6 Days Rwanda Bird Watching Safari Adventure

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Bird Watching Around Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by the Verdant Safaris team and transferred to your hotel in Kigali. After checking in and having lunch, you will have an introductory birding experience around selected green spaces and wetlands near the city, depending on your arrival time. Kigali itself can provide opportunities to see several common and attractive Rwandan species before you travel to the country’s major birding destinations. Your guide will introduce you to the basics of bird identification and help you become familiar with the bird calls and species you may encounter during the following days. You can also take a short city tour if time permits, passing through some of Kigali’s scenic neighbourhoods and viewpoints. The evening will be spent at your hotel, where you can relax and prepare your binoculars, camera and field notebook for the more intensive birding activities ahead.

Accommodation options in Kigali: Kigali Serena Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Hôtel des Mille Collines.

Meals: (Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park and Afternoon Bird Watching

After an early breakfast, you will depart Kigali and travel towards Nyungwe National Park, one of Rwanda’s most important birding destinations. The journey takes you through the scenic hills and rural landscapes for which Rwanda is famous, with opportunities for roadside birding at suitable locations along the way. Upon reaching the Nyungwe region, you will check into your accommodation and enjoy lunch before beginning an afternoon birding session. Nyungwe is home to more than 300 recorded bird species, including numerous species associated with the Albertine Rift. During your first forest excursion, you can look for colourful turacos, sunbirds, flycatchers, babblers and other forest specialists while your guide explains the ecology of the rainforest. You will return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and an opportunity to review the day’s sightings and prepare for an early start the following morning.

Accommodation options in Nyungwe: One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisakura Guesthouse.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Full-Day Nyungwe Forest Bird Watching and Canopy Walk

You will begin the day very early with breakfast before entering Nyungwe Forest for a dedicated bird-watching excursion. Early mornings are particularly rewarding because forest birds are highly active, giving you excellent opportunities to identify species through both sight and sound. Your specialist guide will lead you along selected forest trails while looking for Albertine Rift species such as Rwenzori turaco, red-collared mountain babbler, handsome francolin, Rwenzori batis and a variety of sunbirds and forest flycatchers. Nyungwe’s extensive network of trails provides access to different forest habitats, while the park’s specialist bird guides can assist with identifying difficult species. After lunch, you will experience the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk, where the elevated walkway provides a unique opportunity to observe birds moving through the upper levels of the rainforest. The afternoon excursion will continue at a relaxed pace before you return to your accommodation for dinner and an evening of discussing your bird checklist.

Accommodation options in Nyungwe: One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisakura Guesthouse.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Evening Birding

You will have an early breakfast before departing Nyungwe and travelling towards Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda. This is a fascinating transition between two very different birding environments, as you move from the high-altitude rainforest of Nyungwe towards Akagera’s savannah, woodland, lakes and wetlands. Along the way, your guide will identify suitable locations for short birding stops, giving you opportunities to add species from different habitats to your checklist. After arriving at Akagera, you will check into your lodge and have lunch before undertaking an afternoon birding drive through selected areas of the park. Akagera supports more than 500 recorded bird species and offers opportunities to see waterbirds, raptors, woodland species and savannah specialists. As the afternoon progresses, you can look for species such as African fish eagle, grey crowned crane, lilac-breasted roller, papyrus gonolek, African jacana and various herons and storks, before returning to your lodge for dinner.

Accommodation options in Akagera: Magashi Camp, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Full-Day Akagera Bird Watching, Game Drive and Lake Ihema Boat Safari

Your final full safari day begins before sunrise with an early breakfast followed by a dedicated birding and wildlife drive through Akagera National Park. The combination of savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakes makes the park particularly productive for bird watching, while the open landscape can also provide sightings of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and other wildlife. Your guide will focus on locating species such as papyrus gonolek, saddle-billed stork, African fish eagle, grey crowned crane, jacanas, kingfishers, rollers and other wetland and savannah birds. After lunch, you will head to Lake Ihema for a boat safari, an excellent way to explore the aquatic habitats and observe waterbirds from the water. The lake is known for its hippos, crocodiles and diverse birdlife, with opportunities to watch birds along the shoreline and around the wetlands. You will return to your lodge in the evening for your final dinner and time to celebrate the birding highlights recorded during your Rwanda adventure.

Accommodation options in Akagera: Magashi Camp, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Morning Birding – Departure

You will wake early for your final bird-watching activity in Akagera National Park, taking advantage of the productive morning hours before wildlife and bird activity changes with the rising temperatures. Your guide will select a suitable route based on recent sightings and your target species, giving you one last opportunity to add interesting birds to your checklist. After returning to the lodge, you will have breakfast and prepare for your departure from the park. You will then begin your journey back towards Kigali, enjoying the changing scenery of Rwanda’s hills, farms and rural communities along the way. Depending on your international flight schedule, you may have time for lunch and a short Kigali city experience before proceeding to Kigali International Airport. Your 6 Days Rwanda Bird Watching Safari Adventure with Verdant Safaris will end with your departure flight, leaving you with memorable encounters with Rwanda’s forests, wetlands, savannahs and remarkable birdlife.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch)