Tanzania is not a place, like Costa Rica or Ecuador, that people tend to associate with great birding. Travelers usually head to East Africa to see its larger animals. But birders will likely be pleasantly surprised: We spotted dozens of species in the Serengeti and Lake Manyara national parks.

They ranged from the gorgeous to the ghastly. Lilac-breasted rollers and rosy-throated longclaws gleamed against the landscapes like little jewels, but marabou storks resemble hard-drinking 120-year-olds and defecate on their legs to keep cool. I was especially charmed by the knob-billed duck we spotted, a beautiful but quirky black-and-white waterfowl. And it was exciting to get up close to a pair of stately Verreaux’s eagle-owls. It’s a rare treat to see such large nocturnal birds in the wild. Another day, we came across a striking black-winged kite, flying away from us with a smaller bird in its talons. Lions and leopards aren’t the only predators in Tanzania.

It’s a fun challenge to try and capture good bird photos; these are a few of my favorites from the trip. Note that many of the species below can be found throughout the region.

Lake Manyara

Southern Serengeti

Western Serengeti

Northern Serengeti