5 Best Bird Watching Spots in Rwanda

Rwanda is one of the most fascinating birders paradise in East Africa, rugged with great topography that highlights numerous steep hills and deep valleys across the country, its region in the western province is identified with the Albertine rift montane forests and a range of Volcanoes rising from the northern province, this creates for a haven for various bird species including the rarest and endemic species found in Rwanda. With over 704 bird species recorded within the diverse habitats in Rwanda which include 29 Albertine rift endemics, the country offers the best montane birding experiences, we have highlighted 5 best bird watching spots in Rwanda across the entire country that will can reward you the most incredible sightings for a variety of bird species.

There are several birding destinations that you can visit as you traverse across Rwanda, ranging from the most featured national parks, to popular wetlands, and other important bird areas internationally recognized by the birdlife International, our list of the 5 best bird watching spots include the following;

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is our number one and featuring birding destination for the best bird watching spots in Rwanda, it is entirely covered with  dense, tropical  and afromontane rainforests, bamboo forest slopes, grasslands and wetlands that inhabits more than 322 birds, it is also home to a number of primate species that feature Chimpanzees, Most birders have the best of their birding experience in Nyungwe National Park sighting stunning birds such as the red collared babbler, Handsome Francolin, the Rwenzori Turaco, sunbirds, Grauer’s Warbler,  and many endemic species such as the Albertine Owlet one of the rarest birds to spot.

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only Savannah Park for Wildlife safaris, with impressive rolling highlands, vast plains and wetlands mostly dominated by swamp fringed lakes, the park is Rwanda’s second most important birding site after Nyungwe documented with over 400 bird species, to date and thus birders can spot some of the rarest bird species while in Akagera, such as the Shoe – billed stork and Gonolek which are restricted to papyrus swamps,  white collared olive back, Grey crowned cranes, Carruthers’s cisticola , you can also watch other varieties of birds that include lappet faced vulture, swamp flycatcher, African jacana, water bird species such as the Fin foot, among many others.

Volcanoes National Park

The home to Rwanda’s main tourist attraction – the mountain Gorillas, – Volcanoes National Park also is marked as an important bird area, there are records of more than 200 bird species in this National Park, after your remarkable Gorilla trekking, Golden Monkey or hiking activities in this park, you can complement your trip with a bird watching experience in the densely vegetated volcanoes rainforests, Bamboo forests, grasslands and swamps.

The birding experience in Volcanoes National Park creates an opportunity for visitors/bird enthusiasts to spot a number of bird some of which are similar to those of Nyungwe National Park, species only restricted in range to the Virunga volcanoes and Rwenzori Mountains as well as rare species endemic to the Albertine rift.  Watch birdlife such as the Rwenzori Turaco, francolins, dusky crimson wing, archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori double collared sunbird and many others.

Rugezi Marsh and Akanyaru Wetlands

Rugezi Marsh and Akanyaru wetlands in Rwanda are recognized as important Bird Areas by Birdlife International and thus they also come up on our list for the 5 best bird watching spots in Rwanda. The Rugezi Marsh which is located in the north west of Rwanda after Volcanoes National Park is also marked as a RAMSAR site, bird watchers visiting Rugezi Marsh wetland have a great chance to watch the Grauer’s swamp warbler, Papyrus canary, grey crowned cranes, Papyrus yellow warbler, water birds amongst many other species. Visiting Akanyaru wetland as well as the Nyabarongo wetland which is also under the list of important bird areas (IBAS) in Rwanda will greatly reward you with magical moments of spotting stunning bird species.

Kigali

Kigali is our other birding site not to miss out on the 5 best bird watching spots in Rwanda, there are several sites around Kigali that offer good urban birding experience, different wetlands, lakes at the outskirts of the vibrant and verdant Kigali city such as wetlands and Lakes in Bugesera region which is located south east of Kigali offer excellent birding, with more than 415 species recorded in this region, you are able to watch amazing bird species such as Papyrus Gonolek, papyrus canary, white collared olive back, the white- backed duck, lesser jacana, white winged swamp warbler, sunbirds, palm nut vulture, African fish Eagle, numerous water birds and the commonly seen savannah species.

Around the other birding sites in Kigali bird enthusiasts can sight incredible bird species such as the African swampen, Crested barbet, Olive bellied, Bat hawk, Grey – backed fiscal, Ruppell’s starling and many other varieties. In addition to birding spots in Kigali Umusambi village a restored place for rescued Grey crowned cranes that have increased to more than 100 species in this area is also a good birding area to visit for the Grey- crowned cranes and other species.

Rwanda is a bird watchers paradise, there are very many bird watching spots across the entire country, if you are interested in an epic Bird watching safari around Rwanda, just get to us on email at info@rwandaecocompany.com / slaes@rwandaecocompany.com and we shall prepare and arrange your experience according to your interests.