8-Day Birding Safari in Rwanda

Spend the day at Nyabarongo Wetland, a key birding area for wetland and marshland birds. Search for species such as Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Malachite Kingfisher, African Openbill, and Fan-tailed Widowbird. Return to Kigali for overnight.

• Accommodation: Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
• Midrange: Heaven Boutique Hotel
• Budget: Step Town Motel

Drive to Akagera National Park, birding en route through bushland and farmland zones. Begin game and bird drives upon arrival. Search for Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous-naped Lark, and African Fish Eagle.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Magashi Camp
• Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
• Budget: Dereva Hotel (outside park)

Enjoy a full day of birding and game viewing across savannah and lake habitats. Visit Lake Mihindi and Lake Ihema by boat for waterbirds such as Saddle-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, African Jacana, and Pied Kingfisher. Look for raptors like Bateleur, Brown Snake Eagle, and African Harrier-Hawk.

• Accommodation: Luxury: Magashi Camp
• Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
• Budget: Dereva Hotel (outside park

Morning birding in Akagera's southern sector before returning to Kigali. After lunch, transfer northwest to Volcanoes National Park, birding en route in highland grasslands and forest edge habitats. Evening at leisure in Musanze.

Accommodation:

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

Take a full-day birding trip to Rugezi Marsh, a montane wetland IBA. Search for Albertine Rift specialties and marsh birds like Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, and Yellow-crowned Canary. Return to Musanze for overnight.

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

Day 7: Volcanoes – Gishwati-Mukura National Park – Lake Kivu
Depart Musanze early and drive to Gishwati-Mukura National Park, one of Rwanda’s newest national parks and home to many forest species and Albertine endemics. Look for Ruwenzori Batis, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Mountain Masked Apalis, and Strange Weaver. Continue to Lake Kivu for an evening of lakeside relaxation and light birding.

Accommodation:

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

Enjoy relaxed morning birding along Lake Kivu’s shoreline, searching for Pied Kingfisher, White-breasted Cormorant, African Pied Wagtail, and weaver flocks. Return to Kigali in the afternoon for drop-off or onward flight. Optional stop for crafts or city photography if time allows.