3 Days Rwanda Birding Safari to Nyungwe – Overview

The 3 Days Rwanda Birding Safari to Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the remarkable short birding trips in Rwanda with great rewards.

Nyungwe Forest National Park to the south west of Rwanda is the leading birding destination in Rwanda. It has 275 species of birds including 25 Albertine endemics.

The safari starts and ends in Kigali City – Rwanda’s capital. Being a montane forest, Nyungwe features a range of montane bird species that combine to make it unique and rewarding to explore.

Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park & Do Birding in The Afternoon

Breakfast at own arrangement, depart at 6:30am for 268km about 6 hours’ drive from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park to the south west of Rwanda.

You enjoy the beautiful Rwandan hillsides and an optional cultural visit to Nyanza Palace – the home of the last two Kings of Rwanda namely; Musinga and Rudahigwa or at the Ethnographic Museum in Butare depicting the Rwanda’s history and traditions can be arranged.

Upon arrival in Nyungwe, you check in at the lodge, freshen up and then set off for afternoon birding encounter in this ancient forest in the company of the park ranger guide.  Retire for dinner and overnight

Accommodation

Budget/ Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse

Midrange / Standard: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Luxury / Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Day 2 :  Whole Day Birding in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Settle for an early breakfast before connecting to the Nyungwe forest for a lasting extensive Rwanda birding safari experience.

The walk through the forest offers possibilities of exploring various bird species including; Kivu Ground-Thrush, Red-chested, Sunbird, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Regal Sunbird, Miombo Rock-Thrush, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Mountain Masked Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Black-faced Apalis, Collared Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grauer’s Warbler, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red- throated Alethe, Ruwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Great Blue Turaco, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Mountain Greenbul, Olive Woodpecker, Rwenzori Hill-babbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Northern Puffback, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, White-starred Robin,  Dusky Crimsonwing, Streaky Seedeater, Thick-billed Seedeater, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Variable Sunbird, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Waller’s Starling, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird among others.

Accommodation

Budget/ Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse

Midrange / Standard: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Luxury / Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Day 3: Morning Birding or Optional Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer Back to Kigali

This morning you can choose to engage in more birding encounter to gain chances of exploring more bird species including those that you might have missed on the previous day.

Alternatively, engage in Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park to explore the great Ape closest to mankind in terms of DNA.

The Chimp trek lasts 2 – 5 hours. From either of these encounters, you embark on the transfer back to Kigali to mark the end of the safari.

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