Itinerary
Meet on arrival at the airport and transfer to Kigali, briefing on your safari. After lunch (time Permitting), evening birding along Lake Nyarutarama before sunset.
Overnight at Frame Tree Village (FB).
Early morning drive to Mashoza Parike and later drive to Akagera. Time and weather permitting, go for an evening birding along Lake Ihema or take a Boat ride on the same lake to see the large number of hippos, the huge Nile crocodile, and birdlife.
Overnight at Akagera Lodge (Full Board).
We will spend the next two days birding Akagera National Park, home to about 525 bird species. In the morning, we bird the Savannah and woodland areas for species such as Pearl-spotted owlet, brown snake eagle, red faced barbet and Ring-naked Francolin, etc. The afternoon we take a boat trip on Lake Ihema for African fish eagles, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Rufous-bellied Heron, Greater Swamp Warblers, Slender-billed Weavers, and Swamp Flycatcher.
More species include Goliath, Black-headed, and Squacco Herons, Little Bittern, Grey Crowned Crane, African Openbill, African Darter, Black tern, African Wattled lapwing, Long-toed Lapwing, Water Thick-knee, and Giant, Pied, and Malachite Kingfisher, etc. While birding Akagera National Park, we may encounter herds of buffalo, Impala, Zebras, waterbucks, and Elephants.
Overnight at Akagera Lodge (Full Board).
Early morning birding at the Gate along the fence that borders the village, and later, head North of the Park. Chances of finding the Shoebill!
Overnight Karenge Bush Camp( Full Board).
Early morning Birding in search of a Shoebill and later head to Kinigi. The journey north goes through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterise much of Rwanda’s landscape, gradually climbing to the base of the awesome volcanoes, sometimes with as many as five peaks visible.
Overnight at Davinci Lodge. (Full Board).
Early Morning Birding at Buhanga Eco Park. Chances of spotting some of the Albertine Endemics. Evening Birding at the nearby lakes for waders.
Overnight at Davinci Lodge. (Full Board).
This morning we go bird watching in the Volcanoes National Park, where you are likely to see the rare Kivu Ground Thrush, Rwenzori Turaco, Graur’s Warbler, White Starred Robin, Regal Sunbird, and many others. In the afternoon, drive to Rugezi Marsh in search of Grauer’s Rush Warbler.
Overnight at Davinci Lodge. (Full Board).
Early Morning Birding to Rugezi Marsh looking for the Grauer’s Rush Warbler. Come back for lunch and later, drive to Kibuye birding en route and evening birding on Lake Kivu.
Overnight at Rwiza Village (Full Board).
Morning Boat ride to Napoleon Island with thousands of Bats and other Birds. In the afternoon, transfer to Nyungwe Forest. Evening Birding or Colobus Monkey tracking.
Overnight Nyungwe Top View (Full Board).
Today we drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park from Kigali with several short stopovers for birding. In the swampy marshes and papayrus, we search for Grauer’s Rush Warbler before reaching our lodge. It will be roughly 7 7-hour drive, more or less. Have lunch in Butare as we rest for a few minutes and continue with our journey.
Dinner and overnight at Emeraude Kivu Resort/Nyungwe Top View Hotel.
After an early breakfast, start looking for these Albertine Endemic species. Nyungwe Forest National Park is part of the remaining large montane forests on the African continent and is rich in birds, especially the Albertine Rift endemics. We have three days of birding Nyungwe Forest, and some of the species we search for include the Handsome Francolin, Great Blue and Rwenzori Turacos, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Chestnut Owlet, Olive and Elliot’s Woodpeckers.
Stripe-breasted Tit, Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Archer’s Robin Chat, White-bellied Robin Chat, Doherty’s Bush-Shrike, Mountain Masked, Black-faced, and Collared Apalises, Rwenzori Batis, Neumann’s Short-tailed Warbler, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Purple-breasted and Regal Sunbirds,
Dinner and overnight at Emeraude Kivu Resort/Nyungwe Top View Hotel.
Today morning, after you have finished your breakfast, we will again go searching for Nyungwe birds, which will take us up to midday. Have our lunch at the lodge as we gain some energy to cope with the sky bridge, which is 50 meters high and 90 meters long (canopy walk). This will give you a fantastic view of the park to create memories and an adventurous Nyungwe. Canopy activity will be in the afternoon and for roughly 2 hours to 3 hours.
Overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hotel.
Leave for Kigali through the vast Nyungwe Forest, birding on the road, and this will increase the chances of seeing the rare and shy Handsome Francolin and Grauer’s Rush Warbler at Uwasenkoko River.
Overnight at Frame Tree Village. Full Board.
Early Morning Birding to the South of Akagera Bridge and Kamatana Valley. Back to Kigali for lunch and later go for a tour of the city, including a visit to the Genocide memorial, or go Bird watching and later, transfer to the airport ( Half Board).
