15-Day Birding Safari in Rwanda

Visit Nyabarongo Wetland, an important bird area (IBA) rich in papyrus species. Key sightings may include Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbler, African Swamphen, and Blue-headed Coucal. Return to Kigali for overnight.
Accommodation: Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel

• Midrange: Hotel des Mille Collines
• Budget: Step Town Motel

Depart for Akagera National Park, birding along the way. After check-in, enjoy a sunset bird walk or lakeside birding near the southern gate. Watch for Black-headed Gonolek, White-browed Coucal, and Little Bee-eater.
Accommodation:

• Luxury: Magashi Camp
• Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
• Budget: Karenge Bush Camp

Explore diverse habitats including open plains, woodlands, and lakes. Spot Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red-faced Barbet, Meyer's Parrot, African Fish Eagle, Rufous-naped Lark, and Bateleur. Wildlife sightings include elephant, zebra, and giraffe.
Accommodation: Luxury: Magashi Camp

• Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
• Budget: Karenge Bush Camp

Start with a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, targeting water birds like African Jacana, Goliath Heron, Pied Kingfisher, African Darter, and Black Crake. Afternoon birding along swampy trails and open savannahs.
Accommodation: Luxury: Magashi Camp

• Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
• Budget: Karenge Bush Camp

Leave Akagera early and travel north to Rugezi Marsh, stopping for birding en route. Rugezi is a high-altitude wetland and IBA with specialties such as Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’s Cisticola, and Papyrus Yellow Warbler. Overnight in nearby Musanze.
Accommodation:

• Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
• Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: La Locanda

Spend the full day exploring Rugezi Wetlands, with additional species like Yellow-crowned Canary, African Stonechat, and Common Waxbill. Optional cultural village visit in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

• Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: La Locanda

Short drive to Volcanoes NP. Begin birding in the forest edge and bamboo zones. Target Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Archer’s Robin-Chat, and Mountain Yellow Warbler.
Accommodation: Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

• Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: La Locanda

Spend a full day birding forest trails around Volcanoes NP. Look for Rwenzori Batis, Collared Apalis, Lagden’s Bushshrike, and Blue-headed Sunbird. Optional gorilla or golden monkey tracking (advance permits needed).
Accommodation: Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

• Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: La Locanda

Head to Gishwati Forest, one of Rwanda’s newest national parks. The forest hosts Albertine endemics and forest specialists like Grey-throated Barbet, Mountain Masked Apalis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, and Chinspot Batis.
Accommodation:

• Luxury: Forest of Hope Guesthouse
• Midrange: The Peak Spot
• Budget: Community Homestay

Explore Gishwati's forest trails, targeting hard-to-see species such as Kivu Ground Thrush, Purple-breasted Sunbird, and White-tailed Blue Flycatcher. The forest is also home to primates and butterflies.
Accommodation: Luxury: Forest of Hope Guesthouse

• Midrange: The Peak Spot
• Budget: Community Homestay

Depart Gishwati for the lakeside town of Rubavu on Lake Kivu. Afternoon birding along the lakefront, spotting Yellow-backed Weaver, Tropical Boubou, Malachite Kingfisher, and African Pied Wagtail.
Accommodation:

• Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
• Midrange: Paradise Malahide
• Budget: Inzu Lodge

Travel south along the lake to Nyungwe National Park, stopping for scenic and roadside birding. Arrive in Gisakura in time for a forest-edge bird walk.
Accommodation:

• Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
• Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
• Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse

• Explore Nyungwe’s montane forest, a hotspot for endemics such as Red-collared Babbler, Ruwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, and Stripe-breasted Tit. Optional canopy walk or chimpanzee tracking.
  Accommodation: Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
• Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel

Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse

Depart Nyungwe and drive back to Kigali with birding stops along the way. Arrive in the evening and transfer to the airport for your flight or overnight stay.