5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Birding Tour
BIRDING IN AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kigali and drive you to Akagera National Park, a fantastic spot for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. The park’s mix of wetlands, savannah, and woodland supports a wide range of bird species, mammals, and primates. Since the park is not far from Kigali, you will arrive in time for an afternoon birding session, continuing until dark.
Safari Activities
- Hotel pick-up in Kigali and departure for Akagera National Park
- Scenic drive to Akagera National Park
- Afternoon birdwatching in the park
- Wildlife viewing across the savannah, wetlands, and woodland habitats
- Birdwatching and nature exploration until sunset
- Return to accommodation after the evening safari/birding session
Meals
Lunch · Dinner
MORNING GAME DRIVE & TRANSFER TO RUHENGERI
Start the day with an early morning game drive, spending 4–5 hours searching for birds and wildlife you may have missed the previous evening. Expect to see birds like Marico Sunbird, Red-chested Sunbird, Red-headed Weaver, Village Weaver, Violet-backed Weaver, African Harrier-Hawk, African Fish Eagle, and Lizard Buzzard. Akagera is home to many savannah species and offers a chance to spot the Big Five.
After the game drive, you will transfer to Ruhengeri, near Volcanoes National Park, making stops along the way to spot new bird species.
Safari Activities
- Early Morning Game Drive & Bird Watching
- Big Five & Savannah Wildlife Viewing
- Bird Species Identification & Photography
- Scenic Transfer to Ruhengeri
- Birding Stops Along the Journey
- Arrival and Check-in in Ruhengeri
Accommodation
La Locanda, Ruhengeri
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
GORILLA TREKKING & TRANSFER TO NYUNGWE FOREST
After breakfast, drive for about 20 minutes to the ranger station for a briefing on gorilla trekking. You will then trek through Volcanoes National Park to find a gorilla family. Trekking can take between 1–6 hours, depending on their location. After the trek, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest, making birding stops along the way. Due to speed limits in Rwanda (60 km/hr), arrival at Nyungwe will be around 7:30 PM.
Safari Activities
- Breakfast
- Gorilla Trekking Briefing
- Gorilla Trekking
- Transfer to Nyungwe Forest
- Birding En Route
- Arrival in Nyungwe
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
RWANDA BIRDING & GORILLA TOUR: BIRDING IN NYUNGWE FOREST – ALBERTINE RIFT ENDEMICS
After breakfast, we carry along with our lunch boxes and drive to the park entrance to start forest walk there looking for the birds, we spend the whole day here. This is a premier destination for birdwatching in Rwanda, comprised of the Albertine rift endemics and some specialties which cross into this forest from the great Ituri forests of Congo. And a few primates will be spotted here. Some of the highlights of this park include; Rwenzori, Great Blue and Black-billed Turaco, Red-collard Mountain-Babbler, Rwenzori Batis, Rwezori Apalis, Stuhlmann’s, Northern Double-collard, Regal and Variable Sunbirds, the list is long...
Safari Activities
- Breakfast at the accommodation
- Drive to the forest/park entrance
- Begin the forest walk
- Full-day birdwatching
- Search for Albertine Rift endemic bird species
- Spot and observe primates
- Lunch break with packed lunch
- Continue forest exploration and birdwatching
- Return from the forest at the end of the day
Accommodation
Ear Ken Barham Guest house
Meals
Lunch · Dinner
RETURN TO KIGALI
After breakfast, drive back to Kigali with several birding stops along the way. You will arrive in time for your evening flight.
Safari Activities
- Breakfast at the lodge/hotel
- Depart for Kigali
- Bird watching along the route
- Several birding and nature stops
- Scenic viewing and photography
- Continue journey to Kigali
- Arrive in Kigali
- Transfer to the airport for the evening flight
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch
Included
- Park entrance fees
- Gorilla trekking permits
- All listed activities
- Accommodation as mentioned
- Professional driver and bird guide
- 4x4 customized safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- All taxes and VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals and drinking water
Not Included
- International flights
- Extra accommodation before/after the tour
- Tips for guides and staff
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)