Bird Watching in Rwanda
Rwanda the land of a thousand hills as it is labelled is a well-known tourist destination coveted by tourists around the world for its hospitality, security and cleanliness. Most tourists visit Rwanda to see the famous mountain gorillas. But the beautiful Rwanda in not all about gorillas only. The country is also known to be a good bird watching destination. The country’s topographic distribution dominated by hills, valleys, swamps, grassland vegetation, lakes and wetland hosts a number of birds estimated at 750 bird species. Various bird watching spots are available for tourists who are looking for bird watching in Rwanda as fully explained below.
Are you planning a visit to Rwanda and you are interested in bird watching, we are bringing you different bird watching sites where you will be able to see a variety of colorful birds.
The city of Kigali dominated with green vegetation, has become a haven for bird watching. Various spots in the city of Kigali offer a chance to watch birds. Among the sights include Umusambi village which is a restored wetland reserved purposely to accommodate grey crown cranes. Nyabarongo river and its extended swap is also convenient for bird watching. Nyarutarama lake located near the Kigali Golf Club, is also listed a touristic activity in Kigali list as a bird watching spot. Mount Kigali is the largest hill in the neighborhood of Kigali at its southern part. Being covered by a forest which accommodates various bird species makes it a good choice for bird watching. While on bird watching in Rwanda, the Kigali city records a number of birds including polican, common moorhen, african jacana, Spur-winged Geese, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, African Openbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Great Swamp Warbler, White-winged Warbler, Long-toed Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail, Common Snipe, African Marsh Harrier, African Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, Black-headed Gonolek, Goliath Heron.
Akanyaru wetland extending to the southern part of the country along the river Akanyaru serving as border between Rwanda and Burundi, accommodates a number of bird species which makes it on the list of bird watching in Rwanda. Among the birds spotted in Akanyaru wetland include Madagascar squacco heron, guinea congo forest biome, pallid harrier, less kestrel, less swamp and papyrus gonolek.
Nyungwe National Forest situated in the South east of the country on the border between Rwanda and Burundi. This rain forest is good for bird watching in Rwanda as it accommodates around 300 bird species including strange weaver, rwenzorituraco, buff-throated apalis, dwarf honeyguide, blue headed sunbird among others.
The Rugezi marshland located in a flooded valley near Rwanda’s northern border with Uganda feeds the Burera and Ruhondo twin lakes. The swamp offers opportunities for bird watching in Rwanda. It hosts endangered bird species including Grauer’s swamp warbler, the grey crowned crane and threatened birds including the papyrus yellow warbler among others.
The above are just some highlights of bird watching spots in Rwanda, the list is long as no corner of the country is left without birds. For a better bird watching plan, you will need to have a professional tour operator who will design an itinerary that will give you the very best highlights of bird watching in Rwanda. We at Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris will make sure that you enjoy your bird watching tour at maximum. Make your booking with us and let us cater for the rest of the logistics as you wait with your binoculars ready for the tour.
