Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, depart Kigali and begin your scenic journey southwest toward Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The drive passes through Rwanda’s famous rolling hills, rural villages, tea plantations, and terraced landscapes. Along the route, there are opportunities for short birding stops and photography as the scenery gradually changes into montane forest terrain.

Arrive in Nyungwe 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 is one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and supports more than 300 bird species, including many Albertine Rift endemics.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, begin a full day birding experience in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The forest is internationally recognized for its rich birdlife and is one of the best places in East Africa to search for Albertine Rift endemic species. Guided forest walks lead through dense vegetation, forest trails, bamboo sections, and canopy areas where bird activity is often highest during the morning hours.

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

Apart from birdlife, Nyungwe is also home to several primate species including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys which may occasionally be seen during the walk.

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

In the afternoon, continue birding along selected forest trails and wetland sections around the park.

Return to the lodge in the evening for relaxation.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, depart Nyungwe and begin the journey eastward toward Akagera National Park.

The drive allows travelers to experience Rwanda’s changing landscapes as the environment gradually shifts from mountainous rainforest to open savannah and wetland ecosystems.

Arrive in Akagera National Park in the afternoon and continue with a short birding game drive en route to the lodge.

Akagera hosts more than 500 bird species, making it one of Central Africa’s most rewarding birding destinations. The park’s combination of lakes, papyrus swamps, woodland, and savannah creates excellent habitat diversity for birdlife.

Possible sightings during the evening drive may include African fish eagles, grey crowned cranes, saddle billed storks, herons, kingfishers, and various raptor species.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, enjoy a morning birding excursion within Akagera National Park.

The morning hours are particularly productive for bird activity, with opportunities to search for species associated with wetlands, open grasslands, and acacia woodland habitats.

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

Wildlife sightings are also possible during the game drive, including giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, antelopes, elephants, and occasionally predators such as lions and leopards.

After the morning activity, begin the return journey to Kigali with lunch en route.

Depending on your departure schedule, transfer directly to Kigali International Airport for your outbound flight.

This marks the end of your Rwanda birding safari.