Discover Rwanda’s hills, valleys, savannahs, rainforests and swamps on this 14-Day birdwatching safari, where you see the diverse birdlife and natural beauty of “the land of thousand hills”.
Upon your arrival in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, you will be warmly welcomed to the “land of a thousand hills.” Your driver/guide will be standing at the Arrivals Hall holding a placard with your name so you cannot miss him. After the meet and greet, you will transfer to the hotel you have chosen for an overnight stay. If your flight lands in the morning or early afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to embark on a short city tour of Kigali, including a visit to the Kigali genocide memorial.
Today, you start your Rwanda birding safari. Your destination is Akagera Game Park – located in eastern Rwanda. Rwanda is nick-named “the land of a thousand hills” but nature’s will is so powerful and it is clear when you arrive in Akagera. While the hills are a dominant feature, savannah woodlands intersperse the hills to create one of nature’s rare blends in terms of topography. Akagera National Park is recognized internationally as an Important Birding Area (IBA) and is home to 525 bird species. The park offers a wide variety of savannah, woodland and wetland bird species. En-route to Akagera, you will make specific stops to look for some birds including the African Palm Swift, Slender-billed Startling, Common Bullbul, Little Swift, Black-headed Waxbill, Red Collared Mountain Babbler, Archer’s Robin-chat, Collared Apalis, Crown Eagle and others. You should arrive at Akagera in the late afternoon/ early evening. Once inside the park, you can bird as you drive towards your lodge.
Today you will majorly bird the southern sector of Akagera National Park. The south of the park is characterized by dense acacia thickets, woodlands and the swamps that are connected to the lakes and river Akagera in some places. Potential sightings in the south include; White-crowned Black Chat, Familiar Chat, Black-winged Bishop and Arrow-marked Babbler, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Shoebill, African Open-billed Stork, Egyptian Goose, Long-toed Lapwing, Spur-winged Plover, Black Crake, Long-tailed Cormorant, Great Cormorants, Goliath Heron, African Marsh Harrier, Water Dikkop, Bateleur and the Red-faced Barbet. The Red-faced Barbet is an East African endemic species considered a special sighting in Akagera. Other wildlife may include; Giraffe, African Elephant, Hippopotamus, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Warthog, Impala, to mention but a few. After a full day of birding, you should head back to your accommodation excited for the day and looking forward to tomorrow.
Today’s program will lead you from the south northwards as you bird. This area of Akagera is both marshes and open savannah, which offers you an exceptional chance to observe a lot of savannah game. As you search for birds, chances are that you will see lions, hyenas and their potential prey given that the grazing animals are in abundance in the northern sector of the park. The numerous savannah bird species you will likely see include the; Winding Cisticolas, Miombo Wren Warbler, Green-capped Eremomela, Red-faced Crombec, Rueppell’s Long-tailed Starling, Amethyst Starling, Senegal Lapwing, Brubru, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Brown Parrot, Red-necked Spurfowl, Broad-tailed Warbler, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Sooty Chat, White-winged Black Tit, Flappet Lark, Souza’s Shrike, Crested Barbet and many more. After a full-day of birdwatching, check-in at Karenge Bush Camp overlooking the beautiful Kilala plains.
After breakfast this morning, you will try for the elusive species that you have missed out on over the last two days in the picturesque Kilala plains. At the appropriate time, you will say goodbye to Akagera National Park and commence the drive to Kigali. On the drive, you can look back on your Rwanda birdwatching safari up to this point through the lens of your camera by checking out the pictures you have been able to capture and the species you have added to your bird-list.
After breakfast, you set off from Kigali to Musanze, a picturesque drive to the mountainous region of northwestern Rwanda close to Volcanoes National Park. This park is part of a transboundary ecosystem that is shared between three countries (Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo) that is connected by the Virunga Mountains. They are a chain of Volcano Mountains found in the area where the three countries meet. The drive is picturesque as you view these landscapes on winding roads that Rwanda is famous for. You will have opportunities for stopovers to search for specific birds, take pictures and stretch along the way. On arrival in Musanze, go birding in Buhanga Forest. Although this forest does not host any Albertine endemics, birders can still expect to see various other intriguing forest species. Use the rest of the day exploring the forest and savour its stillness.
After breakfast, you set off from your accommodation to Rugezi swamp, which is nearby. The swamp/marsh is an extensive wetland in Rwanda with rich biodiversity that has been recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA). It is considered a unique ecosystem seating at a high altitude of 2,100 metres. You will spend the day exploring the marsh. The marsh drains its water into the beautiful twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. A total of 43 resident bird species have been recorded in Rugezi’s marshes. There are a number of globally threatened species as well as species of least concern such as the Grey Crowned Crane, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, white winged scrub warbler, slender billed starling, papyrus canary, Carruthers’ Cisticola, Baglafecht weaver, white collared weaver, olive back, thick billed eaters among others. In addition to the wetland birds, the surrounding gardens and bush will provide a supplementary range of bird species to enhance your Rwanda birdwatching list. Take your time to observe and record the diverse avian life that flourishes in this exceptional ecosystem.
