11 days Albertine rift endemic birds
Accordion Sample TitleArrival at Kigali International Airport, meet the driver guide and be transferred to your hotel. After relaxing at the hotel you will set out for afternoon Kigali city, visit the genocide memorial and later do some birding watching around Nyarutarama. That will award you with the hotel species and some palearche migratory species.
After a relaxed breakfast check out of the hotel drive to Nyungwe national park in the south-western Rwanda for the Albertine Rift endemic species of which of 44 species are in Rwanda. On the way have stopover in Butare for lunch. After drive to the park as you will be sporting some species on your way live birds of prey, Long crested eagle, Auger bazards
After morning cup of coffee or tea go for bird in Nyungwe Forest, this is dedicated for the full day drive birding in the forest. Visit Kamiranzovu swamp that provides good chances of sporting, Graves swamp werbres and other trails around that area.
After a relaxed breakfast; spent the day on the higher attitudes of forest. Take a full hike on the Bigugu trail and hiking Bigugu mountain(2950m). Bigugu trail is very product for Albertine endemics including the sought after Red-collared mountain babbler; Albertine owlet and many more.
Wake up early morning and meet the ranger guide and then travel to Cyamudongo forest for the chimpanzee tracking. Cyamudongo is a small forest detached from Nyungwe national park. After the chimpanzee embark on the lodge lunch and later afternoon go for canopy walk with chances of viewing birds. on that would be difficult to see on the ground
Have a relaxed breakfast and set off to Gisenyi. 3 hours and half along Congo-Nile trail will provide you some interesting stopover for bird watching with spectacular view of Lake Kivu.
explore the expense lake Kivu touring the beautiful islands which provides with chances of watching birds along the shoes like black, Winged Red Bishop, Great Cormorant, Reed Cormorant.
After breakfast will drive to the nearby GIahwati-Mukura forest where is Albertine Rift endemic species have been recorded here, including the Regal sun bird, Rwenzori Double-collared sunbird, slender –billed starling, Collared Apali, mountain masked Apalis, Arches Robin-chat, Red-throated alethe and transfer to volcanoes national Park
With optional Gorilla tracking. The primary activity today will be mountain Gorilla tracking. Mountain gorilla are the largest living primates and the world’s most endangered among the great apes less them 1000 are left in wild of the whole world and none in zoos. After tracking do leisurely birding in the afternoon around volcanoes.
Depending on the time you came out from Gorilla tracking you will drive to BUhanga Eco-park evening birding and you can be impressed by many birds species including white-breasted negrofinch, Red-headed Bluebill, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat.
Wake up early morning for a cup of coffee or tea and drive to Rugezi Swamp.
Enjoying the spectacular view of lake Burera and Ruhondo against the chain of volcanoes. The Rugezi marsh wil provide Plenty of birds including the African sedge warbler, Gravers Rush warbler from –tailed widow bird and more weavers.
After long day birding in Rugezi, drive back to twin lakes ( Burera and Ruhondo) for boat ride that will provide you plenty of waders and some palearctic migrants depending on the season, after the boat ride transfer back to the hotel.
After breakfast check out and transfer to Kigali to prepare for your flight.
End of tour.