Top bird watching spots in Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe national park is one of the largest national parks in Rwanda situated in kisizi district. The park’s dense and montane forest makes it a specialized natural habitat and crowning it for chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk and bird watching. Nyungwe national park boasts over 300 bird species such as kungwe apalis, red collared babbler, great blue turaco, mountain masked apalis, bar tailed trogon, dwarf honeyguide, regal sunbirds, Rwenzori night jar, black sow-wing and much more.

Birdwatching in nyungwe forest also guarantees you to spot other primates such as chimpanzee, black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys.

Akagera National Park

Akagera national park is located in the eastern Rwanda named after akagera river that flows along the border of Tanzania. The akagera river also feeds into lake Ihema, the park surrounded by water sources creates protected wetlands boasting habitant for birds. The park hosts over 500 bird species and some of the birds are not found in any other parks.

 Bird watchers will spot a variety of birds such as African fish eagle, papyrus gonolek, brown chested lapwing, pennant winged night jar, Caspian plover, striped pipit, marsh owl, Ruaha chat, lesser jacana, crested barbet, blue headed coucal, shoebill, cardinal quelea, dimorphic egret, ring necked francolin and much more. Akagera park has 2 gates, kiyonza gate for entry and exit and nyungwe gate for exiting only enabling travelers heading to Musanze to manage time.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes national park is located 2 hours’ drive from Kigali city in the northwestern part of Rwanda. The park is known as the home of mountain gorillas. besides trekking the endangered mountain gorillas, tourists in volcanoes enjoy spotting over 200 bird species such as black billed turaco, handsome francolin, dideric cuckoo, African Emerald cuckoo, hamerkop, gray hooded gull, white winged tern, alpine swift, black crake, banded plover, black kite, common buzzard, tawny eagle, little bee eater, yellow rumped tinker bird and many others.

Volcanoes national park is easily accessed by birdwatchers from Uganda and it is the nearest from Kigali city. Travelers can easily combine their birdwatching safari with mountain gorilla trekking in the forests of volcanoes.

Gishwati Mukura National Park

Gishwati Mukura National Park is Rwanda’s fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura is made up of two separate forests – the larger Gishwati and small Mukura, forming a total of 34 square kilometres plus a buffer zone. The forests sit on the ridge which divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the incredibly biodiverse Albertine Rift in the west of the country. It is made up of 60 species of tree, including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo creating a habitant for birds.

This small compact park records over 395 bird species that includes the Albertine rift endemic species.  Some of the birds in this park include; Grauer’s swamp warbler, Ruwenzori Batis, Woodhoopoe, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Martial Eagle, Strange weave, Grey Crowned Crane, Dusky Crimsonwing, Ruwenzori Turaco, Mountain Yellow Warblers, Red-throated Alethe, regal sunbird and much more. The park was created to protect primates such as over 20 chimpanzees, golden monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys and L’hoest monkeys inhabitating the forests.

Rugezi Marsh wetland

Rugezi Marsh, a pristine wetland in northern Rwanda, is a hidden gem for nature lovers and birdwatchers. It was designated as a Ramsar wetland site for its ecological importance, this vast marshland is home to rare and endemic bird species, including the elusive Grauer’s swamp warbler and the majestic grey-crowned crane. The tranquil waters, surrounded by lush vegetation and rolling hills, create a breathtaking landscape perfect for birding.

Visitors can explore the marsh through guided nature walks or canoe trips, offering a chance to observe a number of birds and aquatic species up close. Rugezi also holds cultural significance, as local communities have long relied on the wetland for sustainable livelihoods.

Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu lies between the border of Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. Migratory birds flock to lake Kivu because of its beach land scape attracts different bird species such as pied kingfisher, white breasted cormorant, African Jacanas, Hadada Ibis, Sacred Ibis, and Yellow-billed Storks.

Kiguhu birdwatching wetland

This is a serene wetland located in Nyakinama area characterized by tranquil waters that create the perfect backdrop for birdwatching. From the melodious calls of native birds to the sight of vibrant feathers flitting through the air.  The wetland attracts birds such as African swamphen, yellow billed duck, little grebe, Red chested cuckoo, lesser jacana, pied crow, northern fiscal, African red rumped swallow, bronze manikin, Red billed fire finch, common waxbill, pin tailed whydah, African pied wagtail, fan tailed widowbird and many birds.

Nyandungu Eco park

The eco park is a haven for birdwatchers nestled in Kigali city. This serene oasis offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and community-driven conservation. Local guides immerse you in the experience of up-close sightings of various bird species.