Today, you visit the mist-shrouded Virunga Mountains – of which Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga Mountains ecosystem. After breakfast, you head to this wondrous game park where you will spend the day in search for some of the 200 bird species that have been recorded here. On this birding excursion in this home of the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda, you will trek through diverse forest habitats – ranging from bamboo to hagenia, which grace the huge mountain-sides. You are likely to encounter or hear bird calls of the high-altitude bird species as you explore this mountain ecosystem. You will go along the trail to Lake Ngezi on Mountain Bisoke. Chances are high you will check-off a good number of the Albertine endemics as well as other mountain species including the Rwenzori Turaco and Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori double-collared Sunbird, Archer’s Robin-chat, White-collared Oliveback, African Swamphen, Bat Hawk, Narina Trogon, Lesser Honeyguide, Crested Barbet, African Green Broadbill and the Kivu Ground Thrush to mention a few.
Mountain Gorilla trek: Alternatively, if you like, you can go gorilla trekking. Choosing a gorilla trek does not mean that it will affect your birding today. After the gorilla trek, you continue to search for birds the rest of the day. If you opt for it, the gorilla trek begins with a briefing at the park headquarters in Kinigi, where you’ll be assigned a ranger and a gorilla family to trek. Following the briefing, your ranger guide will lead you to the starting point of the trek, which may require a short drive depending on the location of the gorilla group. The trek through their habitat is a truly unforgettable experience, with the duration varying from minutes to hours, depending on the gorillas’ nesting location the previous night. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Nature enthusiasts who make it add to the legacy of primatologist Dian Fossey whose research into the endangered Mountain Gorillas in the Virungas brought light to the plight of these gentle and elegant endangered big apes. When you finally locate the family that you are tracking, take in everything as you watch the gorillas go about their day – feeding on the green leaves, bamboo shoots, wild celery, stinging nettle and wild fruit. If there are juvenile gorillas, enjoy them play about and take it all in. Take lots of pictures (and a selfie if you happen to have a gorilla in your selfie frame) and video as the one-hour will be over before you know it. After your gorilla encounter, you will continue birding as you have the rest of the day ahead.
Today’s adventure begins with golden monkey tracking at the base of Volcanoes National Park. The trek will lead you through a beautiful bamboo forest located at the base of Mount Sabinyo.
When you get into their presence, you will know it – the forest comes alive with golden monkeys everywhere given that they live in troops of more than 100 individuals. You are in their presence for 1 hour. Usually 1-hour is over and you come back to the starting point. The endangered Golden Monkey is endemic to the Albertine rift and Volcanoes National Park offers a rare chance to track them high in the dense bamboo forests. Once you have seen them, return to the trail-head and commence your drive from Volcanoes National Park to the charming lakeside town of Gisenyi, located on the shores of Lake Kivu. After you have arrived at Lake Kivu and rested a bit, you can do some birding in the evening. Keep an eye out for the vibrant Southern Red Bishop, commonly sighted along Lake Kivu’s shores.
You are up as the sun rises and go on a scenic drive to Giswati Forest, within the Giswati-Mukura National Park. Like many facets of Rwanda’s rebirth, this park is the newest addition to Rwanda’s laser-sharp focus to nature conservation. Inaugurated in 2015 following the merger of two forests – Giswati and Makura, the park is now well-known for its diverse ecosystem. Boasting a record of over 83 bird species, Giswati-Mukura stands as one of Rwanda’s prime bird-watching sites. Unique species from the Albertine Rift region, such as the Ruwenzori Turaco and Martial Eagle, call this park home. Others are the Old World Warbler and the Mountain Yellow Warbler. Mammals that roam freely within its perimeters include the elusive serval cats to the spirited red river hogs. The five primate species, notably the chimpanzees and golden monkeys, add charisma to the park’s wildlife appeal.
This morning, you enjoy breakfast and commence the drive to Nyungwe National Park. The park is a true haven for bird enthusiasts, with over 300 bird species, including 27 out of the approximately 40 Albertine endemics recorded. Nyungwe boasts the highest number of Albertine endemics of any national park within the Albertine Rift Valley. Birdlife International considers this park the most important site for conservation in Rwanda due to its incredible biodiversity. Top bird species to look out for include Archer’s Robin Chat, Blue Turaco, Doherty’s Bush Shrikes, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Double Collared Warbler, and Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher. Guided bird walks are essential for an optimal birdwatching experience, as the guides are well-versed in bird characteristics and where to find them. During your birdwatching excursion to Nyungwe over the next three days, you will explore various walking trails across the park. When you arrive in Nyungwe, check-in at your accommodation and enjoy lunch. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred to the Uwinka centre to start your canopy walk as you explore the park from a super vantage point – high in the tree canopies. The two-hour canopy walk is one of the highlights of your visit to Nyungwe. The canopy walk offers incredible views of the mountain forest – allowing you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the surroundings. As you explore the forest canopy, you may spot some key bird species.
