Rwanda Bird-Watching Safari: 11 Days

On arrival at the one and only airport on Rwanda, our guide will welcome you and guide you to the vehicle. The drive will take 15 to 20 minutes to reach the hotel. Afternoon at leisure with optional birding around Kigali city. Kigali is the entry point into Rwanda via the Kigali International Airport and therefore offers your first birding opportunities in Rwanda. There are a number of renowned birding spots within the city that for the visiting new birders provides a good introduction to some local birds of Rwanda. Covering the wetlands, forest, woodlands, and open green spaces around the city can provide over 200 species in a day of Birdwatching. Famous birding sites around Kigali include Nyarutarama Lake, The Nyabarongo Weltands and Mount Kigali Forest among others. In the evening our rep will meet you and further brief you about the entire trip and the start time for the following day. Overnight at Chez Lando Hotel (D)

We leave Kigali at 5.30am to be at Akagera NP at 8am. We have a morning birding and game drive to see different species of Cisticolas (Croaking, Tabora, Trilling, etc.) we can also see animals like Buffaloes, Zebra, Impala, etc. After lunch, we have a brief birding to see Ruhuaha and Sooty Chats and at 5.30 to 8.30pm, we have a night game drive to see Leopard, Hyena and species of birds’ i.e Square-tailed Nightjars. Akagera national park also has rich bird checklist of about 525 species which shows the tremendously large diversity of habitant. 44 species of the raptors, the shoebill stork, and the papyrus Gonolek. There are also a good number of Palearctic migrants and among these is the great snipe, the lesser Kestrel, and the black winged that have been recorded. This park also shows the northern limit of the distribution of the zambezian biome species that include; Arnot’s Chat, Sauza’s Shrike as well as the long tailed Cisticola. One specie of the Guinea-Congo Forest Biome, the seven of the afro tropical highlands biome, 9 of the 11 species of Lake Victoria Basin which occur in Rwanda and have been recorded at the site. The park also has a mammal list of over 50 species and some of these include the African elephant that were introduced to this national park in 1975.also along the way, we hope to see African Palm Swift, the black headed waxbill, crowned eagle, the slender billed starling, the red collared mountain babler, the Archer’s Robin Chat, the village weaver, the red eyed Dove and the Common Bulbul plus many more. Accommodation is at Akagera Game Lodge. (BLD)

In the morning after breakfast, you will go for a game drive in the park in search for wildlife. On this day, we shall look out for the species that are listed in a 500 species checklist which are known to Akagera, some of these species include; Black-winged Bishop, Familiar Chat, African Open-billed Stork, Long-toed Lapwing, Spur-winged Plover, Great Cormorants, Long-tailed, Red-faced Barbet, Goliath Heron, Winding Cisticolas, Senegal Lapwing, Long-tailed Starling, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Red-necked Spurfowl, Rappel’s Amethyst Starling, Red-faced Crombec, Long-tailed Cormorant, Crested Barbet, African Marsh Harrier, Arrow-marked Babbler,White-crowned Black Chat, and Greater Blue-eared Starling, Shoebill, Black Crake, Bateleur, Trilling, Tabora, Rattling and Miombo Wren Warbler, Green-capped Eremomela, Water Dikkop, Brubru, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Brown Parrot, Broad-tailed Warbler, Sooty Chat, White-winged Black Tit, Flappet Lark, Souza’s Shrike, and many more. Other wildlife may include; Giraffe, African Elephant, Hippopotamus, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Warthog, Impala, and many more After the game drive, you will have lunch and guided by your guide and then later n the afternoon you will go for a boat ride on Akagera River in search for water loving animals like the hippos, and crocodiles. Return to your lodge for dinner. (BLD)

With our packed lunch, we have our birding and game drive along lake circuit where we can see different animals i.e Topi, Elephants, Zebra, Roan Antelope, Lion and many bird species i.e Crested Barbet and afternoon we drive back to Kigali. Accommodation and dinner are booked at Chez Lando Hotel. (BLD)

At 6am, we start birding in Bugesera to try Papyrus Gonolek, after lunch we drive to Nyungwe NP (6 hours drive) overnight is at ENyungwe Top Hill Hotel. Nyungwe NP is a home to about 300 bird species among which 27 are endemic to the Albertine Rift region including the quasi endemic to Nyungwe NP, the Red-collared Mountain Babbler. Nyungwe Forest National park is also located in South west Rwanda and it’s between Lake Kivu and the international border with Burundi. Nyungwe is also divided north and south by just a line of mountains that reaches 2,600-2,900m and also forms part of the Congo- Nile watershed. More so, as a result, Nyungwe is also comprised of the two areas that differ in Pedology, water flow, biodiversity and vegetation. Most of Rwanda’s birds are in Nyungwe Forest and Akagera NP. Nyungwe Forest has many Albertine Rift endemics and forest specials, making it a birding hotspot. Akagera’s sizeable lakes are the go-to for general savannah birds, including raptors and water-associated birds. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill Hotel (BLD)

Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe requires an early start at about 4am in the morning. Therefore you are required to have slept early the previous day. Transfer from your hotel to the park headquarters for briefing and through the forest you will walk along the different trails searching for the chimpanzees. On meeting them, you will spend 1 hour following them and taking pictures then return to your hotel. After lunch, we go for a Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest park or proceed to Uwinka for the albertine Rift endemic bird’s search including; Rockefeller’s Sunbird , Collared Apalis, Handsome Francolin, Chestnut-throated Apalis, few Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Olive Woodpecker, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Ruwenzori Turaco, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, White-starred Robin, Northern Puffback, Streaky Seedeater, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Kivu Ground-Thrushm, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Red-chested, SunbirdRegal Sunbird, , Miombo Rock-Thrush, Mountain Masked Apalis, Black-faced Apalis, Grauer’s Warbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red- throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Great Blue Turaco, Mountain Greenbul, Rwenzori Hill-babbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing, Thick-billed Seedeater, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Variable Sunbird, Waller’s Starling, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, just to mention but a few. Other species of interest to include Blue-headed Sunbird, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Bronze Mannikin, Neumann’s Warbler, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Golden-breasted Bunting, White-bellied Robin-chat, Sharpe’s Starling, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Rwenzori Batis, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Dusky Tit, Siffling Cisticola, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Wagtail, Equatorial Akalat, Black Cuckoo, Kungwe Apalis, and many more. We shall also try to look out for the Rwenzori Nightjar, Red chested Owlet and the Albertine Owlet. All meals and overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill Hotel (BLD)

This is a long drive that one needs to prepare for the day before. With stops it could take you a full day to transfer to Volcanoes National Park. This day starts with an early breakfast and then through Kigali, you will drive to transfer to Volcanoes National park arriving in the afternoon Hours. If the weather is good then you will use an alternate route that doesn't take you through Kigali. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Hotel (BLD)

Start the day with an early breakfast which should be ready by 6am. Then depart the Hotel at 7 am to transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and gorilla Family allocation. As your guide registers you, you will be entertained in the Traditional dance of the Banyarwanda people and also tea or coffee is available for you. If you wish to track a closer group you will have to inform the guide such that he secures you a group that is closer. Once you are allocated the Gorilla family, you will be briefed about the entire tracking and the rules and regulations and then transfer to the starting point. For those who need porters, they will be available and the start of the trail. Walk along the different trails in search for the gorillas with the guidance of the park rangers. Once you meet the gorillas you will be allowed to spend 1 Hour following them and then later return to the starting point where your guides will be waiting for you. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Hotel (BLD)

After breakfast, we have the morning birding at Irebero trail to try more endemic bird species and we stop birding at lunch time. After lunch we drive to Karongi, the former Kibuye Town, along Kivu Belt road and we can see good scenery along the lake. Accommodation and dinner are at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel - Lake Kivu Serena Hotel celebrates the shores of this African Great Lake as a destination of astonishing beauty, where pristine beaches and the sparkling waters of Africa’s sixth largest lake come together in breathtaking fashion. Your arrival is greeted by a bright, open-plan lobby giving way to a private stretch of beach reserved exclusively for hotel guests. We welcome you to experience unparalleled warmth, hospitality and relaxation at our tropically inspired hotel in Gisenyi, Rwanda. Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (BLD)

In the morning right after breakfast, you will go for a boat ride on Lake Kivu and also go visit the hot water springs. Return to the hotel for lunch and then in the afternoon drive to transfer to Kigali. Visit the souvenir shops, before you transfer to the airport for onward flight transfer. (BL)

These items form the basic components of your tour / safari cost and MAY NOT be excluded / removed from the tour pacakge all-together. However, if you still like the tour without some of of the basic components, kindly request for customization of the tour. The tour cost includes;

· Free pick-up / drop-off from your Hotel / Kigali / Airport

· Accommodation in Kigali on arrival day at a Bed & Breakfast Mid-range Hotel

· All transportation in a custom-built safari vehicle with window seat guarantee

· 3 meals a day / Full-Board accommodation whilst on Safari Hotels, lodges or Camps

· All parks and game reserve entry gate fees including vehicle & driver fees

· One day Gorilla Tracking Permit from Rwanda Wildlife Authority

· Services of an English - speaking and professional safari driver/guide

· Unlimited Supply of Complimentary Bottled Drinking Water on safari

· Lunch on the first and last days of safari with free bottled water

· Guaranteed Departures with a minimum of just 2 travellers!

· ALL Government taxes and levies

These items are excluded from your tour cost / package. You are therefore expected to make own arrangement for some such as your International Flight Tickets, Travel Insurance and so on. Others are available as 'add-ons' to your tour and we shall be glad to include any extras you like at a reasonable cost. The tour cost excludes;

· International Air Fares to and from Africa

· Accommodation in Kigali after the tour - can be arranged on request

· Travel Insurance Cover, Personal or Baggage (Highly Recommended)

· Cost of Tourist or Business Visa and any other associated expenses

· Optional excursions not mentioned in the inclusions and/or quoted separately

· Expenses of personal nature such as phone calls, internet, laundry etc

· All soft and hard drinks (alcoholic drinks, wines and spirits)

· Tips and gratuities to driver guides/lodge/hotel staff

· Festive days supplements such as those on Easter and Xmas dates

· All other extras not mentioned in the 'included'

When you book a tour with us, we want always want you to fee special. That is why we go the extra mile not only to make you smile but to ensure that your are taking home only the fondest of memories from our trips. Below are some of the special treatments you are unlikely to find with other tour operators;

· Special 'Welcome Package' for you upon arrival

· Free supply of UNLIMITED bottled mineral water whilst on safari

· Complimentary 'AfriChoice!® Authentic African Safari Sun Hat

· Free Membership to AMREF's Flying Doctors Emergency Evacuation Programme*

· Signed & Sealed 'Participation Certificate' (adventure quests only*)

· Special 'Farewell Dinner' at the end of your trip (Time Permitting*)