12 Days Complete Rwanda Birding Safari

After breakfast, enjoy morning birding around selected wetland and green areas near Kigali before beginning the journey southwest toward Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The drive passes through Rwanda’s scenic countryside filled with rolling hills, tea plantations, terraced farmland, and local communities.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of Africa’s oldest montane rainforests and one of East Africa’s leading birding destinations with more than 300 bird species recorded.

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

Depending on arrival time, enjoy a short introductory birding walk around the lodge area and nearby forest edge habitats.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

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

The forest is internationally recognized for its concentration of Albertine Rift endemic bird species and rich tropical rainforest biodiversity.

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

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

Apart from birdlife, the forest also supports chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys which may occasionally be seen during the walks.

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, continue exploring additional birding trails within Nyungwe Forest National Park.

This extra day allows more time to search for difficult Albertine Rift endemic species and forest specialists that may not have been observed on the previous day.

Birding may focus on different elevations, bamboo habitats, forest clearings, and swampy sections depending on species targets and recent sightings.

Possible sightings include regal sunbirds, yellow eyed black flycatchers, mountain sooty boubous, Archer’s robin chats, forest flycatchers, and additional montane forest species.

The peaceful rainforest environment and rich biodiversity create excellent conditions for photography and immersive birdwatching.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, depart Nyungwe Forest and continue northward along the shores of Lake Kivu.

The journey offers beautiful views of the lake, surrounding hills, fishing villages, and scenic countryside landscapes.

Lake Kivu supports several waterbirds and lakeshore species that may be observed during stops along the journey.

Possible sightings include cormorants, kingfishers, herons, egrets, and various shoreline birds.

Arrive at your lodge overlooking the lake and enjoy a relaxed evening surrounded by Rwanda’s beautiful lakeside scenery.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, continue northward toward Volcanoes National Park.

The drive passes through scenic villages, rolling hills, and mountainous landscapes before reaching the Virunga volcanic region.

Arrive in the afternoon and settle into your lodge near the park.

Depending on arrival time, enjoy a short birding walk around the lodge surroundings and nearby forest edge habitats.

The region supports several Albertine Rift endemic species and unique high altitude forest birds.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day birding experience within Volcanoes National Park.

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

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

The cool mountain climate and mist covered volcanic scenery create unforgettable birding conditions and excellent photography opportunities.

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

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

Return to the lodge in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

After breakfast, continue birding within the Virunga region focusing on additional forest trails, bamboo habitats, and montane vegetation zones around Volcanoes National Park.

This additional birding day increases chances of locating rare and difficult species while allowing more time for photography and observation.

Possible sightings include mountain masked apalis, regal sunbird, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, olive pigeon, and several high altitude forest birds.

The scenic volcanic landscape and cool forest atmosphere provide a rewarding birding environment throughout the day.

Return to the lodge in the evening for relaxation.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, depart the Virunga region and continue eastward toward Akagera National Park.

The landscape gradually changes from mountainous forest terrain to open savannah plains, freshwater lakes, wetlands, and acacia woodland habitats.

Arrive in the afternoon and proceed with an evening birding game drive toward your lodge.

Possible sightings include African fish eagles, grey crowned cranes, saddle billed storks, jacanas, bee eaters, kingfishers, and several raptor species.

Wildlife sightings may include elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and antelope species.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

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

Akagera supports more than 500 bird species across wetlands, lakeshores, papyrus swamps, woodland habitats, and savannah plains.

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

The savannah sections support hornbills, rollers, bustards, bee eaters, and various raptor species.

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

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, enjoy wetland birding activities around the lakes and papyrus swamps of Akagera National Park.

Morning birding focuses on wetland systems where bird activity is often highest during the cooler hours.

Possible sightings include pelicans, cormorants, fish eagles, herons, kingfishers, jacanas, storks, and several migratory waterbirds.

Later, proceed for a boat excursion on one of the park’s lakes for closer observation of aquatic birdlife and wildlife gathering along the shores.

Hippos and crocodiles are also commonly seen during the excursion.

The peaceful scenery and rich biodiversity create excellent opportunities for photography and nature appreciation.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, begin the return journey toward Kigali.

The drive offers final opportunities to enjoy Rwanda’s beautiful countryside landscapes, rolling hills, and local villages with optional 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 Complete Rwanda Birding Safari.