This 4 Days Rwanda birding safari highlights some of Rwanda’s top birding area that include the diverse Akagera National Park, the less-explored gems – Nyabarongo and Bugesera. Rwanda boasts of a phenomenal location; within the Albertine Rift in addition to being marked by densely forested areas as well as mountains hence creating an amazing environment for the birders to enjoy spotting these colorful feathered beauties in the land of thousand hills (as Rwanda is often referred).
This East-Central African country is undeniably small (approximately 26,338 square kilometers), but boasts a bird list of over 700 species in addition to supporting the second highest number of Albertine Rift endemics in the entire world.
Highlights of 4 Days Rwanda Birding Safari
- Navigate the Nyabarongo swamps and Nyarutarama area for its wetland bird species.
- Walk through the woodlands and forests in Akagera National Park.
- Check-out the birds in Bugesera.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Explore the isolated Nyabarongo River wetland and Lake Nyarutarama areas (Kigali)
- Day 2: Drive to Akagera National Park and afternoon boat ride
- Day 3: Guided birding walk through Akagera National Park and drive back to Kigali
- Day 4: Birding in Bugesera and Departure
Detailed Itinerary of 4 Days Rwanda Birding Safari
Day 1: Explore the isolated Nyabarongo River wetland and Lake Nyarutarama areas (Kigali)
This is the day you explore the Nyabarongo River wetlands and Nyarutarama areas, two of the most popular birding areas in Kigali City. The former is an incredible protected area extending for about 142 square kilometers that include the pristine floodplains of River Nyabarongo – the country’s longest River, wetlands and marshes.
Be up early to catch up with the white-collared Olive backs, Madagascar squacco heron, papyrus canary, Papyrus yellow warblers, and Sharpe’s pied-babblers. Don’t miss out on the famous Papyrus gonolek, Northern Brown-throated Weavers, Carruthers’s Cisticola and so much more. Lunch is at one of the top city eateries and in the afternoon you will continue with the birding tour at Nyarutarama a lake.
The beautiful Lake Nyarutarama is our second birding spot for this day and here the weavers, Bat hawks, yellow-billed ducks, Cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, Swamp flycatcher, Red-backed shrikes and so much more.
Overnight:
- Kigali Serena Hotel or The Retreat (upmarket).
- Hotel des Mille Collines or Onomo Hotel Kigali (midrange.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.
Day 2: Drive to Akagera National Park and afternoon boat ride
Akagera National Park is just two hours and thirty minutes away from Kigali City and is another must-visit birding area. With over 500 bird species – the highest so far in the country, this diversity hot spot is Rwanda’s top-rated destination for unforgettable birding tours.
You will drive through the smooth tarred roads towards the Eastern corner of the country and be ushered into your home – at least for the next two days. On getting there, you will drive through the Park while encountering the irresistible elephants, buffaloes, Masai giraffes, waterbucks, topis, kobs, rhinos, warthogs and so much more.
Settle for a nice lunch and off you go for a boat ride on Lake Ihema. As the boat cruises, spot the mixture of woodland and wetland species that include the Grey-crowned craned, Red-faced Barbet, the African harrier hawks, and sunbirds. You won’t miss the Bennetts Woodpecker, Papyrus Gonolek, shoebill storks, White-headed, Black, Malachite Kingfishers, familiar Chats, Carruther’s and Tabora Cisticolas, herons, White-winged and Broad-tailed Warblers among others.
Overnight:
- Ruzizi tented lodge or Magashi Camp (upmarket).
- Akagera Game Lodge or Karenge Camp (Midrange).
Meals: Full board.
Day 3: Guided birding walk through Akagera National Park and drive back to Kigali
Today you will walk through some of the popular birding trails of Akagera National Park, crossing through woodlands and spotting different bird species. While you walk through the different areas of the Park, don’t be surprised to see lions, leopards, Kobs, giraffes and others. However, our main focus is on the birds, so don’t miss out on the red-billed ducks, helmeted Guinea fowls, crested francolin, Laughing Doves, and grey-crowned cranes.
There also the black-bellied bustards, Bare-faced go-away bird, long-tailed cormorant, Spur-winged lapwing, Gull-billed Terns, White-crested Turaco, common cuckoo, Alpine swift, African darter, and Black Crakes among others. All these will be sighted during this birding tour before having lunch later and driving back to Kigali City for an overnight stay.
Overnight:
- Kigali Serena Hotel or The Retreat (upmarket).
- Hotel des Mille Collines or Onomo Hotel Kigali (midrange.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4: Birding in Bugesera and Departure
This is the last day of your birding Rwanda safari and starts off with breakfast, before heading to the stunning Bugesera Valley for another birding tour. Here the Blue-billed Teals, Spur-winged Goose, Spatula hottentota, yellow-billed storks, white-faced Whistling Ducks, Egyptian Goose, Helmeted Guinea fowls and so many others are sighted. Depending on your flight schedule, you might have a brief City tour.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
Drive time: 2 hours and 30 minutes.
This 4 Days Birding Rwanda Safari Package Includes:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off as well as meet & greet service by our Company representatives at Kigali International airport.
- Bottled water.
- 3 nights’ accommodation-2 in Kigali and one on Akagera National Park.
- Meals as shown in the daily meal plan.
- Road transportation by a private and luxurious 4X4 safari Lan cruiser
- Relevant Government taxes and levies.
- Services of a fulltime trained and experienced English-speaking driver.
- Akagera Park entry fees.
- A professional bird guide in the different birding areas.
- The boat ride on Lake Ihema.
Safari Excludes:
- Domestic and International flights.
- Rwanda visa.
- Medical and Travel Insurance.
- Other adventures not indicated on the itinerary.
- Other items of personal nature like telephone calls, souvenir, internet usage, laundry fees, cigarettes, gratuities, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, to mention but a few.