Birds in the Land of A thousand Hills, Rwanda
Birds in the Land of A thousand Hills, Rwanda: Rwanda provides great birding and wildlife adventures because of its rich wildlife, stunning landscapes, and unique culture. The country is home to over 750 bird species found in various protected areas, forests, swamps, and wetlands. Rwanda’s main birding sites include Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Lake Kivu, Nyabarongo Wetland, and Nyungwe Forest National Park, among others.
Top birding destinations in Rwanda- Birds in the Land of A thousand Hills, Rwanda
Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes National Park, located in northwestern Rwanda is an excellent location for birdwatching, featuring both bamboo and grassland. The park is home to over 187 species of birds including many that are unique to the area, such as the Grauer’s Broadbill, Red-faced Woodland-Warbler, Lesser Honeyguide, Purple-throated Apalis, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Bat Hawk, lagden’s Bush-shrike, Rwenzori Double-collared Apalis, Strange Weaver, Grauer’e Rush Warbler, Bateleur, Handsome Francolin, Archer’s Ground Robin and Rwenzori Turaco, Black and white Manikin, Collared Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, White-collared Silverback, Narina Trogon, Dusky crimson wing, Regal Sunbird, Baglafecht, African Green Broadbill, Bateleur, Red-backed Shrike. It is considered one of the best birding destinations for bird enthusiasts.
Nyungwe forest national park
Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda is known for chimpanzee trekking and birdwatching experiences. Located in the southwest of the country, the park is home to over 300 bird species. Visitors, while on their safari in Nyungwe Forest can spot various birds during nature walks or while trekking in search for the chimpanzees, including the Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, strange weaver, Rwenzori Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Buff-throated Apalis, Handsome Spurfowl, Red-throated Alethe, Shelly’s Crimsonwing, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Archer’s Robin-chat, Rwenzori turaco, Regal sunbird, Red-Sunbird, and more. It provides a unique experience for nature enthusiasts.
Akagera national park- Birds in the Land of A thousand Hills, Rwanda
Akagera National Park, located in eastern Rwanda, is a top birding spot featuring savannah, montane, and swamp vegetation. It includes lakes like Ihema and River Kagera, which attract many bird species. Over 310 bird species have been recorded in the park, including the Papyrus Gonolek, African Rock Pigeon, Grey crowned crane, woodland kingfisher, and many others such as the saddle-billed stork, crowned lapwing, grey-backed fiscal, crested barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Ross’s Turaco, Little Bee-eater, Lesser Striped Swallow, black-headed weaver, Hamerkop, common squacco heron, palm-nut vulture, Fork-tailed Drongo, eastern grey plantain-eater, Lilac-breasted roller. Akagera offers a rich experience for birdwatchers with its diverse wildlife and beautiful scenery.
Akagera National Park is home to several bird species, including the eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Cattle Egret, Helmeted Guinea fowl, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, palm nut vulture, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Grey Hornbill, White-faced Whistling Duck, Black-headed Weaver, White-backed Vulture, African Jacana, White-browed Coucal, Woodland Kingfisher, Red-billed Fire Finch, Goliath Heron, Long-tailed Cormorant, Common Squacco Heron and Grey Crowned Crane African Darter, Lilac-breasted Roller, Other notable species include the saddle-billed stork, Marabou Stork, Spur-winged Goose, Crowned Lapwing, long crested eagle, Osprey, and African fish eagle, among others.
Kigali
Kigali offers many birding spots for enthusiasts, including wetlands, lakes, forests, gardens, and grasslands. Notable locations are Nyarutarama Lake, Umusambi Village, Nyabarongo Wetlands, and Mount Kigali Forest. Bird species to see include White-winged Warbler, Long-toed Lapwing, Common Bulbul, Swamp Flycatcher, Green-backed Camaroptera, Winding Cisticola, Tropical Boubou, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Black-headed Gonolek, Black Kite, White-browed Coucal, Grey-capped Warbler, Red-chested Cuckoo, Hadada Ibis, and Bronze Mannikin, among others.
Other birds to see in Kigali city include Common Snipe, Paradise Flycatcher, African Hobby, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Swamp Warbler, Yellow-billed Duck, Squacco Heron, Yellow-fronted Canary, Little Egret, African Marsh Harrier, White-faced Whistling Duck, African Fish Eagle, African Paradise Flycatcher, Southern Black Flycatcher, Red-billed Teal, African Jacana, African Openbill, Northern Puffback, Yellow-billed Stork, Grey Heron, Papyrus Gonolek, Black-headed Heron, , Thick-billed Seedeater, Pygmy Kingfisher, Common Moorhen, Yellow Wagtail, Goliath Heron, Spur-winged Geese, Little Grebe, African Spoonbill.
Lake Kivu- Birds in the Land of A thousand Hills, Rwanda
Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake, located along the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is one of the best birdwatching destinations in Rwanda with over 750 bird species that have been so far spotted on the shores of the lake. Some of the bird species seen during the boat cruise and nature walk at Lake Kivu include African pied wagtail, Holub’s Golden Weaver, spotted yellow-throated greenbul, white-tailed blue flycatcher, lesser-stripped swallow, spot-flanked barbet, common bulbul, black saw-wing, common kestrel, crimson-rumped waxbill, tropical boubou, chin-spot batis, cardinal woodpecker, African pied wagtail, bronzed sunbirds, colorful southern red bishop, hadada ibis, red chested sunbirds.
Other birds to see at Lake Kivu include Yellow-fronted Canary, grey-rumped swallow, yellow-bellied waxbill, Angola swallow, little bee-eater, Pin-tailed whydah, striated heron, African fish eagles, African black swift, yellow-throated greenbul, long-tailed cormorant, sacred ibis, Holub’s golden weaver, bronzed manikin, crimson-rumped waxbill, spectacled weaver, scarlet-chested, speckled mousebirds, variable sunbird, bronze sunbird, long-tailed cormorant, colorful southern red bishop, and chin-spot batis.
Gishwati-Mukura national park
Gishwati-Mukura National Park is a newly established national park in Rwanda, and was declared ready for tourism in 2014. It is located near Lake Kivu and has over 232 recorded bird species. Notable birds in the park include the white-headed wood hoopoe, martial eagle, Rwenzori batis, and grey crowned crane, dusky Crimsonwing, strange weaver, red-throated Alethe, old world warblers, mountain yellow warbler, purple-breasted sunbird, grey crowned crane, among others.
Things to pack for the best birding safari in Rwanda
For the best birding safari in Rwanda, you need essential items for a good experience. Bring binoculars, a good camera, a brimmed hat, a voice recorder, birding books, extra batteries, drinking water, camouflage clothes, insect repellents, and a packed lunch.
The most appropriate time to go birding in Rwanda
Tourists can do birding in Rwanda all year, but the best time is from May to September when food is abundant and the rain is less. Most birds nest from May to June, so various species can still be spotted. November has heavy rainfall, but birds stay in trees, making them easier to see. The rainy season is good for budget travelers since lodges often offer big discounts on accommodation.
