3 Days Rwanda Birding Safari to Akagera – Overview

The 3 Days Rwanda Birding Safari to Akagera National Park is a short but exciting birding experience providing an opportunity to look out for 525 bird species that thrive in this park.

Out of these, 44 are raptor species such as Balaeniceps rex and a range of several Palearctic migrants such as the Glareola nordmanni, the Gallinago media and the Falco naumanni.

The Shoebill stork, Papyrus gonolek, the Red-faced Barbet among others combine to make the birding encounter in Akagera National Park beyond the ordinary.

Breakfast at own arrangement, connect with the guide and transfer to Akagera National Park 135km about 2 hours’ drive from Kigali.

The en route sights of Rwandan hillsides dotted with cattle farms, gardens and local settlement make the drive interesting.

Check in at the lodge and in the afternoon 2pm, you embark on the boat cruise on Lake Ihema – Rwanda’s second largest Lake.

Lake Ihema is part of an extensive wetland system known to be the largest in Central Africa comprising of also other lakes like Gishanju, Shakani, Rwanyakizinga and Mihindi.

The boat offers chances of exploring the bird species including; Papyrus gonolek, shoebill, African fish eagle, grey crowned crane among others. The sights of Hippos and Nile crocodiles may not be missed.

Accommodation

Budget: Dereva Hotel

Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge

Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp

Day 2:  Whole Day Birding in The Diverse Landscapes of Akagera National Park

The extensive diverse landscapes of Akagera National Park offer rewarding birding experience. The Park boasts of 525 bird species of which 44 are raptor species such as Balaeniceps rex and a range of several Palearctic migrants such as the Glareola nordmanni, the Gallinago media and the Falco naumanni.

The day birding experience in Akagera National Park offers possibilities of exploring a range of bird species including; Ring-necked Francolin, Pallid Harrier, Madagascar Pond-heron, White-spotted Flufftail, Red-faced Barbet, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Buff-spotted woodpecker, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Sharpe’s pied-babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Green-throated Sunbird, Black-billed weaver, Western Citril among others.

While on the birding encounter, there are chances of viewing other wild game in Akagera National Park including; Maasai Giraffe, Lions, Black Rhinos, Elephants, Cape Buffaloes, Topis, Impala, Elands among others.

Accommodation

Budget: Dereva Hotel

Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge

Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp

Day 3:   Morning Birding & Transfer to Kigali

After an early breakfast, engage in another birding experience to explore more birds and those that you might have missed on the previous day after which you transfer back to Kigali to mark the end of the safari.

End of The 3 Days Rwanda Birding Safari to Akagera National Park.