Rwanda
the land of a thousand hills
Discover Rwanda
Rwanda is a safe, peaceful, friendly, clean, and well-organized country with a superb selection of birds that are difficult to find elsewhere. Despite the mass genocide of the mid-1990s, the country has moved to create and develop a vibrant tourism industry through rigorous promotional events and activities across the globe by building a superb network of conservation areas, infrastructure like roads, and tourism amenities like lodges and hotels, all unifying Rwandans in a rich cultural spectacle, trying to put behind the horrific past history that terrified the people of this beautiful East African nation.
Since the days of Diane Fossey, Rwanda has been recognized as one of the best places to view gorillas, but of recent, this beautiful land has offered birders a classic selection of birding sites across the country with associated bird species. Volcanoes National Park, known for its mountain gorillas, also inhabits up to 17 Albertine Rift Endemics.
The best birding in the Albertine Rift is in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest Reserve, with 25 Albertine Rift Endemics recorded, more than at any site in Uganda and currently second only to the Itombwe Mountains in the DRC. This is the best place to see the Lagden’s Bushshrike. This reserve adjoins the Kibira National Park in Burundi to protect one of the largest and most biodiversity-rich areas of montane forest in Africa.
where to go bird watching in rwanda
nyungwe national park, rwanda
Nyungwe Forest access is straightforward along the road from Butare to Cyangugu on the DRC border running through the heart of the forest, providing far easier access to high altitude habitats than any other popular birding sites in the Virunga’s range and all the other national parks in the Albertine rift on the Ugandan side i.e.; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Ruwenzori National Park.
There is numerous inexpensive accommodation facilities including a campsite in the center of the forest and several guesthouses on the western edge of the forest, proving by far better options for budget travelers than any of the parks on the Ugandan side.
Apart from the Itombwe Mountains in the DRC, Nyungwe Forest is the only safe site in the world where the spectacular Red-collared Babbler (Kupeornis rufocinctus) can be easily seen. In addition to many of the species regularly found in Bwindi.
Rwenzori Turaco (Ruwenzorornis johnstoni), the very rare Albertine Owlet (Glaucidium albertinum), Kungwe Apalis (Apalis rufogularis argentea), and Rockefeller’s Sunbird (Cinnyris rockefelleri), Grauer’s Warbler (Graueria vittata) – heard commonly in bushy areas are some of the albertine rift endemics that are well represented in Nyungwe forest, most of which normally seen even along the main highway. Along the main road also, when the Symphonia trees are flowering between the months of June and July, provides a very good sighting of the Purple-breasted Sunbird (Nectarinia purpureiventris).
The large Kamiranzovu swamp provides far easier access to Grauer’s Swamp Warbler (Bradypterus graueri) due to the boardwalk that runs across the swamp, than at Mubwindi Swamp in Bwindi Forest in Uganda and can be seen from the main road through the forest. African Green Broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena graueri) does not exist here and can be found at Bwindi and some parts of the DRC forest.
akagera national park, rwanda
Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, a savanna-dominated area in the north-east of the country that lies in the Victoria Basin, is still its largest. The area holds an interesting selection of species associated with a diversity of habitats: wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, riparian forest and bush country. Compared to its size, Akagera National Park still inhabits one of highest number bird species lists for any conservation area in Africa: boosting over 525 species have recorded. Some shared among Uganda’s Lake Mburo National Park, Akagera National Park, and north-west of Tanzania, the Arnott’s Chat (Myrmecocichla arnotti), Purple-crested Turaco (Turaco porphyreolophus), Sousa’s Shike (Lanius souzae), the Red-collared Barbet, Tabora Cisticola (Cisticola angusticaudus) and Bennett’s Woodpecker (Campethera bennettii), are some of parks special encounters. The rare and localised Red-faced Barbet Lybius rubrifacies, can also be easily seen here. Also worthy of special mention are papyrus associated species, most significant of which is Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), occasionally seen along the lake shore. One of Africa’s rarest francolins, Ring-necked Francolin (Francolinus streptophorus), has also been recorded here.
In addition, there several wetland pockets in Rwanda that may be of particular interest to birders is the number of wetlands, which occupy almost 10% of the country. There has been recent efforts by the country to spot degradation of these wetlands in order to conserve the endangered Grey-crowned Crane. Three of these are IBAs and the main wetlands are: Akanyaru and Nyabarongo on the southern border with Burundi, Rugezi in the north near the Ugandan border, Mugesera-Rugwero in the south-east and Kagera along the eastern border with Tanzania.
These wetlands hold Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Chloropeta gracilirostris), White-winged Warbler (Bradypterus carpalis), Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri), White-collared Oliveback (Nesocharis ansorgei) and Papyrus Canary (Serinus koliensis)
nyandungu eco-park, rwanda
Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco Tourism Park, Rwanda’s first restored (formally degraded) urban wetland is 121ha in size. It provides a peaceful environment for those seeking tranquility outside the bustling Kigali City streets; adventure and learning about the biodiversity in in the park including a multitude of fauna and flora.
A visit to Nyandungu Eco-park offer a retreat from the city, but also upholds the ecological function of the wetland, provides flood mitigation, and serves as a space for education and recreation whilst contributing to environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
The habitat comprises of lush Acacia Savannah, indigenous Woodlands, Wetland Vegetation that includes artificial recreational ponds, each named after Rwanda’s iconic lakes.
What is now a vibrant eco-paradise was once a wetland grappling with the effects of sand mining, stone quarrying overgrazing, and other human activities.
In response to the ecological degradation, the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) launched the Nyandungu Restoration Project in 2016. Funded by the Rwanda Green Fund, this initiative aimed to demonstrate how urban wetlands could combat pollution and flood risks.
The project oversaw the rehabilitation of critical habitats, including a native fig forest and the wetland itself, along with establishing a network of walking and cycling paths. It also saw the planting of 17,000 trees, encompassing 55 indigenous species, and the creation of various gardens, ponds, and other facilities. Today, Nyandungu Eco-Park stands as a symbol of successful environmental restoration. Notably, the park has been ear-marked as a successful breeding ground for the endangered Grey-crowned crane
volcanoes national park (Park nationale de volcans), rwanda
This is a national park in northwestern Rwanda that covers 160 km2 of rainforest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains range, namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. It borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. It is home to the world’s renowned mountain gorilla and the golden monkey, and was the base for the primatologist Dian Fossey.
The park was first gazetted in 1925, as a small area intended to protect the gorillas from poachers. It was the very first national park to be created in Africa. In 1929, the borders of the park were extended further into Rwanda and into the Belgian Congo, to form the Albert National Park, with an area of about 8,090 km2, run by the Belgian colonial authorities who were in charge of both colonies. Later in 1958, 700ha of the park were cleared for a human settlement.
Between 1969 and 1973, 1,050 hectares of the park were cleared to grow pyrethrum. During the 1970s and 1980s, the indigenous Twa people were involuntarily resettled out of Volcanoes National Park.
The park later became the base for the American naturalist Dian Fossey to carry out her research on the gorillas. She arrived in 1967 and set up the Karisoke Research Centre between Karisimbi and Visoke. From then on, she spent most of her time in the park, and is widely credited with saving the gorillas from extinction by bringing their plight to the attention of the international community. She was murdered by unknown assailants at her home in 1985, a crime often attributed to the poachers she had spent her life fighting against. Fossey’s life later was portrayed on the big screen in the film Gorillas in the Mist, named after her autobiography. She is buried in the park in a grave close to the research center, and amongst the gorillas which became her life.
Buhanga Eco-Park, an ancient woodland containing Rwanda’s most interesting folklore, and Musanze Caves, constructed 62 million years ago after the last estimated volcanic explosion, are both located inside the limits of Volcanoes National Park.
Vegetation varies considerably due to the large altitudinal range within the park. There is some lower montane forest (now mainly lost to agriculture). Between 2400 and 2500 m, there is Neoboutonia forest. From 2500 to 3200 m Arundinaria alpina (bamboo) forest occurs, covering about 30% of the park area. From 2600 to 3600 m, mainly on the more humid slopes in the south and west, is Hagenia-Hypericum forest, which covers about 30% of the park. This is one of the largest forests of Hagenia abyssinica. The vegetation from 3500 to 4200 m is characterised by Lobelia wollastonii, L. lanurensis, and Senecio erici-rosenii and covers about 25% of the park. From 4300 to 4500 m grassland occurs. Secondary thicket, meadows, marshes, swamps and small lakes also occur, but their total area is relatively small.
The park is best known for the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). Other mammals include: golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti), black-fronted duiker (Cephalophus niger), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) and harnessed bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus). There are 178 recorded bird species, with at least 13 species and 16 subspecies endemic to the Virunga and Rwenzori Mountains
akanyaru marshes, rwanda
These wetlands, one of the Important Bird Areas are situated within the Southern side of Rwanda, North-east of Butare Town on the International border with Burundi and cover an area of 300 square kilometers (30,000 hectares). The wetlands are found close to Rwihinda Lake Reserve within Burundi. The Akanyaru wetlands are fed by the waters of River Akanyaru
The shallow ends of River Akanyaru are occupied and thronged with numerous swamps that offer a perfect habitat for a number of wildlife. The wetlands are characterized by a number of marshy habitats and papyrus swamps. The early succession phases of the wetlands are inhabited by floating vegetation
The marshland is an area of great biodiversity, particularly of birdlife. There are records of at least 54 bird species with wetland habitats in the swamp region. These include among others, the Grey-crowned Crane, Madagascar pond heron, Lesser Kestrel, Pallid Harrier and Great Snipe. The gorgeous near-threatened Papyrus Gonolek is present as is the vulnerable Papyrus Yellow Warbler. The Sitatunga is found in the swamps.
Rwanda Birding Trips
Scheduled birding group departures
Explore Uganda's top national parks on a wildlife and birdwatching tour from Entebbe, featuring gorilla trekking in Bwindi and visits to Kibale, Semuliki, and Lake Mburo National Park
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