10 days Albertine rift birding and primates tour in Rwanda

On arrival at Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport, you will be received by the tour driver and be transferred to your hotel in Kigali City to relax and shake off the jetlag.

If you arrive in the morning you can spend the afternoon birding around Kigali. You would visit Lake Nyarutarama; taking a walk around it to observe water birds and also scan through the bushes and woodland near the lake for more birds.

Overnight at: Heaven Boutique Hotel

Meal plan: Dinner

Early rise for breakfast and by 7am set off to Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest National Park is the prime destination for Albertine Rift endemic birds, harboring 27 out of the 44 Albertine rift bird species. Nyungwe is also home to one of the highest species of primates in Africa with 13 species registered in the park. Expect to encounter several monkey species along most birding trails in Nyungwe.

After you settle in at the lodge you will head out for the Tea tour experience in the nearby Gisakura tea estate.

Overnight at: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early cup of coffee and tea head off for whole day birding in Nyungwe Forest, covering birding trails from the area around Gisakura, Karamba, and Karmiranzovu. The visit to Karmiranzovu provides a good chance at the Grauer’s Swamp Warbler. This area has many of Angolan Colobus Monkeys and monkey species which you may see along the birding trails. These trails will lead you to the suspended bridged of the canopy walk tour in Nyungwe Forest. The walkway hangs through the forest canopy 50 meters above the ground and 200 meters long. The walkway provides breathtaking views over Nyungwe, and also eye-level sightings of canopy wildlife such birds and monkeys. The canopy walk has become iconic for Nyungwe and thus one not to miss out on your trip to Nyungwe Forest Park.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today will be spent on the higher altitudes further into the Nyungwe Forest National Park. You will take on a full day birding on the Bigugu trail, hiking Mt. Bigugu (the highest point in the park) at (2950m). Bigugu trail is very productive for Albertine endemics including the much sought-after, Red-collared Mountain-babbler. This Mt. Bigugu hike will also expose you to exhilarating views of Nyungwe Forest.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You will be up by 4.30am and report to the park office at Gisakura to meet the park guides for briefing and then head off for the chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. Nyungwe National Park has a chimpanzee population of about 500 individuals making it one of the best places for the adventure of seeing the chimps in their natural habitat. You will return from the chimpanzee trekking at about noon, have lunch and later can continue with birding.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you shall leave for Volcanoes National Park in the north of Rwanda. You will travel along the beautiful Lake Kivu and can make occasional stops along the way for some birding along the lake.

Overnight at: Ingagi Park View Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast you shall travel to Rugezi Rwanda which is one of Rwanda’s Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and taking a local canoe you set out to bird on this wetland that has many water/swamp birds. The swamp has one Albertine Rift Endemic, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will ascend onto the lush Virunga Mountains for a hiking and birding adventure. Volcanoes National Park has about 200 bird species that have been identified in the park and among these are 15 Albertine Rift endemic birds. You will hike along the Lake Ngezi trail on Mount Bisoke going through bamboo and hagenia forests. The trail is normally very productive for Albertine rift endemics.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you shall set out for the famous gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park for a face-to-face encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas which are endemic to the Albertine rift valley.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you shall transfer back to Kigali for your afternoon flight.

Optional activity

You can go for the golden tracking tour in Volcanoes National Park before departing for Kigali. The golden monkeys are endemic to the Virungas and the Albertine rift valley. The monkeys live in the bamboo forest in the lower zones of the mountains which makes the trek easy and finding the monkeys may take as little as 30 minutes. The monkeys are very striking and great for photography.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch