Embark on a captivating 10-Day Albertine Rift Birding and Primates Tour in Rwanda through the lush landscapes of Rwanda, where every day promises remarkable encounters with diverse wildlife and breathtaking natural beauty.
Your journey begins with a warm welcome in Kigali, the capital city, offering an optional birding experience amid its historical charm.
As you traverse the country, you’ll explore the Nyungwe Forest National Park, a haven for bird enthusiasts, with over 300 bird species, including Albertine rift endemics.
Chimpanzee tracking and a canopy walk add a thrilling dimension to your exploration.
The Rwanda birding tour continues to the Volcanoes National Park, home to iconic gorillas, and culminates in Kigali with unforgettable memories of Rwanda’s natural wonders.
10-Day Rwanda Birding Tour Highlights
- Day 1 – Arrival in Rwanda and Optional Birding in Kigali
- Day 2 – Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park and Afternoon Canopy Walk
- Day 3 – Full Day Birding in Nyungwe Forest
- Day 4 – Birding in Nyungwe Forest – Mt. Bigugu Trail
- Day 5 – Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe National Park
- Day 6 – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 7 – Birding in Rugezi Swamp
- Day 8 – Birding in Volcanoes National Park
- Day 9 – Optional Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Day 10 – Departure
Detailed 10-Day Rwanda Birding Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Rwanda and Optional Birding in Kigali
You will be met by our representative or guide who will take you to the hotel.
Depending on the time of arrival, you will do some birding around the city to kick start your search for the local birds here.
You may also do a city tour, which is also rewarding with rich history. Some of the birds you expect to see around the city are White-collared Oliveback, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Green-winged Pytilia, Spot-flanked Barbet, Lesser Honeyguide, Purple-crested Turaco, and African Firefinch.
Day 2 – Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park and Afternoon Canopy Walk
We shall have an early breakfast as usual and leave Kigali by 7 am to the Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The park is in the southwest of the country. We shall be exploring the mountain forest.
This area is rich with many Albertine rift endemic species. Nyungwe Forest National Park has a bird count of about 300 species with about 27 Albertine rift endemic species.
The park also has over 13 primate species that you can explore while here. The drive from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park is about 5 hours.
You will get to the park in the afternoon in time to do the canopy walk in the Nyungwe forest.
This is one of the unique experiences that this forest has to offer.
The walk is about 50 meters long, and you will see many primates and birds at close range.
Day 3 – Full Day Birding in Nyungwe Forest
We shall do a whole day birding in the Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The park is also famous for the numerous Albertine rift endemic species.
This is the best place to see them in Rwanda.
The park has many trails that will lead you to several habitats like grasslands, swamps, and forested areas.
We shall carry our packed lunch and spend the whole day on the birding trail. There are many other wildlife species we shall see other than birds.
Day 4 – Birding in Nyungwe Forest – Mt. Bigugu Trail
We shall be doing a full day of birding armed with our packed lunch.
This trail will take us to an altitude of about 2950 meters above sea level.
Some of the birds you expect to see are Neumann’s Warbler, Rwenzori Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Strip-breasted Tit, Blue-headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Regal Sunbird, Olive woodpecker, Red-faced woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Turaco, Mountain Buzzard.
Day 5 – Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe National Park
The Nyungwe forest is home to many primates, and you will be tracking the chimps today.
There are over 500 habituated chimps here. We shall head to the forest by 6 am.
We shall be briefed, and then we shall head out to track the chimps.
When we find the chimps, we shall spend about an hour with them and then return to our car.
We can then have optional birding in the afternoon or spend the afternoon at leisure.
If you are not willing to do chimp tracking, then you can do another day of birding.
Day 6 – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
We shall be heading to the Volcanoes National park today after our breakfast.
The park is located in the Musanze area.
You will be within the same vicinity with the scenic Lake Kivu. We shall be birding en route.
Day 7 – Birding in Rugezi Swamp
On this day, we shall head out birding in the Rugezi swamp after our breakfast.
This is one of the important birding areas of Rwanda and Africa in general.
The swamp is the only RAMSAR wetland in the country, thus showing its significance on this birding safari.
We shall see a lot of high altitude birds and swamp species.
Day 8 – Birding in Volcanoes National Park
We shall be trekking the Volcanoes National park today.
The park boasts about 200 bird species, and of these, 15 are Albertine rift endemics.
The trek will take you through the bamboo vegetation cover, which exposes you to many high altitude bird species.
We shall bird around the Lake Ngezi and the Bisoke Mountain.
We have optional gorilla trekking on this day.
Day 9 – Optional Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes national park is famous for the Gorillas.
These can only be tracked here and in Uganda. You have an option to track the gorillas while on this tour.
You may do another full day of birding in case you don’t do the gorilla tracking.
Day 10 – Departure
Today you shall transfer back to Kigali for your afternoon flight.
Other recommended birding tours:
- 18-Day Birding Safari in Rwanda and Uganda
- 16-Day Explore Rwanda Birding and Wildlife Adventure Tour
- 12-Day Rwanda Birding and Gorilla Trekking Safari Adventure
- 3-Day Bird Watching Tour in Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda
