Republic of Rwanda – East Africa’s Premier Birding Tous

• Buhanga Sacred Forest walk

  Information
  Sprawling within Nyakinama Village, at about 8 kilometers west of Musanze Town (Northern Province of Rwanda) is the verdant Buhanga Sacred Forest, one of the hidden gems with natural wonders worth discovering during Rwanda safaris.

• Akagera National Park

  WebsiteSatellite View
  Akagera National Park (490 species) covers 108,400ha, it is a mixed park, with rolling hills, savannah, grasslands, woodland, lakes and swamps. It is located approximately 2 -3 hours from Kigali in east Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. Since 2010, Akagera NP has been managed in partnership between the Rwandan Government and African Parks. The partnership has been very successful in protecting the park and since the re-introduction of Lions (2015) and Eastern Black Rhino (2017) the park has regained its Big 5 Status. Birding in the park is excellent, specialities include the Red-faced Barbet (which is restricted to Savannas in-between the Albertine Rift and Lake Victoria), several Lake Victoria Basin endemic species - Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Papyrus Canary, Papyrus Gonolek, White-Winged Swamp Warbler and Carruther’s Cisticola. The Shoebill is known from the park but is hard to observe without some luck. Brown-Chested Lapwing are seen fairly regularly and other notable species include Ruaha Chat, Bennet’s Woodpecker, Crested Barbet, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Souza’s Shrike, Long-tailed Cisticola, and Cabani’s Bunting. The park is also vitally important for the conservation of Grey Crowned Cranes and is part of a rehabilitation and release program for previously captive birds. The lake shores are great places to observe water birds and raptors are also well represented across the park. Several accommodation options are available inside the, camping (tent hire available), Akagera Game Lodge, Rusizi Tented Camp and Karenge Bush Camp. A further luxury lodge is being developed. A small community run camp is available near the park entrance. Mammals: Big 5, hippo, Sitatunga, Roan Antelope, Oribi, Eland, Giraffe, Klipspringer, Hyena, Serval and several others. A 4x4 is essential to explore the park and care must be taken after rains. By arrangement at reception the park also offers night-drives which offer a good chance to see owls and nightjars and boat trips on Lake Ihema to see numerous waterbirds, herons and African Finfoot. Also see this Webpage

• Gishwati Mukura National Park

  WebpageSatellite View
  Gishwati (232 species) and Mukura (163 species) Forests were gazetted as a national park in 2015 and are currently the focus of extensive conservation efforts to restore the landscape between these two parks. Although historically degraded, both forests offer good birding including several AREs. However, no tourism options seem to be currently available (November 2018).

• Lake Burera & Lake Ruhndo

  Satellite View
  The twin lakes Burera and Ruhndo are not well known for their birding, but the country’s first Woodchat Shrike was observed here very recently - surprises are always possible.

• Northern Lakes

  Satellite View
  Small lakes (232 species) in the vicinity of the volcanoes can offer some interesting birding depending on the water levels.

• Nyungwe National Park

  WebpageSatellite View
  Nyungwe Forest (322 species) is a vast tract of forest in the southwest covering over 100,000ha, the 300ha Cyamadongo Forest (127 species) is close by. Both offer excellent birding and primate trekking. The birding includes 27 Albertine Rift Endemics (AREs), 28 if you count Willard’s Boubou. There are two routes to the forest from Kigali, both on excellent roads. The first route via Huye which is feels longer but takes you through the middle of the forest. The second route is via Karongi and Lake Kivu. Much of the forest is inaccessible. However, there is an excellent network of trails available, these are mostly based at Uwinka (in the middle of the forest) or Gisakura (at the west side). Both trail centres offer rewarding birding and due to differences in elevation offer different species. The speciality of Nyungwe is undoubtedly the Red-collared Mountain Babbler, and Nyungwe is the only safe location for this bird (try the Mt Bigugu trail). Kungwe Apalis is a poorly known species that is also best accessed at Nyungwe. A combination of a drive through the forest and birding from trails should result in a good haul of AREs, including Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Dwarf Honeyguide, Albertine Boubou, Rwenzori Batis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grauer's, Neumann's, Red-faced Woodland, Grauer’s Swamp Warblers, Ruwenzori and Mountain-Masked Apalises, Kivu Ground Thrush, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Archer’s Ground Robin, Red-throated Alethe, Blue-headed, Purple-breasted, Ruwenzori Double-collared and Regal Sunbirds, Strange Weaver, Dusky and Shelley’s Crimsonwings. There is also a slim possibility of Willard’s Boubou, Congo Bay Owl, Albertine Owlet, and Rockefeller's Sunbird. In addition to the AREs there are numerous desirable bird species, Crowned Eagle Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Mountain Buzzard, Buff-spotted and Red-chested Flufftails, Great Blue and Black-billed Turacos, Fraser’s Eagle Owl, Narina and Bar-tailed Trogons, Least Honeyguide, Tullberg’s and Elliot’s Woodpeckers, Lagden’s and Doherty’s Bushshrikes, White-tailed Blue, White-tailed and White-Bellied Crested Flycatchers, White-browed Crombec, Evergreen Forest and Red-faced Woodland Warbers, Olive-breasted and Kakamega Greenbuls, Waller’s, Stuhlmann’s, Sharpe’s and Slender-billed Starlings, Black-billed and Dark-backed Weavers, Oriole Finch and Kandt’s Waxbill. Violet-Backed Hyliota are also present in the forest and this species warrants close attention as the local sub-species may be a local endemic that requires further research. In addition to birds there are 13 species of primate, including Chimpanzee and Angola Colobus and numerous endemic plant species. All activities in the park must be undertaken with an official park guide who are generally very knowledgeable, however, if your primary goal is birding it is best to request a specialist bird guide, some of whom are excellent. Accommodation is mostly based at Gisakura (west of the forest) where there are a range of options from budget to luxury. Other options are available at Kitabi (east of the forest) and Cyangugu / Kamembe approximately 1 hour drive away south west. There is also an airport at Kamembe, with daily flights from Kigali. A car is very useful to get around, though local taxis are available. You don’t need a 4x4 to access the forest.

• Rugezi Swamp

  InformationSatellite View
  The Rugezi Marsh (also known as Ruhengeri Marsh [1]) is a protected area in Rwanda, covering 6,735 hectares (16,640 acres).[2] The wetland is one of headwaters of the Nile, situated in the Northern Province within the Buberuka Highlands. At 2,100 metres (6,900 ft), the marsh is a high altitude peat bog. Close to Volcanoes NP, Rugezi Swamp (194 species) is a globally important site for Grauer’s Swamp Warbler and also supports Grey Crowned Cranes, Carruther’s Cisticola (abundant), Papyrus Canary and Papyrus Yellow Warbler has also been recorded here.

• Volcanoes National Park

  WebpageSatellite View
  The Volcanoes National Park (200 species) is mostly known for its Gorilla Trekking. Birding is possible, but Nyungwe Forest offers the same species and more. However, Scarlet-Tufted Sunbird is best seen at the Volcanoes and a trek to the summit of Mt Bisoke is your best bet for this bird.

• Z Other Sites

  Bugesera District (415 species) to the South East of Kigali offers excellent and easy access to many swamps which offer great birding for Papyrus dependant species and water birds. Try the Akagera Bridge, Kamatana Valley Dam, Lake Cyohoha North, Lake Gaharwa and swamps around Gashora for chances for Papyrus Gonolek (relatively common), Papyrus Canary, White-winged Swamp Warbler, White-collared Oliveback, Lesser Jacana and White-backed Duck. In addition, Red-chested Sunbird, Palm Nut Vulture, Blue-naped Mousebird, African Fish Eagle, Buff-bellied Warbler and numerous herons, egrets, ducks and geese. Mazhoza Parike and Ibanda Makera are small but significant remnants of riverine forest that were once extensive in Rwanda. Although small these are important forests for birds and still support interesting species including Purple Crested Turaco, Mountain Illadopsis, Grey-winged and Snowy Crowned Robin-Chats, Red-Headed Bluebill and Red-throated Twinspot. Lake Kivu (301 species) might be visited as a stop-over for birders. Some birding is available in hotel gardens in Rubavu and Kibuye and it might be possible to pick up a few extra species. The majority of the habitat along the shore is degraded, however it is a nice place to relax (swimming in the lake is best avoided). Kigali itself is quite green and vegetated city and offers some good birding for the more common East African Species close to the city centre. The small lake in Nyarutarama can be quite productive with fairly recent records of White-collared Oliveback and Purple Swamphen, Grey-headed Bushshrike and Bat Hawk. Swamps on the outskirts of the city (near Inyange Industries or near Ruliba Clays) can also be very productive.

• James Hogg

  Resident of Rwanda for 4.5 years | jwthogg[AT]googlemail.com

• Number of bird species: 703

  (As at November 2018)

  Most online lists include errors. See Rwanda Birding Club for a corrected and up to date list.

• Birds of Africa: South of the Sahara

  | By Ian Sinclair, Peter G Ryan, Norman Arlott, Peter Hayman, Alan Harris | Random House Struik | 2010 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 767 pages, 340 plates with colour illustrations; colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781770076235 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of East Africa

  | (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi) | By Terry Stevenson, John Fanshawe, Brian E Small & John Gale | Christopher Helm | 2020 | Paperback | 640 pages, colour plates, colour distribution maps, colour & b/w maps | ISBN: 9781408157367 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• The Birders Guide to Africa

  | By Michael Mills, Tasso Leventis | Go-Away-Birding | 2017 | Paperback | 544 pages, colour photos, 2 colour maps | ISBN: 9780620717250 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Wild Rwanda

  | (Where to Watch Birds, Primates, and Other Wildlife) | By Ken Behrens, Christian Boix & Keith Barnes | Lynx Edicions | 2015 | Paperback | 256 pages, 160+ colour photos, colour maps | ISBN: 9788496553965 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• African Bird Club

  Website
  Since the days of Diane Fossey, Rwanda has been recognised as one of the best places to view gorillas, but few people know any more about the country than just this. Those that visit tend to hop across the north-western border with Uganda, to track gorillas in the Volcans National Park near Ruhengeri. This is one of the best sites to see Ladgen

• Association pour la Conservation de la Nature au Rwanda

  Website
  ACNR, a National Non-Governmental Organization founded in August 1992. Its mission is to promote biodiversity conservation through participatory and sustainable management of natural resources in Rwanda. Our Vision is that All Rwandans understand and are involved in the conservation of natural ecosystems for the benefits of current and future generations.

• Rwanda Birding Club

  Facebook Page
  This group posts pictures and discusses aspects of birding in Rwanda. Under the files section of the page there are up to date bird lists for Rwanda. The lists are available in PDF or Excel. These lists are updated versions of “Birds in Rwanda, An Atlas and Handbook – Vande weghe and Vande weghe – 2011” which is available at the Rwanda Development Board offices, National Park Receptions and bookshops in Rwanda, it is a very informative book and the best source of information on birds in Rwanda.

• West African Ornithological Society

  Website
  The West African Ornithological Society grew out of the Nigerian Ornithologists

Abbreviations Key

• NP Akagera

  InformationSatellite View
  Akagera National Park is a little piece of heaven found in North Eastern Rwanda, at the country’s border with Tanzania. It is dominated by swamps and small lakes with flow in the wake of River Kagera. All the water sources work together to create a piece of spectacular scenery. It is quite a remarkable eco-system. The Park was obviously named after River Kagera.

• NP Gishwati-Mukura

  InformationSatellite View
  Here visitors can experience not only chimpanzee and primate tracking, pristine montane forests and some of Rwanda’s most exciting birding, but can also engage with friendly, rural people and know that their visit will make a difference!

• NP Nyungwe

  InformationSatellite View
  The forest has 300 species of birds with 27 Albertine rift endemics and 121 forest species. The flora is particularly rich with 200 species of trees and more than 100 species of orchids! The park has an extensive network of walking trails that leads you through various waterfalls and viewing points. Nyungwe offers scenic views over the forest, lake Kivu and sometimes also the Virunga…

• NP Volcanoes

  WebsiteSatellite View
  Travellers are once again making their way to the beautiful bamboo and rainforest-covered slopes of this volcano-crowded national park in Rwanda's northwest…

• Rwanda-Burundi Birds

  Mailing List Discussion Group
  A group dedicated to all the news and information about the bird species in Rwanda & Burundi, and their distribution and ecology. We encourage members to share their sightings and information on locations, all which will contribute to our knowledge of the birds in these two countries.

• African Birding Expeditions

  Tour Operator
  We offer excellent Uganda Birding Tours, Birding safaris in Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and entire East African region. With a professional and passionate team in organizing Birding safaris in Uganda, our birding tours and Africa birding expeditions are top rated in the region, giving travelers unique insights into the over 1000 bird species in East Africa including hard-to-find shoebill storks communicated in a deeply infectious manner that leaves you in awe and with a new found respect for these gentle vertebrates.

• Avian Safaris

  Tour Operator
  We set out to do something different; to offer quality guided birding expeditions which are far from the ordinary, customised, unique, relaxed, energetic, bonding and indulgent for individuals, families and groups

• Beads Safaris Collection

  Tour Operator
  Beads Safaris Collection is a Destination Management Company operating tours and travel services all over Eastern Africa destinations including: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar. We specialize in offering the best and most unique properties and locations for our guests’ safety, enjoyment and tailor-made to their needs.

• Birding Rwanda

  Tour Operator
  We are a tourism company specialised in birdwatching tours. Since 2012 we have developed and run tours that provide our guests with birding experiences in Rwanda. Our birding tours are sometimes combined with tracking mountain gorilla, historical and educational tours.

• Mission Africa Safaris

  Tour Operator
  Mission Africa Safaris is a leading tour company registered in Uganda. We help put together exciting safaris in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Our expereinced and knowledgeable guides/office personnel will ensure you have a memorable time while on your tour. Our packages include bird watching, game drives, nature walks, mountain hiking, gorilla tracking. cultural visits among many other. We give affordable rates to our clients and incorporate a personal touch and quality while dealing with our clients - You can be one of them.

• Rainbow Tours

  Tour Operator
  …Some 650 species of bird have been recorded from Rwanda. These include many of the sought-after Albertine Rift Endemics…

• Speedway Safaris

  Tour Operator
  Speedway Safaris is a tour and travel company based in Uganda specialising in organising trips to National Parks, gorilla tracking, hotel bookings, chimpanzee trekking, mountaineering excursions, birding trips, adventure travels, sightseeing expeditions, car hire, community tours, guided nature walks plus vacation and customized tours in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania

• Standard Safaris

  Tour Operator
  Birds being met by each twist of the eye; Uganda and Rwanda are one of the top birding destinations in the continent of Africa; together with over 2060 unique bird species; and 10% species of the world’s total bird population. Think of the rare; Shoebill stock, sitatunga, Ostrich, cranes, Turacos, falcons, caracaras, eagles, buttonquails, kites, papyrus yellow warbler, and so much more; Uganda; the pearl of Africa is the Place to be; located east of the continent of Africa, neighbored by Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

• Twinspot Tours

  Tour Operator
  Twinspot Tours and Travel specializes in providing exceptional birdwatching experiences in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda showcasing the diverse avian life that our beautiful region has to offer.

• Volcanoes Safaris

  Tour Operator
  Nyungwe Forest This massive montane forest, in southern Rwanda, the largest in Central Africa, has thirteen species of primate including chimpanzee, Rwenzori colobus and l`Hoest`s monkey. The colobus live in large groups, including a four hundred-strong semi-habituated group thought to be the largest troop of arboreal primates in Africa. Around 300 bird species, 24 of which are regional endemics and over 100 varieties of orchids and butterflies are other attractions…

• Wildlife Tours Rwanda

  Tour Operator
  Rwanda has approximately 735 bird species including 44 Albertine rift endemics plus 4 pure endemics; the avitourism potential has been over shadowed by the gorilla tourism dominance and lack of publicity, awareness about birding products and good birding guides...

• 2014 [08 August] - Michael Mills

  PDF Report
  Our “highlights” tour of Uganda and Rwanda was once again a resounding success, with greatviews obtained of the four main target birds: Shoebill at Mabamba Swamp, Green-breasted Pittaat Kibale, Grauer’s (African Green) Broadbill at Mabwindi Swamp in Bwindi and Red-collared...

• 2014 [09 September] - Pritam Baruah

  PDF Report
  Nyungwe National Park in south-westernRwanda protects one of the oldest and largestremaining stretches of Albertine Rift forest.Sized about 1020 sq km, it ranges from 1600masl to 2950 masl (Mt Bigugu) and covers awide range of habitats – excellent primary &secondary cloud forests, isolated highlandswamps, grassland and bamboo. It is contiguouswith the Kibira National Park in Burundi (400sq km)....

• 2015 [03 March] - Hilary MacBean

  PDF Report
  We started in Kigali and travelled to a variety of habitats throughout the country. The key components were Akagera National Park, a dry area of savannah and swamps in the East, close to the border with Tanzania; the Nyabarongo swamps and Bugasera farmlands in the South; Nyungwe National Park in the South West; the Volcanoes National Park in the North and Gisenyi on Lake Kivu in the North West.

• 2016 [05 May] - David Karr

  PDF Report
  A business trip to Rwanda offered opportunities for a short, one-day birding trip to Akagera NationalPark. A protected area since 1934, Akagera is mostly open savanna land, dotted with several lakesand extensive marshland....

• 2016 [05 May] - David Karr - Kigali – One Day Birding around the Rwandan Capital

  PDF Report
  A business trip to Rwanda offered opportunities for a short, one-day birding trip to the marshesaround the capital, Kigali...

• 2016 [08 August] - Henk Hendriks - Uganda & Rwanda

  PDF Report
  It surely is one of the most unspoilt, beautiful forests I ever saw. An advantage is also that anexcellent tarmac road traverses the park, giving easy access to the excellent trail system of thepark. 26 Albertine Rift endemics have been recorded at Nyungwe including all the endemics ofBwindi with the exception of the Grauer’s Broadbill.

• 2017 [01 January] - Mathias D'haen - Nyungwe National Park

  PDF Report
  ...I think it’s useless to say that Nyungwe is an extremely good place for birdwatching. Being located in the Albertine Rift, it contains many of its endemics. That does not mean that birdwatching is easy, especially in this period of the year. January/February is called the short-dry period and is not a breeding period for most birds. This means that most birds are gathered in flocks and walking around in the forest is 90% of the time bird-less, until you stumble upon a flock of 20-30 bird species and get about 5 seconds per bird to identify it. Birds were mostly very skulky and observations were often flushing birds between the canopies...

• 2017 [05 May] - Heinz Ortmann

  PDF Report
  This short extension to the small, vibrant and land-locked East African country of Rwanda was aspecial experience. From an emotion-filled visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial to the once-in-alifetimeinteraction with Mountain Gorillas, and finally the vast bird-rich forest of Nyungwe NationalPark, we were treated to an amazing time. The variety of activities and substantial time walking thetrails of some beautiful forest provided the guests with an incredible experience of this prosperingnation.

• 2018 [02 February] - Crammy Wanyama

  PDF Report
  Rwanda is a birder’s heaven, the diversity of habitats here host some of the most sought after birds on the continent, a prime example is the Albertine rift ranges which harbour several of the regional endemics and yet the local authority does good maintenance of designated trails that make it easy to find them.

• 2019 [07 July] - Mike Bowman

  PDF Report
  This was my first visit to Rwanda and I had been looking forward to discovering the country for the first time. Before setting out for Akagera I kept my eyes open for birds within the city of Kigali.

• 2023 [09 September] - Nick Buys

  Report
  The main focus of our Rwanda Birding and Mammal tour was to see the key primates and as many birds and mammals as possible. With limited birding time we still managed to see most of the targets and some great mammals as well.

• Jared Cole - Rwanda on the Wing

  BLOG
  A blog about my experience with birds, ecology, and sustainability in Rwanda… Last updated July 2013

• Marcell Claassen - Birding Rwanda

  BLOG
  BLOG from Marcell Claassen - Living in Rwanda almost 4 years now. 10 years guiding experience in East and Southern Africa. **Birding excursions of varying length can also be combined with and/or built into existing itineraries…