Planning a birding trip to Rwanda, here are the reasons to come birding here and pointers to help you plan your trip. Covering an area of 26,340km2, Rwanda sits high elevated between 1500m-2500m at the heart of the Albertine Rift Endemic area, the continent’s most biological hotspot. The country’s high altitude, excellent all year-round equatorial weather, compactness and great infrastructure makes birding here easy.
Although Rwanda is popular for its excellent and incredible mountain Gorilla and the Chimpanzee trekking experience in their montane rainforest homes, it offers the best montane birding experience unmatched in the region.
Where to Go – Birding Sites in Rwanda
Most of Rwanda’s bird-rich habitats lie within protected areas such as national parks, Important Bird Areas (IBA), Ramsar sites and wetlands. These are montane forests and rainforests in the west that lie within the Albertine Rift Endemic Zone, extensive savanna woodlands in the east and high-altitude swamps, open water and wetlands in the country’s central south. This broad and variety of habitats protect an incredible 750 bird species checklist.
The country’s western high-altitude montane forests offer the best montane birding with 29 Albertine Rift Endemics (ARE) local here along an excellent checklist of high-altitude and restricted range specialists. These montane forests include Nyungwe Forest NP, Gishwati-Mukura NP and Volcanoes NP within the Virunga massifs.
Along the country’s east is the low-lying Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s biggest and only savanna park, that protect a rich mosaic of habitats hosting up to 500 bird species. Of these habitats, is the extensive wetland system fed by the Kagera river that host various wetland and water associated specialists. The savanna woodlands and grasslands host variety of species coming at their northern-range limit including the East Africa’s endemic, the Red-faced Barbet and more.
Elsewhere across the country, extensive wetlands are protected as Ramsar sites and Important Bird Areas (IBA) hosting specialists from L. Victoria biome to high-altitude marsh specialists. These bird-rich wetlands include Rugezi Wetlands in the north of the country and Bugesera Wetlands both reliable birding sites for the skulking Albertine Endemic Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, White-winged Swamp Warbler and the rare Papyrus Yellow Warbler among other specialists.
Kigali City offers an exciting urban birding across the city’s numerous green parks, golf fields, lagoons, hotel gardens and eco-centers. Meanwhile just anywhere across this highly cultivated terraced highland country any small patch of forest and garden provides excellent birding opportunities.
While Planning Rwanda birding trip to Rwanda Consider:
- Trip Duration and Birding Sites to Visit
For most visiting birdwatchers to Rwanda, the major highlight and target is the Albertine endemics in the country’s montane forests within the Albertine Rift Endemic zone that cover the western region of the country.
These high-altitude and ancient montane forests are the oldest on the continent hosting up to 29 Albertine Rift species restricted to this endemic zone and a rich checklist of afro-montane highland species. Protected as national parks, these montane forests include; Nyungwe National Park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park and the Volcanoes NP offering the most accessible montane birding anywhere in the region.
Visiting birdwatchers with the experience of East African birds, might want to concentrate more in these high-altitude montane rainforests spread across the Albertine Rift zone. Our short birding plan of 8-Days Rwanda Birding Tour concentrates and focuses on the endemics and afro-highland specialists restricted in these montane ranges.
Recommended birding duration for first time visiting birders to Rwanda could be an average of up to 2-weeks to be able to explore the bird-rich birding sites spread across the country. A look at our tailored and well paced 13-Day Rwanda Birding and Primates Tour combines these incredible experiences.
- Best season to travel to Rwanda
Rwanda’s tropical climate makes it an all-year birding destination however there are regional variations according to local topography and altitude; in general, the country has got wet/dry seasons. March-May and Oct-Nov are wet seasons, while the dry spells come in from June to September and late Dec-Feb. The highlands in the country’s west and central receives more rains than the low-lying areas in the south-east and eastern regions of Rwanda.
- Do homework from regional Bird Field Guidebooks to generate a wish-list
Before you travel, take some time and do a home work about the regional sightings to generate a wish-list. This you can share with your bird guide to have a more species-target-driven tour. Excellent field guide of Birds of East Africa by John Fanshawe and T. Stevenson will help you familiarize yourself with local varieties. Other field guides like Birds of Africa, by Sinclair and co is also a good start. These and more have downloadable apps that come with call recordings. The popular e-bird is a great resource to find local sightings in particular birding sites you intend to visit.
- Consider Gorilla/Chimpanzee Tracking, Wildlife and Culture Experience Options
Rwanda offers excellent opportunities to trek along the two big apes, man’s closest relatives, the mountain gorilla and the charismatic chimpanzee. While on a Rwanda Birding trip, you will be birding in the very montane and rainforest homes of these incredible apes. Volcanoes NP located in the country’s north west along the Virunga massifs is a home to almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas and the golden monkey with daily treks offered. Nyungwe Forest NP further in the south-west offers daily treks to several Chimpanzee communities protected in this expansive montane forest and other adventure highlights like Canopy Walk.
Permits to these life-time experiences are a high demand and require early booking and payments to fit in your Rwanda birding safari.
While birding in the expansive savanna park of Akagera, you will get excellent game views and photographic opportunities of the local wildlife including several of the Africa’s Big 5 list that occur in here whereas on a boat cruise on L. Ihema you will come into close quarters of the semi-aquatic Hippo schools and Nile Crocodile.
- Finally, Consider the Package Price
When you have set yourself ready for that planned Rwanda Birding trip, browse for various packages offered by local/regional operators and that’s where it gets tricky! Take note here, detailed write ups and species highlights mentioned in those packages usually indicates local knowledge and expertise of the operator. The overall package price however will come down to your planned birding duration, quality of bird guide, transport and personal comfort.
Rwanda is a well serviced destination with variety of accommodation plans ranging from super luxury to comfortable mid-range properties. The road network connecting birding sites is excellent although Akagera NP in the east retains that typical African wilderness feel that require a 4WD to explore well.
Finally, Don’t break the bank…!!
Take note of cheap packages, they look too-good-to-be true…and there are exaggerated packages too! Birding brings a difference to these ecosystems and improve communities that protect them. It should be rewarding, affordable and sustainable!
What to Pack for while planning Rwanda birding trip.
Once set, its time to park. A full parking list for your Rwanda Birding safari must include your usual birding gear, binoculars and possibly a camera along with.
- A hat and sun scream for the scorching sun
- Sunglasses
- A warm jacket or sweater for those evenings while in high altitude areas!
- Good walking shoes for forest birding
- Rain gear
- Water Bottle