Day 1: Arrival – overnight in Kgali.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our representative, transfer to Kigali for a briefing on your safari.
Depending on arrival time, you go for a short city tour including a visit to genocide memorial, handicraft shops.
Overnight accommodation on Bed & breakfast basis.
Day 2: Birding in Kigali.
After a long flight, today will be more relaxed with birding in Kigali city and environs.
Kigali city has great Urban Birding. As soon as you stepped out of your hotel room, you are welcomed by amazing colorful birds. You will drive down to the Golf course where you will be rewarded with various Bird species which may include among others: the White-collared Olive back, African Swamphen, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Bat Hawk, Narina Trogon, Lesser Honeyguide, Brown-backed Honeybird, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, Olive-bellied, Red-chested Sunbird and Bronzy Sunbirds, African Goshawk, Palm Nut Vulture, Crested Barbet, Grey-backed Fiscal, Rüppell’s Starling and Black-headed Weaver.
Overnight accommodation on Bed & breakfast basis.
Day 3: Kigali – Akagera National Park.
Adventure Consults’ guide will brief you the day’s activities, and start your 3-hour journey to Akagera National park. The only Savannah park in Rwanda, is located along the Eastern border of the country, where the typically hilly countryside gives way to the savannas of the Great Rift Valley. Dominated by lakes, swamps and marshland, the area boasts a huge compliment of nature and wildlife that cannot be found elsewhere in the country. It is a unique habitat and home to big game (including the Lion, Elephants, Zebras Topi, lots of primates and Bird species.
Afternoon Game drive with an optional sundowner (drinks on own account) while enjoying the panoramic views across the scattered grasslands.
A night-drive offers the best opportunity for seeing the nocturnal bird species like Verreaux’s Eagle Owl and several Nightjar species.
Meals and Overnight accommodation included at the Lodge.
Day 4 & 5: Birding – Akagera National park.
Akagera National Park is characterized by rolling hills, lakes, wetlands and woodlands. The diverse ecosystem, makes this park an ideal home to over 490 bird species.
You will spend most of the time in your jeep and in the afternoon, take a boat ride on Lake Ihema.
The highlights of Akagera include the Red-faced barbet, the Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek; White-Winged Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’s Cisticola, White-collared Olive back, and Grey-crowned Cranes.
You might also be lucky with the rare endangered Shoebill stock and good populations of raptors and large numbers of water birds.
Meals and Overnight accommodation included at the Lodge.
Day 6: Akagera – Nyungwe (App. 7 hours’ drive).
Morning start for Nyungwe with stops at places of interest. Lunch enroute and proceed to Butare, visit the Nyanza palace. Drive straight to Nyungwe forest arriving late afternoon. Relax at the Lodge or take walk by the tea plantation. Meals and Overnight accommodation included at the lodge.
Day 7 & 8: Birding – Nyungwe Forest National Park. (App. 7 hours’ drive).
The tropical montane rainforest well known for chimpanzees and other 12 primate species is also home to 322 bird species. Some of the unique birds in this area include the Red-collared Babbler, If you are lucky, you might see the Congo Bay Owl, Albertine Owlet, Shelley’s Crimson-wing, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Kungwe Apalis, Kivu Ground Thrush, and Willard’s Sooty Boubou.
Other species that will catch your attention are the Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Nightjar, Grauer’s Warbler, Regal, Blue-headed and Purple Breasted Sunbirds, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler and Neumann’s Warbler.
On one of the days, you have an option to go for Chimpanzee tracking. Advance reservation is required, so please get in touch with reservations’ department for additional info.
Meals and Overnight accommodation included at the lodge.
Day 9: Nyungwe Forest – Kigali. App. 5 hours.
Morning start for Kigali with stops at interesting places for photo opportunities. Optional city tour or simply relax after 7 days in the bush.
Afternoon birding around the lodge or at the Golf-course.
Breakfast, overnight accommodation and lunch included. Dinner on own account.
Day 10: Kigali – Virunga volcanoes/Kinigi. App. 3 hours.
Morning start for Parc des Volcans with views of the great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest.
With stops at place of interest, proceed to Kinigi. Meals and Accommodation included.
Day 11 & 12: Birding in and around Parc des Volcans (PNV) – Optional Gorilla tracking.
Volcanoes National Park or Parc des Volcans (PNV) is famous for her Mountain Gorillas and Volcano hiking. This forested park in the North of Rwanda has got over 200 bird species. Interestingly, 17 out of the 200 species are Albertine Rift endemics. You will have early morning starts in to the park, look out for Birds and no question, you will not miss out on a number of primates.
While at PNV, it’s possible that day 11 will be allocated to Gorilla tracking. This will be on payment of supplement. Advance payment and reservations are a must, so please let your consultant know if interested so that reservations can be made.
Gorilla tracking starts early in the morning and takes 3 to 6 hours (+/-). An exhilarating Gorilla trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virungas can be muddy and challenging but offers a Great experience. Alive with the calls of Gorillas you will spend an hour before sloping back to the base. As you slope, through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks, among the highest in Africa are glimpsed. Meals and Accommodation included.
Day 13: PNV – Kigali – Return flight. App. 3 hrs.
Morning start for Kigali, time permitting, have a tour of the city including a visit to genocide memorial, handicraft shops, local markets etc. and later drop off at the airport in time for your return flight.