9 Days Rwanda Birding and Gorilla Trekking Safari
Home | Safaris | rwanda |
birding
Overview
There is a lesson to be learned in the Jungle; a lesson that throws light into the relationship between chimps, birds and man. Amidst various safari choices, enjoy your safari holiday by choosing a 9 day Rwanda birding safari and gorilla trekking adventure.
This is a trip that marks the only beginning of redefining your stories, widening your primate concept, and boosting your photographic memories among others, yet maximizing every passing minute. Right from the first day to the last, the safari gets better at every passing minute and causing a rekindling vibe that translates into an unforgettable memory.
Safari in details
Day 1: Arrival and Kigali City Tour
Upon landing at Kigali international airport, your driver-guide will gladly welcome you to this land of a thousand Hill. In high spirits, he will brief you about what to expect in the trip, before you head to town for Lunch and a rewarding city Tour. Kigali city is Rwanda's capital city, ranked as the cleanest in East Africa.
You will explore the magnificent infrastructures; visit the local markets for safari items and souvenirs, and visit the Genocide memorial site to pay tribute to over 250,000 innocent people who lost their lives during the 1994 Tutsi and Hutu conflict. Thereafter, you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park
Today, you will start your day with a tasty cup of coffee, followed by an exit from the lodge for a 4-5 hours of epic drive to Akagera national park; the largest conservation area in Rwanda. The drive passes through a very scenic route, marked by flourishing tree species, undulating hills, and striking blue skies.
You will arrive at Akagera national park for lunch, followed by a relaxed evening, before calling off the day with a mouthwatering dinner meal and a peaceful nap.
Day 3: Akagera national park; Full day birding
After breakfast, you will exit the lodge for a full day birding experience at the vast Akagera Park, with a picnic lunch. There are over 450 rare bird species offered asylum, about 40 raptor species, and many more.
A large concentration of Palearctic migrants, the lesser kestrel, shoebill stock, black-winged, and papyrus Genolek among others are some of the sought-after residents here. At sunset, you will return to the lodge for dinner and a nap.
Day 4: Game drive and Boat cruise
Start your day with a tasty breakfast meal, and then join the driver guide for a rewarding half-day game drive in the vast plains of Akagera national park. You will look out for both the big and small residents of this place, notably the elephants, lions, several antelope species, warthogs, and zebras among others. Cats, notably the leopards and leopards are hard to encounter though present.
After enjoying a remarkable 4-5 hours’ game drive, you will have a lunch break, followed by a rewarding 2-3 hours’ boat cruise, that presents a remarkable opportunity of watching several birds that reside by the lake shores. Afterward, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and a nap.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes national park - Evening Birding
After enjoying a mouthwatering breakfast meal, you will check out of the lodge for a remarkable drive to Volcanoes national park; a top travel destination in Uganda, and a perfect Gorilla trekking sight. The waving tree species, undulating hills, and cool breeze will be the first surprises to encounter while heading to the park.
On arrival, you will greet your intestines with a delicious meal, and then embark on an evening birding adventure where you will hope to encounter numerous birds as they return to their nest to rest. As they call off the day so will you also return to the lodge for dinner and a nap?
Day 6: Gorilla trekking
As the sun opens its eyes to the Universe so will you greet your intestines with a tasty cup of coffee, followed by an exit to the park headquarters for a pre-trekking exercise and document verification? The briefing is handled by the park rangers who explain the dos and don'ts and allocate members to the different Gorilla families of which they lead in the search.
Gorilla trekking commences at the point where they were last seen, to where they the feeding, resting or playing.
The search can last for approximately 1-6 hours, plus one extra hour for photography, and asking a question. Mountain gorillas are a rare species of gorillas only found in Africa, in the lush jungle of Virunga chain of mountains. After a reunion with your cousins, you return to the lodge for dinner and a nap.
Day 7: Depart for Nyungwe national park; lunch and birding at the shores of Lake Kivu
On this day, breakfast will be the first thing, followed by a drive to one of Africa's primate hub; Nyungwe national park. You will enjoy the captivating views of the rolling hills, green vegetation, and trees.
Lunch will be at Lake Kivu; Rwanda's largest freshwater lake, and then dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Upon finishing a delicious breakfast meal, you will head to the park headquarters for briefing, followed by a thrilling chimpanzee trekking experience in the lush Nyungwe forest. Over 13 primate species reside here, with the sought-after chimpanzees dominating chimpanzees are human's closest relatives, sharing over 98% human genes, and traits, and spending their lives in the forest.
Depending on your hiking speed, 1-5 hours can be for hiking time, plus a maximum of one hour for watching your cousins replicate your behaviors. Thereafter, you will have a lunch break, followed by a rewarding 1-2 hours’ canopy walk, that offers a chance of relaxing and spotting several birds on the treetops among others.
Day 9: Departure
Right from the bed, you will be served a mouthwatering breakfast meal, after which you will check out of the lodge for a remarkable drive to Kigali for your flight to the next destination. You lunch will be enroute at Huye town and a short museum tour in Butare city.
End of safari
