Bird watching in Rwanda, Tours and the 5 Best Birding Spots:
Ready to spread your wings and curious to discover more about Bird watching in Rwanda? Rwanda is among the best bird watching destination you can consider to your African visit for a memorable and best experience.
With over 700 bird species that are scattered within protected areas, agricultural fields, swamps and other habitats, this makes bird watching in Rwanda the easiest and less tenous activity you can do throughout the year.
From the moment you arrive at the airport, outside your lodge or even on a Kigali city tour, you will be able to spot some of the bird species as they roam freely in these areas.
Bird Watching in Rwanda might have been over shadowed by mountain gorilla trekking but it is among the best activities you can do while on your trip in this country also referred to as The land of a thousand Hills.
Among the resident species you will spot on your Rwanda safaris include 29 Albertine rift endemics and several Lake Victoria basin endemics.
Where to Go for Bird Watching in Rwanda?
For the best experience bird watching in Rwanda, you will need to visit some of the protected areas that include Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park and the newly established Gishwati – Mukura National Park.
These have a diversity of habitats where these birds reside;
Volcanoes National Park.
Many travelers know Volcanoes National Park as the best place to see gorillas but did you know it is also among the best places to see various bird species right in their natural habitat?
Volcanoes is home to over 200 bird species and 17 of these are Albertine rift endemics. The Scarlet-Tufted Sunbird that is only found in this park is among the bird species you will spot. To see this you will have to hike to the summit Mount Bisoke.
Other bird species found here include; dusky turtle dove, Rwenzori turaco, red-faced woodland warbler, Rwenzori batis, lagden’s bush strike, African long-eared owl, Rwenzori apalis, Archer’s ground robin, black and white manikin and more others.
Nyungwe Forest National Park.
This montane rainforest situated in the northwest part of Rwanda is home to over 300 bird species. This is attributed to the various habitats for these birds that is found within the park’s boundaries.
Some of the bird species you can look forward to spotting include; Red-collared Barbbler which is only found in Rwanda, handsome Francolin, regal, purple breasted sunbirds, Rwenzori nightjar, blue headed sunbirds, Neumann’s warbler, grauer’s wabler, Kivu ground thrush, Kungwe apalis, crimson wing among others.
To see these and more other species of birds, you will need to follow the various set trails within the park and make sure you have a guide with you. These are well versed with the park’s routes and where you can find the specific bird you are looking for.
Some of the trails you can visit during this your birding safaris to Nyungwe include the Congo Nile Trail which goes through the park and the canopy walk in the park.
Akagera National Park.
Known to be the only Savannah National Park in Rwanda, Akagera stands out among the best places you can visit to have a memorable birding experience.
This park that is situated in the north eastern part of the country is home to over 490 bird species and this is attributed to the a number of habitats found here that include rivers, lakes, wetlands, swamps, mountains, grassland and so much.
The easiest bird you will likely see on your Rwanda birding safaris to this park is the popular red-faced barbet that is commonly seen around Akagera game lodge and Muyumbu campsite.
Other bird species found around the park include; papyrus gonolek, grey-crowned cranes, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, white-winged swamp warbler, sooty chat, Shelleys Francolin and much more.
Around Lake Ihema you are likely to spot Malachite kingfisher, African fish eagle, common moorhen, African fin foot, African darter, little egret among others.
During your night game drive, you will have the opportunity to spot several nocturnal bird species like the Verreaux’s Eagle Owl and several Nightjar species.
While in Akagera National Park, also look out for the elusive shoebill stock. However to see this, you will need more time and patience.
Kigali City Area.
From the point of entry into the country through Kigali International Airport to your lodge in the city, you will be able to spot some of the bird species making it the easiest activity you can do while in the country.
Some of the best spots in the city for birders include the Nyarutarama Lake that is situated at the edge of Kigali golf course and some of the bird species you will be able to view are the African swamphen, nirana trogon, crested barbet, palm nut vulture, bat hawk, brown-backed honeybird, black-headed weaver, bronzy sunbirds, white-collared oliveback and much more.
Umusambi village also found within this great city is among the best places you can spot birds. One of the major species you will find here include the grey-crowned cranes.
You can as well visit mount Kigali and the Nyabarongo wetland which have will introduce you to some of the bird species that reside here making your urban birding experience rewarding.
Gishwati – Mukura National Park.
Situated in West Rwanda, Gishwati Mukura National Park is home to over 390 bird species and among these are Albertine rift endemics.
Some of the birds you can find here include; the martial eagle, Rwenzori turaco, strange weaver, grey crowned crane, Handsome francolin among other species.
Best Time to Go Bird Watching in Rwanda;
Bird watching in Rwanda can be done throughout the year but for the best rewarding experience, you will need to visit the park during the dry season of the year. This takes place during the months of June to September and December to February.
During this time, the country is receiving less or no rainfall at all which makes trails within the different destinations you will be visiting less slippery and passable.
Also during the dry season especially between December to January, several migratory birds from Europe and the Artics visit the country thus rendering it the best time you can see these species.
You can as well visit Rwanda for birding during the wet season of the year. During this time the country is receiving a lot of rain which makes the trails within national parks slippery.
However, it’s during this time that majority of accommodation options have discounts that you can benefit from.
What to Pack for your Bird Watching Safari in Rwanda?
To have the best birdwatching experience, we recommend that you carry a few things with you to have a seamless experience.
These include; Binoculars to give you a closer view of these birds as they are flying, on tree branches, and in their habitat. You will need to as well carry an insect repellant, a birders book to help you identify the various species, a camera to help you capture these great species.
To have the best of Rwanda safaris, you can include other activities like chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking, game drive among others onto your trip plan.
Tour Packagees for Bird watching in Rwanda:
7 Days Rwanda Birding Safari is a trip through a range of birds habitats teeming with exotic bird species, offering an unparalleled birdwatching…
Encounter the big five and other wildlife with our 3 days Rwanda Safari to Akagera National Park. Involves game drives, boat cruise
It is one of our combo safaris with the most entertaining activities in the “Pearl of Africa”. Uganda and the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, Rwanda