10 Days Rwanda Birding & Gorilla Safari

After breakfast, depart Kigali and begin the scenic drive southwest toward Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The drive passes through Rwanda’s rolling hills, tea plantations, terraced farmland, and rural villages before reaching one of Africa’s oldest montane rainforests.

Arrive in the afternoon and check into your lodge near the forest.

Depending on arrival time, enjoy a short introductory birding walk around the lodge area where several forest edge species may already be spotted.

Nyungwe supports more than 300 bird species including numerous Albertine Rift endemics and rare forest specialists.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, spend the day birding within Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The forest is internationally recognized as one of East Africa’s finest montane forest birding destinations and offers excellent opportunities to search for Albertine Rift endemic species.

Birding trails pass through dense rainforest, bamboo sections, forest edges, and wetland habitats where bird activity is often highest during the morning hours.

Possible sightings include red collared babbler, Rwenzori turaco, Rockefeller’s sunbird, purple breasted sunbird, mountain yellow warbler, handsome francolin, strange weaver, and grauer’s swamp warbler.

Apart from birds, the forest also supports several primate species including chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys.

Lunch may be enjoyed at the lodge or carried as packed lunch depending on the day’s activities.

Continue with afternoon birding before returning to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, depart Nyungwe and continue northward toward Volcanoes National Park.

The drive offers scenic views of Rwanda’s mountainous landscapes, lakes, villages, and rolling countryside while passing through several beautiful regions of the country.

Arrive near the Virunga Mountains in the afternoon and check into your lodge overlooking the volcanic landscape.

Depending on arrival time, you may enjoy a relaxed birding walk around the lodge surroundings where montane forest species may already be observed.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning the gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park.

The trek takes visitors through bamboo forests, montane vegetation, and volcanic slopes in search of one of the park’s habituated mountain gorilla families.

The duration of the trek varies depending on the location and movement of the gorillas, but the experience of observing them in their natural habitat is unforgettable.

Visitors are allowed one hour with the gorillas once located, providing opportunities to observe their social behavior, feeding patterns, and interactions while taking photographs under ranger guidance.

The forest environment also supports several bird species and beautiful mountain scenery throughout the trek.

After the experience, return to the lodge for relaxation.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, spend the day birding within Volcanoes National Park.

The park’s bamboo forests, montane woodland, and volcanic habitats support numerous Albertine Rift endemic bird species and high altitude forest birds.

Possible sightings include Rwenzori turaco, Archer’s robin chat, dusky crimsonwing, stripe breasted tit, scarlet tufted malachite sunbird, collared apalis, and Rwenzori batis.

The scenic volcanic environment creates excellent opportunities for bird photography while offering breathtaking views of the Virunga Mountains.

Golden monkeys and other forest wildlife may occasionally be seen during the birding walk.

Lunch may be enjoyed at the lodge or as a packed picnic depending on the day’s movements.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, spend the day exploring Akagera National Park through morning and afternoon birding game drives.

The park’s diverse habitats create excellent conditions for bird diversity and wildlife viewing.

Possible bird sightings include papyrus gonolek, African jacana, carruthers’s cisticola, northern brown throated weaver, shoebill during certain seasons and locations, and numerous waterbirds around the lakeshores.

The savannah sections support raptors, bustards, rollers, hornbills, and grassland species.

Wildlife encounters may include lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, and antelope species.

Lunch may be enjoyed at the lodge or as a picnic within the park depending on the day’s activities.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, enjoy a morning birding excursion within Akagera National Park focusing on wetland and lakeshore habitats.

Morning hours provide excellent opportunities for observing active birdlife and photographing waterbirds in soft natural lighting.

Later, proceed for a boat excursion on one of the park’s lakes where additional bird species may be observed along the shorelines and papyrus edges.

Possible sightings include kingfishers, fish eagles, herons, cormorants, jacanas, and several migratory waterbirds depending on the season.

Hippos and crocodiles are also commonly seen during the boat excursion.

Return to the lodge for relaxation.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, begin the return journey toward Kigali.

The drive offers final opportunities to enjoy Rwanda’s beautiful landscapes and rural scenery with possible stops for photography and refreshments along the route.

Lunch will be enjoyed en route before continuing to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.

This marks the end of your Rwanda Birding and Gorilla Safari.