10-Day Birdwatching And Primate Safari In Rwanda

If you are planning a 10-day birdwatching and primate safari in Rwanda, this itinerary will take you to the best birding spots and primate habitats, providing you with an incredible African safari experience. We offer some of the finest birding and primate safari packages in Rwanda, allowing you to observe various bird and wildlife species in their natural environments. Rwanda is home to over 700 different bird species and several Important Bird Areas (IBAs), including Nyungwe Forest, Rugezi Swamp, Nyabarongo, Akanyaru, Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Cyamudongo. During your 10-day birdwatching and primate safari in Rwanda, you can look forward to spotting remarkable birds such as the Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Albertine Owlet, Red-Faced Barbet, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Miombo Wren-Warbler, and the Shoebill Stork, among others.

10 days Birdwatching and primate trip in Rwanda highlight

• Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda
• Day 2: Drive to Akagera national park
• Day 3: Whole day birding in Akagera national park
• Day 4: Bird Nyungwe forest.
• Day 5: Chimp tracking in Nyungwe forest national park
• Day 6: Drive to Volcanoes national park
• Day 7: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes national park
• Day 8: Bird watching in and around Volcanoes national park
• Day 9: Birding the Twin Lakes of Lake Burera And Ruhondo
• Day 10: Transfer to Kigali.

Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda

Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your birding guide, who will transfer you to your hotel. After a briefing session, you can take some time to relax and prepare for your 10-day birdwatching and primate trip in Rwanda. If you wish, we can either take a tour of the city or do some birdwatching around your hotel. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at Flame Tree Village Hotel.

Day 2: Drive to Akagera National Park.

Your second day of the 10-day birdwatching and primate safari in Rwanda will begin with a hearty breakfast. Afterward, you will drive to Akagera National Park to explore the birdlife in the open savannah vegetation of Rwanda. Keep an eye out for species such as the Bennett’s Woodpecker, Heuglin’s Chat, White-collared Barbet, Tabora Cisticola, Wren-Warbler, Miombo Wren-Warbler, and the rare Ring-necked Francolin. You may also spot the highly localized acacia specialist, the Red-faced Barbet, around the grounds of Akagera Game Lodge. After a day of birdwatching, you’ll head to your booked lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at Akagera Game Lodge.

Day 3: Whole day birding in Akagera National Park

After breakfast, head to Akagera National Park for birdwatching. Look for bird species such as Bennett’s Woodpecker, Swamp Flycatcher, White-Black-collared Barbet, White-winged Warbler, Headed Black Chat, Tabora Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Brown Parrot, Shoebill, White-winged Black Tit, and Sooty Chat, among others. Later, drive to Nyungwe Forest for another exciting birding tour. Enjoy dinner and spend the night at Nyungwe Top Hill View Lodge.

Day 4: Bird Nyungwe forest.

Today marks the highlight of your 10-day birdwatching and primate safari in Rwanda! After enjoying breakfast in the morning, you will head to Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to 13 primate species and Albertine Rift endemics. During your birding tour in Nyungwe Forest, keep an eye out for the following birds: the Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, the rare Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Mountain Black Boubou, Ruwenzori Batis, Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Archer’s Robin-chat, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, and the stunning Regal Sunbird, along with the Stripe-breasted Tit and Strange Weaver. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at Nyungwe Top Hill View Lodge.

Day 5: Chimp tracking in Nyungwe forest National Park

Wake up in the morning, enjoy breakfast, and drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about the chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe Forest National Park. You will be assigned a ranger guide who will lead you on a trail into the forest to search for a family of chimpanzees. Keep an eye out for other primates, such as L’Hoest’s monkeys and Angola colobus, as well as various bird species during your trek. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you can spend a full hour observing them before returning to your lodge for some relaxation. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at Nyungwe Top Hill View Lodge.

Day 6: Drive to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, drive to Ruhengeri/Musanze for your next adventurous tour in Volcanoes National Park. This park is home to several primates, including the gentle mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, as well as over 180 bird species, such as the handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Archer’s Robin-chat, and both Dusky and Shelley’s Crimson wings. Check in at your booked lodge, where you can either relax or explore the area for birdwatching. Enjoy dinner and spend the night at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.

Day 7: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Begin your day with breakfast before driving to the park headquarters for a briefing on an exciting primate-watching experience in Rwanda. You will be placed in a small group of no more than eight participants and will then embark on a trek into the lush jungles of Volcanoes National Park. During your adventure, you will encounter a variety of bird species, including Grauer’s rush warbler, dusky crimson-wing, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, handsome francolin, Rwenzori turaco, strange weaver, collared apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, and Archer’s ground robin, among others. You will also spot various primates and tree species throughout the safari. After reaching the gentle mountain gorillas, you will spend an entire hour observing them. Enjoy watching them play and interact with family members while capturing as many photos as possible. Following this unforgettable experience, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, concluding your 10-day birdwatching and primate safari in Rwanda.

Day 8: Bird watching in and around Volcanoes national park

Start your day with breakfast before heading out for a bird watching nature walk in the forest. During your walk, you might spot various bird species, including the African long-eared owl, Ruwenzori turaco, Archer’s robin-chat, brown woodland warbler, brown-necked parrot, Doherty’s bush-shrike, Lagden’s bush-shrike, dusky crimsonwing, dusky turtle dove, strange weaver, Grauer’s swamp warbler, handsome francolin, Ruwenzori apalis, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori double-collared sunbird, Ruwenzori nightjar, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, and red-faced woodland warbler, among others. After your day of birdwatching, enjoy dinner and spend the night at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.

Day 9: Birding the Twin Lakes of Lake Burera And Ruhondo

Your Day 9 of the 10-day birdwatching and primate safari in Rwanda will begin with a delicious breakfast. Afterward, you’ll embark on a guided nature walk around the Twin Lakes of Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo, where you can look for various bird species, including the red-faced woodland warbler, strange weaver, kingfisher, Ruwenzori turaco, brown-necked parrot, and dusky turtle dove, among others. Later, you’ll drive to Lake Kivu for an evening of birdwatching, where you may spot birds such as the common kestrel, African pied wagtail, tropical boubou, ashy flycatcher, spotted yellow-throated greenbul, speckled pigeons, chin-spot batis, cardinal woodpecker, common waxbill, and bronzed sunbirds. Dinner and overnight accommodation will be at Malahide Paradise.

Day 10: Transfer to Kigali.

Enjoy your breakfast at your own pace before driving to Kigali International Airport to conclude your 10-day birdwatching and primate trip in Rwanda. If you haven’t had a chance to explore the city yet, this is an excellent opportunity to take a Kigali city tour before your drop-off at the airport.

10 days Birdwatching and primate trip in Rwanda includes;

• Park fees
• All activities
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation
• All Taxes/VAT
• Pick up and drop off
• Meals
• Drinking water

10 days Birdwatching and primate trip in Rwanda excludes;

• International flights
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips
• Personal items
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees