Top Birding Hotspots in Rwanda

Top Birding Hotspots in Rwanda

With over 700 bird species, from vibrant forest dwellers to highland folks the country is fast becoming a top safari destination for birding buffs. Rwanda’s top birding hot spots are fantastic whether you are an experienced bird watcher or a beginner. Just as much as it is a paradise for birders it is also one of the best places to see the country’s landscape and wildlife. Read on for a guide to top Birding Hotspots in Rwanda where nature’s beauty meets the thrill of bird watching.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Rwanda’s most important birding destination is Nyungwe Forest National Park. It is a tropical rainforest in the southwest of the country, that hosts more than 300 bird species. Birdlife in the park includes many endemic species in different habitats such as bamboo rainforest and montane zones. Nyungwe attracts birdwatchers to see such rare species as the Rwenzori turaco, Albertine rift endemics, and the white-headed woodhoopoe. The clean well well-maintained trails including Uwinka and Cyangugu make it the best place for birding, with walks led by the guides to prevent you from missing out on those wild treasures.

What to Expect: Visitors to Nyungwe can expect to see resident and migratory birds. Many colorful species live in the dense forest canopy of the park, and the park’s rich flora makes for a fantastic place to spot birds. The most elusive species can be spotted early morning.

Best Time to Visit: The dry season (June till Sept) is the best time for birding activity by the trails and the trails are easily accessible.

Volcanoes National Park

Famous for gorilla trekking, the park is also a killer for birding. The park is situated in northwest Rwanda and it has over 200 bird species. The range of habitats – from bamboo forests to volcanic slopes – offers a very special birding environment. Other notable species within Volcanoes National Park include the golden-winged sunbird, grey crowned crane, and the handsome francolin. The park is one of the best places to find the red-faced woodland warbler and the rufous-breasted sparrowhawk if you’re keen on spotting highland species.

What to Expect: Volcanoes National Park is the perfect terrain for birdwatching, as it brings together high-altitude and forest habitats, both rich and complex. The trails around the park are ideal for birding, and endemic species, and other rare birds can be seen. You might be standing a chance to see some different bird species that sometimes hang around higher altitudes; so, be prepared to be at various altitude levels.

Best Time to Visit: The drier months of Volcanoes National Park’s season (June to September) is the best time to bird in Volcanoes National Park. This is the time for clearer skies and clearer visibility for birdwatching.

Akagera National Park

While the forests of Nyungwe and the Volcanoes are spectacular for Nyungwe’s fiendish montane forest birders, with Akagera National Park based in the eastern part of Rwanda totally different birding experience awaits. This is Rwanda’s only savannah park, with over 500 bird species recorded, including waterbirds, grassland species, and raptors. The park’s wetlands, lakes, and savannahs are lush enough for bird life. The papyrus gonolek, white-cheeked hornbill, and shoebill stork are the most notable species in which to look out for in Akagera. Also, large flocks of waterbirds can be seen in the park’s wetlands and around Lake Ihema, the park’s largest lake.

What to Expect: Birding the open savannah to the water’s edge is a mix that Akagera has. Bird watching at Twilight going on down to around 6 o’clock is best. These are the times when the park’s wildlife is most active. Water birds can be seen close up on the park’s boat tours.

Best Time to Visit: Akagera is best birded during the wet season between March and May and October and December with more migrant birds visible. However, birding is excellent year-round.

Gishwati-Mukura National Park

One of Rwanda’s newest protected areas, Gishwati Mukura National Park is fast becoming a birdwatchers’ gem. Diverse habitats include montane forests, wetlands, and grasslands in the park in the park’s western region of Rwanda. It records more than 200 bird species, so is an exciting birdwatching destination, especially for those wanting to see scarce and endemic bird species. The birds you’ll be able to see here include the endemic blue-headed sunbird, great blue turaco, and yellow-eyed black flycatcher.

What to Expect: Gishwati-Mukura is quieter and adds peaceful bird watching and the more popular parks are very crowded. Those birdwatchers who get to experience a park in its undisturbed natural environment have the luck of discovering a long list of rare and less well-known species.

Best Time to Visit: June to September is the best season for birding in Gishwati Mukura. For a few months from around now, the trails are easier to navigate, and the birds are more active.

Top Birding Hotspots in Rwanda: Conclusion

Whilst not on the scale of tropical locations like Kenya, Rwanda’s birding hotspots provide some of the best birding experiences to be had in East Africa, with an abundance of a wide array of species and habitats to enjoy! If you’re a bird lover, Rwanda should be on your travel list no matter whether you are seeing the misty forests of Nyungwe, soaring above the skies of Volcanoes National Park, or the wetlands in Akagera. Yet the country’s varied ecosystems and the opportunities each park offers make it a wildly exciting and rewarding place to bird. If you travel without binoculars, you are indeed missing out on an unforgettable birding adventure in Rwanda where nature is glorious and true excitement is found in watching birds.