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Rwanda’s location in the Albertine Rift and its dense forests and mountains create a unique and remarkable environment for the birding ecotourist to explore. Though small Rwanda has a bird list of over 700 species and supports the second highest number of Albertine Rift endemics than any other country. Rwanda has seven Important Birding Areas including the three National Parks—Volcanoes Virunga National Park, Akagera National Park and Nyungwe, Rugezi Swamp, Akanyaru, Nyabarongo and Cyamudongo.
Day 1:Rwanda Birding meet and greet
Arrival and meet and greet by a Habari Africa representative.
check into your Kigali hotel, and depending on time of arrival go for a Kigali city tour to explore what makes Kigali tick both historically and NOW.
Day 2: Rwanda birding to Rusumo falls and Lake Bulera.
Bird watching with a boat cruise to Lake Bulera and a trek to Rusumo falls.
SCENIC CRUISE ON LAKE BULERA & RUSSUMO FALLS TREKKING
Lake Bulera is an area of outstanding beauty and scenery, where fisherman still go out in their dugout canoes to look for the small fish that abound in the lake. Seen from the lake the Virunga Volcanoes take on a different dimension. Guests can now enjoy a cruise on the calm waters of the lake. The cruise normally takes around an hour and a half and is preferably done in the afternoon when the light is beautiful and guests can enjoy the sunset behind the Western Volcanoes (weather permitting).
And for those looking for a bit more action, there is the option to combine the cruise on the lake with a hike up to Russumo falls. The trail to get to Russumo falls follows the contours of a deep, peaceful, scenic valley to reach two impressive waterfalls. The hike will nomally take between 3 and 4 hours depending on the strength of the participants and the number of stops en route.
The cost of these activities depends on the number of participants. The boat is hired for the cruise and can comfortably take up to eight passengers.
At Rusumo Falls, birds you have chances to view include Long-crested Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Plain Martin, Cinnamon-breasted Bee-eater, White-tailed, Grey-throated tit, Paradise Flycatchers, Pink-backed Pelican, Common Moorhen. o/n Lodge
Day 3-4: Birding to Nyungwe>Nyungwe birding tour Rwanda
In the southwest Nyungwe National Park is a vast tract of virgin forest, one of the largest uncut natural forest reserves remaining in Africa and home to more than 300 species of birds, 27 of which are regional endemics. Much of the forest is unexplored, with access being extremely difficult, because of the steep high hills and deep valleys. However, an excellent winding tarmac road bisects the forest, following the crest of the mountains.
This road is one of the few places in the world that allows the visitor to look directly into and even down on the rainforest canopy. Along this road you can find most of the Albertine Rift endemics, including Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Rwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Archer’s Robin-chat, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Grauer's Rush, Neumann’s and Grauer's Warbles, Masked Mountain Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit and Strange Weaver, and a full range of Rwenzori double-collared, purple-throated, blue-headed and regal Sunbirds. A speciality is the Red-collared Mountain Babbler, which has its only easily accessible site here, as does Kungwe Apalis. Recent possible sightings of Rockefeller’s Sunbird show that much is left to be discovered, and perhaps even such gems as the Congo Peacock (found only 70km distant in the DR Congo) could exist in the remote dense forest!
There are also good forest tracks for birding based around the Gisakura Guesthouse and the RDB Tourism & Conservation Campsite at Uwinka, where some of the more skulking species can be seen such as the Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Collared Apalis, and Shelley’s and Dusky Crimsonwing. Other special
birds here include White-bellied robin-chat, Doherty’s and Lagden's bush-shrikes, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Great Blue Turaco, Barred long-tailed cuckoo and White-bellied crested flycatcher. At night, Rwenzori Nightjar is not uncommon, Albertine Owlet may be found, and there might be a possibility to see the Congo Bay-owl.O/n Gisakura Guest House/Nyungwe Lodge
Day 4-5-6 Birding at Akagera National Park>Birding at Lake Ihema and Lake Bihengero.
After breakfast transfer to Akagera National Park for a birding experience like no other. Here we experience awesome birding only Rwanda can offer.
The wetlands and lakes of Akagera National Park are home to the elusive Shoebill stork, and is one of the easiest sites in the region where it can be seen. In addition, Akagera
supports a mixture of acacia and papyrus species, including Red-faced Barbet, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Papyrus Gonolek, White-headed, Black and familiar Chats, Carruther's and Tabora Cisticolas, White-winged and Broad-tailed Warblers and Miombo Wren-Warblers. The existing lodge at Akagera is being renovated, but there are plenty of camp sites to stay at while exploring the park. It is a rewarding trip for visiting birders, who will find a supporting cast of large mammals, including hippo, elephant and giraffe.
Day 7. Back to Kigali for more city birding.
At the Nyarutarama Lake near the Golf Course in Kigali one can spot the African Reed Warbler and Great Sedge Warbler, the Winding Cisticola as well as the Common Waxbill, Grey-backed Fiscal, Tropical Boubou, Red-rumped and Mosque
Swallows, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Great White Pelican, Common Moorhens, Grosbeak Weaver, Grey Heron, Yellow-backed (Black-headed) Weavers, and the Pied Kingfisher.
When it comes to birding in Rwanda there are so many more birds to discover over the country’s one thousand hills. Ranging from the common to the rare they are a delight to the eye.o/n Kigali Hotel.
Day 8:Birding back home with fond bird memories
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your own bird flight back home or onward birding safari.
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