Best Rwanda Birding Safaris & tours

Rwanda is among the best destinations to book excellent and successful birding trips in Africa; the country is endowed with 703 species, 29 Albertine Rift Endemics, diverse habitats to boost bird watching safaris.

Birding trips are mainly done in Nyungwe National Park west of Rwanda however, there are several important bird areas in Rwanda such as Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Lake Kivu, Rugezi, Akanyaru Wetlands and Nyabarongo Wetlands.  During you bird watching tour, look out for top bird species in Rwanda like Red-collared Babbler, Handsome Francolin, Blue-headed and Purple Breasted Sunbirds, Rwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s Warbler, Regal, Rwenzori Nightjar, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler and Neumann’s Warbler. And on a lucky day, you may spot Kungwe Apalis, Albertine Owlet, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Congo Bay Owl, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Kivu Ground Thrush and Willard’s Sooty Boubou.

Kigali city offers excellent urban birding trips in Rwanda; hotel gardens often hold interesting species of birds and Lake Nyarutarama or “Lover’s Lake” at the shoulders of the Kigali golf course is always productive.

Bird watching in Rwanda is good throughout the year but some months present favorable birding conditions to visitors. Birders should note that Rwanda has two major rain and dry seasons. The dry period of December and January is the best birding time in Rwanda because the country hosts thousands of migratory birds from Europe, North Africa and the Arctic’s.

To have the best birding safari in Rwanda, we recommend you to travel with high quality binoculars, strong hiking shoes, pointers, a birder’s book, drinking water and snacks.

We have put together a number of professionally designed birding trips in Rwanda for you to choose from and contact us for booking or inquiry. Please note that all our bird watching packages can be customized to best suite your travel time, budget and preferences.