Bird watching, Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the Hotel in Kigali
On arrival at Kigali International Airpirt, Kanombe, we meet you for greeting and briefing on the nine days tour before we take you to the Chez Lando Hotel for dinner and accommodation. All meals are served after checking in at the restaurant of the Hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera NP, morning birding and Night game driving
We leave Kigali at 5.30am to be at Akagera NP at 8am. We have a morning birding and game drive to see different species of Cisticolas (Croaking, Tabora, Trilling, etc.) we can also see animals like Buffaloes, Zebra, Impala, etc. After lunch, we have a brief birding to see Ruhuaha and Sooty Chats and at 5.30 to 8.30pm, we have a night game drive to see Leopard, Hyena and species of birds’ i.e Square-tailed Nightjars. Accommodation is at Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 3
After breakfast, we start our birding around Akagera Game Lodge to try Red-faced Barbet then we continue game drive until lunch time. At 4.30pm we have sunset boat to see roosts of Cormorants, Darters, Egrets and we can also see Hippopotamus and Crocodiles. Accommodation is at Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 4: Birding, game driving, and transfer to Kigali
With our packed lunch, we have our birding and game drive along lake circuit where we can see different animals i.e Topi, Elephants, Zebra, Roan Antelope, Lion and many bird species i.e Crested Barbet and afternoon we drive back to Kigali. Accommodation and dinner are booked at Chez Lando Hotel.
Day 5: Birding in Papyrus and transfer to Nyungwe NP
At 6am, we start birding in Bugesera to try Papyrus Gonolek, after lunch we drive to Nyungwe NP (6 hours drive) overnight is at Emeraude Kivu Resort. Nyungwe NP is a home to about 300 bird species among which 27 are endemic to the Albertine Rift region including the quasi endemic to Nyungwe NP, the Red-collared Mountain Babbler.
Day 6: Full day birding in Nyungwe
After an earlier breakfast (at 6.30), we start morning birding around Uwinka reception and we can see many endemic to the Albertine Rift including Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Regal Sunbird, etc. At midday, we stop for refreshment/lunch and resume birding at 2pm until 5:30. Overnight is at Emeraude Kivu Resort.
Day 7: 2nd Full day birding in Nyungwe
After an earlier breakfast, latest at 6am, we drive to Nyungwe National Park and this day we try Red-collared Mountain Babbler. At midday, we stop for refreshment/lunch and resume birding at 3pm at Karamba trail and you stop at 6pm and drive to Emeraude Kivu Resort.
Day 8: Half day birding and transfer to Kibuye along Lake Kivu
After breakfast, we have the morning birding at Irebero trail to try more endemic bird species and we stop birding at lunch time. After lunch we drive to Karongi, the former Kibuye Town, along Kivu Belt road and we can see good scenery along the lake. Accommodation and dinner are at Cormorant Lodge.
Day 9: Half day birding and transfer to Kibuye along Lake Kivu
After breakfast, we use the local boat to visit islands in Lake Kivu. after the Islands, we visit coffee plantation to experience the process from farm to cup. After lunch we proceed to Musanze, a Town of Mountain Gorillas. Accommodation is at Gorillas Hotel-Musanze.
Day 10: Tracking Mountain gorillas and transfer to Kigali
After an early breakfast, we track Mountain Gorillas. Gorilla tracking can take between 3 and 6 hours. After the tracking, we will have lunch and later afternoon we drive to Kigali to capture with the evening flight. End.
