hunting for nightjars and owls
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Kudu Hills and Mererani Maasai Steppe - Orniverse