Birdwatchers to Nyungwe can choose from a number of trails for their birding activities to a park that is considered a birdwatchers heaven. The trails lead to the top of a number of mountains that divide the park into north and south – reaching heights of 2,600 – 2,900 metres and which form part of the Congo–Nile watershed. As a result, Nyungwe is composed of two areas differing in pedology, vegetation, water-flow, and biodiversity. One such trail is the Mount Bigugu trail, which is prolific for the birds that visitors come to see. However, it is considered the most difficult of all the trails here so birders need to be fit to make the 13.2 kilometre trip. Other popular trails for birdwatchers include Kamiranzovu marsh trail, Igishigishigi trail and Karamba birding trail among others.
Over 300 bird species have been recorded in Nyungwe, reflecting the wide habitat diversity and altitudinal range. These include all the 25 species of the Albertine Rift endemic birds that occur in Rwanda including; Chapin’s Flycatcher and Rockefellers’ Sunbird (both globally threatened, restricted-range and biome-restricted). Also, 11 of the 23 species of Guinea–Congo forests biome and 71 of the 74 species of this biome of Afrotropical Highlands that occur in Rwanda have been recorded in Nyungwe. Generally, Nyungwe is undoubtedly the most important forest for the conservation of montane birds in East Africa. Whichever trail you will take, you are on the lookout for species including the Chestnut-throated Apalis, Collared Apalis, Grauer’s Warbler, few Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Ruwenzori Turaco, Great Blue Turaco, Handsome Francolin and White-headed Wood-hoopoe Kivu Ground-Thrush, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Red-chested, Sunbird Regal Sunbird, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Miombo Rock-Thrush, Mountain Masked Apalis, Black-faced Apalis, to mention but a few.
Part of the Albertine Rift eco-region, Nyungwe is expansive and awe-inspiring. This beautiful oasis, adjacent to Lake Kivu and close to the borders of Burundi and the DR Congo, sprawls over 970 km² of lush green montane forest. Chimpanzee treks in Nyungwe start at 5.30am so you are up early today to make it to the Uwinka centre. Your guide will take you to the briefing area, where you meet your community guide and receive instructions before commencing the trek. Nyungwe Forest boasts a rich ecosystem known for its botanical diversity and as a habitat for 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, and Colobus monkeys, along with over 300 bird species. At the end of the chimpanzee trek, you enjoy your packed lunch and continue birding in the afternoon. You can specifically look for species that you have missed up to this point. The hope is you will tick-off Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Rwenzori Batis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Sharpe’s Starling, White-tailed Blue Flycather, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Dusky Tit, Bronze Mannikin, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Wagtail, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Equatorial Akalat and others. At nightfall, try your luck and listen out for the Rwenzori Nightjar, Albertine Owlet and Red-chested Owlet.
On your final day, after breakfast, you depart from Nyungwe and head back to Kigali, a vibrant city rich in cultural heritage and a lively atmosphere. At Kigali, you may explore some of the city’s attractions, such as the Genocide Memorial or lively local markets that sell African crafts. Later, you will be taken to the airport in time for you to check-in for your onward flight home.
Discover Rwanda’s hills, valleys, savannahs, rainforests and swamps on this 14-Day birdwatching safari, where you see the diverse birdlife and natural beauty of “the land of thousand hills”. From the vast expanses of Akagera National Park, through the misty forests of Nyungwe National Park. You also visit the forested mountains of Giswati-Mukura National Park and Volcanoes National Park.
Your birdwatching safari begins when your driver/guide meets you and welcomes you in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. You will head to Akagera after a city sight-seeing tour with some birdwatching at specific spots en-route. At Akagera, you check-off from a list of 525 bird species that have been recorded here. You explore the savannahs, swamps of the north and south of the park. In Akagera, you might spot the iconic Shoebill stork.
From Akagera, you will head to Volcanoes National Park via Kigali. Close to Volcanoes National Park, you bird Rugezi Swamp and Buhanga Forest. In Volcanoes, you bird the base of Mount Sabinyo as well as go on a trek to see the golden monkeys. Optionally, you can add a mountain gorilla trek to this trip while in Volcanoes. You continue to Nyungwe National Park via Lake Kivu and Giswati Mukura National Park. Nyungwe’s misty forest canopy shelters 29 Albertine endemic species and other forest birds. From Nyungwe, you head back to Kigali and head home. See the detailed day-by-day itinerary for this exceptional birding trip. Request a Free Quote!