Rwanda is not just an amazing Gorilla trekking destination but surprisingly also a bird watcher’s Paradise and this is for a reason. Being the land of a thousand hills, you would expect breathtaking landscapes and to spice it up, it is haven to breathtaking variety of Albertine Rift endemic birds. Few countries in this World can boast having numerous bird species confined in a small area like Rwanda. As of 2018, over 703 species were identified and keep in mind that this country is slightly smaller than the US State of Maryland.
This country offer the best African Montane Birding experience with 29 species that are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley, others that Are endemic to the Lake Victoria basin, and those endemic to the Afro-tropical highland biome. From the dry savannah-dominated Akagera National Park in the East, to the humid Afro-montane Nyungwe Forest National Park in the south-west and Volcanoes National Park in the north-west, the breathtaking array of natural habitats as well as micro-ecosystems in Rwanda are fundamental in creating boundless bird watching opportunities in the land of a thousand Hills.
Akagera National Park
Thanks to its diverse ecosystem- savannah grasslands, Lakes, woodlands, verdant wetlands, and rolling hills and woodlands, the 1122-square-kilometer Akagera National Park is home to about 500 bird species hence making it the best bird watching destination in Rwanda.
Some of the must-see birds of Akagera National Park are Carruthers’s Cisticola, white-winged swamp warbler, the red-faced barbet, Verreaux’s eagle owls, Papyrus gonolek, Northern brown throated weavers, pied and malachite kingfishers, shoebill storks, African finfoot, grey-crowned cranes and African fish eagles among others. Most of these birds are spotted during bush walks, boat rides and even game drives.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
A variety of Albertine Rift endemics can be found within this 1000-square-kilometer Protected Area in the south-west of Rwanda. This Protected Area is home to 320 bird species and these include 29 species that are endemic to the Park and several Albertine Rift endemics. The popular birds here are Grauer’s swamp warblers, Regal sunbirds, Rwenzori Turaco, Neumann’s warblers, Rwenzori nightjar, Purple-breasted sunbirds, Red-collared babblers, Handsome francolin, and many others.
The Congo Bay Owls, Albertine Owlet, Willard’s Sooty Boubou, Kivu Ground Thrush, Kungwe Apalis, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Rockefeller’s sunbirds, Willard’s Sooty Boubou are rare but incredible to see during Bird watching tours in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is definitely one of the best bird watching destinations in Rwanda and sits in the north-western side of the country. Here, over 200 species are sheltered and these include 17 species that are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley. During your bird watching tour, expect to see Archer’s Robinchat, strange weavers, Rwenzori batis, Cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, Lagden’s bush shrike, Baglafecht weavers, Dusky Crimsonwing, Scarlet-tufted sunbirds, Rwenzori nightjar, Dusky turtle doves, Rwenzori Apalis, Blue-spotted wood doves, to mention but a few.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Rwanda’s smallest and newest National Park is also an amazing bird watching destination with over 232 bird species in Gishwati Forest and 163 bird species in Mukura Forest. Some of the must-see birds here are strange weavers, Martial eagles, Purple-breasted sunbirds, Mountain yellow warblers, Regal sunbirds, Grauer’s swamp warblers, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-throated Alethe, to mention but a few.
Kigali City
Another great bird watching destination in Rwanda is Kigali City with hot spots being Lake Nyarutarama and the verdant hotel gardens. Expect to see Ruppell’s starlings, Narina Trogon, grey-crowned cranes, African Goshawk, Grey-headed Bushrike, Grey-backed Fiscal, Black-headed weavers, grey-crowned cranes, Red-chested sunbirds, and many others.
Lake Kivu
Besides being an excellent water sports’ destination, Rwanda’s largest Lake is also home to numerous bird species that include Brown-throated wattle-eye, Grey-capped warblers, African finfoot, Osprey, white-breasted cormorants, Spur-winged Goose, Water thick-knees, malachite and pied kingfishers, the white-backed ducks, Double-tooth barbets, Spot-flanked barbets, the Familiar chat, to mention but a few.
Rwanda’s Wetlands and Marshes
Over 10% of Rwanda’s landscape is covered by wetlands and marshes and these are remarkable bird watching hot spots. The top wetlands are Rugezi, Nyabarongo, and Akanyaru. These are home to African fish eagles, African jacana, white-collared Olivebacks, cattle egrets, grey-crowned cranes, Red-chested sunbirds, Papyrus canary, lesser Jacana, Palmnut vultures and Papyrus yellow warblers among others.
What is the best time of the year to see birds in Rwanda?
Rwanda’s native bird species can be spotted all year long, but if you are more interested in spotting the migrant bird species, then the months of April and November are perfect. Most birders prefer the dry season- June to September and December to February because birding trails are drier and less muddy or slippery. However, the wet season- March to May and October to November is the breeding season hence expect lots of birds but expect muddier and slippery birding trails due to increased precipitation levels.