9 Days Rwanda Birding and Gorilla Tracking Tour

Day 1: Arrival for Rwanda Birding Safari


Arrival for Tour and transfer to Akagera National Park

Akagera boosts of a rich bird Checklist of over 525 species, this reflects the extremely wide diversity of habitat. 44 species of raptor, Papyrus Gonolek, Shoebill Storkand a good number of Palearctic migrants, amongst which Lesser Kestrel, Great Snipe and Black-winged have been recorded. The park represents the northern limit of distribution of a number of Zambezian biome species, including Sauza’s Shrike, Arnot’s Chat, and Long-tailed Cisticola. One species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome, seven of the Afrotropical Highlands biome, nine of the eleven species of the Lake Victoria Basin biome that occur in Rwanda have been recorded at this site.
The park also has a health mammal list of over 50 species among which include the African Elephant which was introduced to the park in 1975.

On the way, we hope to pocket African Palm Swift, Little Swift, Mottled Swift, Black-headed Waxbill, Black-crowned Waxbill, Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Archer's Robin-chat, Collared Apalis, Crowned Eagle, Slender-billed Starling, Grauer's Scrub-Warbler, Common Bulbul, Village Weaver, Red-eyed Dove, and many more.
Overnight at Akagera Game Lodge (Full Board)

Day 2: Whole Day Birding Akagera National Park – Rwanda Birding Safaris
Today we look for the species listed in the over 500 species checklist known to Akagera, species will 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, Bateleur, Red-faced Barbet, Long-tailed, Trilling, Tabora, Rattling and Winding Cisticolas, Miombo Wren Warbler, Green-capped Eremomela, Red-faced Crombec, Rueppell's Long-tailed Starling, Amethyst Starling, Senegal Lapwing, Water Dikkop, 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. Other wildlife may include; Giraffe, African Elephant, Hippopotamus, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Warthog, Impala, just to mention but a few.
Overnight at Akagera Game Lodge (Full Board)


Day 3: Birding to Volcanoes National Park for Mountain Gorilla Trekking

We set out in the morning, bird some birding spots along the way arriving in the late afternoon.
Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Full Board)


Day 4: Rwanda Gorilla Tracking- Volcanoes NP

The main activity today will be Mountain Gorilla Tracking. Mountain gorillas are the largest living primates and the world's most endangered apes with an estimated population of less than 800 left in the wild of the whole world and none in zoos. The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei), was not yet known to scientist until 1902. They are the next closest living relatives to human beings after the two chimpanzee species, sharing 97% DNA with us. Do leisurely birding in the afternoon around Volcans environs.
Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Full Board)Regal Sunbird


Day 5: Birdwatching Tour to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge | Gisakura Guest House (Full Board)

Day 6: Birding Nyungwe Forest National Park of Rwanda – (Optional Chimpanzee Tracking)

Nyungwe forest is situated in south-west Rwanda between Lake Kivu and the international border with Burundi. Nyungwe is divided north–south by a line of mountains that reach 2,600–2,900 m 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.
This wonderful birding area lies west of Butare, with the Butare to Cyangugu road passing straight through the middle, providing excellent roadside birding. A total of 275 species have been recorded in Nyungwe, reflecting the wide habitat diversity and altitudinal range. These include, all the 25 species of the Albertine Rift mountains Endemic Bird Area that occur in Rwanda, Chapin’s Flycatcher and Rockefellers’ Sunbird (both globally threatened, restricted-range and biome-restricted). In addition, 11 of the 23 species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome and 71 of the 74 species of this biome of Afrotropical Highlands that occur in Rwanda have been recorded at this site. Generally, Nyungwe is certainly the most important forest for the conservation of montane birds in the region.

We have an early morning breakfast then set out to Uwinka for the Albertine Rrift endemic birds search. Among the many we look out for, include; Kivu Ground-Thrushm, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Red-chested, SunbirdRegal Sunbird, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Miombo Rock-Thrush, Mountain Masked Apalis, Black-faced Apalis, 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, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Olive Woodpecker, Mountain Greenbul, Rwenzori Hill-babbler, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Northern Puffback, White-starred Robin, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing, Thick-billed Seedeater, Streaky Seedeater, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Variable Sunbird, Waller's Starling, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, just to mention but a few.

Overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge | Gisakura Guest House (Full Board)

Day 7: Another Day Birdwatching Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda
We look for species probably missed the previous day, we hope to tick-off Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Rwenzori Batis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Sharpe's Starling, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Dusky Tit, Doherty's Bush-shrike, Siffling Cisticola, Bronze Mannikin, Golden-breasted Bunting, Neumann's Warbler, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Wagtail, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Equatorial Akalat, Black Cuckoo, Kungwe Apalis, White-bellied Robin-chat, and many more. We try our luck and listen out at night fall for the Rwenzori Nightjar (a nocturnal species), Albertine Owlet and Red-chested Owlet.
Overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge | Gisakura Guest House (Full Board)

Day 8: Transfer to Kigali for the Last Night
While birding to Kigali, we visit Murambi Genocide Memorial Museum and National Museum.

Day 9: Departure – End of Rwanda Birdwatching Tour



Please book this tour now via our 24/7 hot line
 +256 777 506 126 , +256 704 63 50 44   OR via
our email info@gorillatourbooking.com. or gorillatourbooking@gmail.com
 We are warmly waiting for you inquiry!
Book a gorilla  safari to Uganda and Rwanda

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3 Days Gorillas Tracking in Virunga Mountain and Birding in Buhanga forest Volcanic Region

This tour 3 day gorilla trekking and birding includes a view of  Mount Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura the last remaining  700 mountain gorillas in the world is a wonderful experience

Image Credit: 

John Caddick

DAY 1: Arrival

On arrival in Kigali Rwanda – Transfer to Ruhengeri or stay in hotel in Kigali for late arrivals. You will meet our staff member who will brief you about the tri.

DAY 2: Gorilla Tracking and other attractions

In the morning after breakfast , you can start gorilla trekking in the Virunga mountain .  Early morning the guide/driver will drive you to Rugengeri

Upon arrival, transfer to Park offices for pre-Mountain Gorilla visit briefing for all guests. After the gorilla trek there will be an opportunity to explore other community-based tourism attractions. Advise visitors to spend night in Ruhengeri to avoid lateness. On this day (depending on trekking time), we offer you a choice of value added package from the following:

• Birding with local guides around Buhanga eco-park, a home of more than 100 spices of bird including the rare migrant African Pitta
• Visit Ruhengeri Market, providing you with an opportunity to see and buy local Rwandan fabrics and to see how local markets are organized.
• Attend traditional dance
• Visit a local household and experience local lifestyle
• Walks in villages surrounding the park and interact with local people and traditional healers.
• Visit the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo Overnight at the Mountain Gorillas Nest hotel, La Palme hotel or Muhabura hotel

DAY 3: Birding in Buhanga forest and cultural history exploration

If you missed a birding on the previous day, have a morning bird walk in Buhanga forest or wetland of twin lakes. After lunch, drive to Kigali, and we can have City tour and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. With an ever green feel of fresh air, Kigali is the cleanest and safest city in the region. Kigali’s face is her fortune; it is this dramatic beauty from which its name is derived. There are, however, other factors; Kigali is a city that delights the mind as well as the eye of any visitor. It is the city where the past lives comfortably with the present!

Please book this tour now via our 24/7 hot line 
 +256 776 566 077 , +256 704 63 50 44   OR via 
our email info@gorillatourbooking.com. or gorillatourbooking@gmail.com
 We are warmly waiting for you inquiry!

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