Bird watching in Rwanda
Bird watching in Rwanda is done in many national park with different species from different countries. Most of these birds are immigrate birds. Rwanda is a great place for bird watching, with over 750 bird species and many habitats to explore.
The wetlands and lakes of bugesera district to the southeast of Kigali offer excellent birding and are probably some of the most easily accessible birding areas in Rwanda. There is a diversity of habitats and some 415 bird species have been recorded in this region. Most of birding happens in the 3 protected areas of Akagera national park, Ngungwe forest national park, and volcanoes national park. To enjoy birdwatching in Rwanda, you need to be prepared to stay out for long hours and move some considerable hiking is certain areas. For example, while birding Nyungwe national park, and volcanoes national park, there is considerable amount of hiking up and down the mountainous areas.
Bird watching in Rwanda is an enjoyable activity because of the ease to see the birds and the short protected areas. More birding is along swamps but the highways and agricultural lands in the villages. A visit to volcanoes national park will grant the best opportunities to view some of the 27 Albertine rift endemics. There are also numerous areas for birding in Kigali area which you can add on your list when visiting for a conference in Rwanda with limited time.
Some bird lovers can be able to spot the birds with in the Kigali city, the countries in east Africa are blessed with incredible opportunities for birding. In the case of Rwanda or even Uganda, bird watching can start as soon as you come out of the airport or even in the large cities. Urban birding in Kigali is suitable for those who have limited time to venture into the countryside or visit the major national park. You will be surprised but the birding opportunities while visiting Kigali. Birding in Kigali can start from the hotel gardens but perhaps visiting Lake Nyarutarama that borders the main golf course in Kigali would be a smarter choice.
This lake has beautiful tracks and walkways that are excellent for spotting black headed herons, the grey capped warbler, white faced whistling duck and winged geese. Some visitors can also visit the Nyabarongo wetland to spot little egrets, spur winged gees, squacco turaco and yellow billed stork. Mount Kigali is also an excellent spot for birding in Rwanda.
Birding in nyungwe national park, a montane forest home is over 300 bird species will give some fantastic views of the Albertine rift endemics. The birds to look out for include; handsome francolins, Rwenzori turaco, Grauer’s swamp blue-headed sunbirds. All of these and more can be seen easily from a well-maintained network of trails with the help of the park’s expert bird guide.
Akagera national park is a savannah park which is ahome to about 500 birds’ species with a rolling hills, lakes, wetlands and woodlands. You have an opportunities of sighting the some of the African big 5 while on a Rwandan safari here. The park is an excellent birding site with a diversity of habitats. looks out for white- winged swamps warbler’s, Bare faced go-way bird, Caruthers cisticola, papyrus gonolek, black-headed gonolek, fork-tailed Drongo, sooty chat, African fish eagle, Shelley’s francolin etc. Sometimes on game drive, you might sight some nocturnal bird species such as Verreaux’s Eagle owl and nightjar species.
Lake ihema is ahome to many water birds which you can see while on a boat trip, look out for the African fin foot, black crake, African jacana malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher, African darter, little egret, spur winged lapwing, common moorhen etc.
Birding in volcanoes national park gives you opportunities of watching some of the 17 Albertine rift endemics which cannot be seen in savannah parks across the region. The park is ahome to about 200 bird species making it a worthy additions on your Rwanda birding safari. The birds to look out for include; Dusky turtle dove, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, lagden’s bush-shrike, African long-eared owl, strange weaver, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turaco, Dusky crimson-wing, Rwenzori apalis.
Birding in volcanoes national park nestled among dormant and lushly covered volcanoes, is home to Rwanda’s highest summit, mount karisimbi. While its famous for mountain gorillas, the park is also an exciting destination for bird lovers, hosting diverse collection of 200 birds species. Among these, 17 can only be found in the Albertine rift endemic group.
The birds a visitors encounters here are similar to those in nyungwe forest national park. if your eager to catch a glimpse of this striking bird, your best opportunity is on a trek to the peak of mt. Bisoke. Adding to Rwanda’s birdwatching allure, the park’s surrounding boast a series of lakes that might tempt birdwatcher with a quick and exciting side trip. Close by the Buhango eco-park is a potential hotspot for spotting the African pitta during its annual migration.
The small Gishwati-mukuru national park is Rwanda’s newest and smallest national park. It has a lot of work being done on rehabilitating it after years of encroachment. The forest is surprisingly home to over 200 bird species in its smallness. The birds found here include; Graur’s swamp warbler, purple- breasted sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, strange weaver.
Because of diversity and attraction of some species, bird-watching in Rwanda appeals to all kinds of tourists from the novice to the most serious of birders. Birding in Rwanda is done all year, with the migrating bird season lasting from December to February.
