Rwanda and mammals of ’s National Parks Rwanda is quite small, covering an area of around one fifth the size of England. Despite its small size the country is blessed with extensive areas of forest, lakes and swamps which in turn attract a wide of birds and mammals. Rwanda is a wonderful destination for wildlife tourism and an excellent location to watch Mountain Gorillas. Our tour visits Akagera National Park, which has a mix of and forest, and the -rich Nyungwe Forest National Park. We expect to see almost 25 of the range-restricted Albertine Rift endemics. Birding within Rwanda is still in its infancy and this tour could well bring a few surprise species within the extensive forest systems.

Days 1-2: We have a flight to Kigali the capital of Rwanda with arrival on Day 2. Dates Transfer to Akagera National Park in east- Saturday January 15th – Thursday ern Rwanda which is close to the border January 27th 2022 with . En route we should Leader: Harriet Kemishiga and local encounter the commoner birds of the coun- guides tryside, including Hamerkop, African Group Size: 8 Sacred and Hadada , Augur Buzzard, Birds: 300-350 Long-crested Eagle, and Village, Black- headed and Vieillot’s Black Weavers. The journey passes through large tracts of agri- chance of locating Black-chested, Brown cultural areas where Grey-backed Fiscal and Western Banded Snake Eagles, White- resides, whilst patches of marsh and reeds headed Vulture, Ross’s Turaco, Black-col- attract Fan-tailed Widowbird and lared and Red-faced Barbets, Bennett’s Carruther’s Cisticola. We spend four nights Woodpecker, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, at Akagera Lodge. and Klaas’s, Red-chested, and Black Cuckoos. In the a search for Days 3-5: Akagera National Park was Black-bellied Bustard, Red-necked founded in 1934 to protect and Francolin, and Red-billed and occasionally other wildlife using a mixed combination of Cardinal Queleas. gallery forest, swamps and lakes. Almost 500 bird species can be found in the park. Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest A boat trip on Lake Ihema should reward us National Park. En route stops at papyrus with views of Rufous-bellied Heron, and swamps may produce Papyrus Gonolek, papyrus-loving Lesser and Greater Swamp White-winged Warbler and the uncommon Warblers, Slender-billed Weaver and Papyrus Canary. In roadside marshes we Swamp Flycatcher. The lakes also offer us search for another rare regional endemic - the chance of Shoebill although this Grauer’s Swamp Warbler. Arrive at species has become scarce in recent Nyungwe Top View Hotel, which is our base years. Other species we may see include for five nights. Goliath, Black-headed, Striated, and Squacco Herons, Little Bittern, Grey Days 7-10: The next few days are spent Crowned Crane, African Openbill, African exploring the forests of Nyungwe. Within Darter, Black Crake, Wattled, Long-toed the reserve several well-maintained trails and Lapwings, Water Thick-knee, allow access to this extensive forest, which Blue-headed Coucal and Giant Kingfisher. is one of the largest remaining in Africa. In the forests and savannah we have a Albertine Rift endemics occurring in

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Grey-crowned Cranes Photo: Jo Finn Nyungwe include Handsome Francolin, final visit into the forest. Great Blue and Ruwenzori Turacos, White- headed Wood-hoopoe, Barred Long-tailed Day 12: Travel to the swamps of Gahanga Cuckoo, Chestnut Owlet, Olive and Elliot’s and Gashora for our final full day in Woodpeckers, Stripe-breasted Tit, Red- Rwanda. Areas near sugar cane factories collared Babbler, Archer’s and White-bel- can be productive for Blue-headed Coucal, lied Robin-Chats, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Red-faced Cisticola, Papyrus Canary and Mountain Masked, Black-faced, Chestnut- White-winged Warbler. Gashora is an throated, and Collared Apalises, Rwenzori important bird area in Rwanda, holding Batis, Grauer’s and Short-tailed Warblers, several species of migrants from Europe White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Chapin’s plus Cape Wagtail, African Snipe, Red- Flycatcher, Rwenzori Apalis, Purple- chested Cuckoo and Carruther’s Cisticola. breasted and Regal Sunbirds and Strange Weaver. Birding in dense forest can be Day 13: Morning flight back to the UK with challenging but a wide range of birds is arrival on the same day. possible. We should encounter Black-and- white-casqued Hornbill, Cinnamon-chest- Prices ed Bee-eater, Pink-footed Puffback and more skulking species in the form of Ground Price: £4,695 African Hill Babbler, Dusky Crimsonwing Single room: £450 and Grauer’s Warbler. Walking along roads Deposit: £450 and trails can be productive for African *Air Fare: £650 Broadbill, Willard’s Sooty Boubou, Mountain Oriole, Mountain Illadopsis, This holiday is fully inclusive of Archer’s Robin and Red-faced Woodland accommodation, meals, transport, Warbler. On the canopy walk we search for guidance and taxes. Black-billed Turaco, Kivu Ground Thrush and Purple-headed Sunbird. Along the Not included: drinks, insurance, waterfall trail we have chances of Grey airport departure taxes and items of Apalis, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Yellow-bellied a personal nature. Visa to enter Wattle-eye and Yellow-eyed Black Rwanda. Flycatcher. Almost anything may turn up at this undiscovered forest. *Please refer to our terms and conditions relating to flights Day 11: Today we return to Kigali after a

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