The Top 4 Most Accessible Birding Spots In Kigali, Rwanda, According To Experts
Accessible Birding Spots In Kigali
Kigali city is the capital of the land of a thousand hills. It is Rwanda’s major entry point and a tourism hub that has attracted several travellers to the destination, popular for being the cleanest city in East Africa. Birding in Kigali is a rewarding experience. Guests on a birding safari in the country should consider spending some time in Kigali, as this will give them the chance to encounter bird species, including local types, endemic, and migratory species. There are literary birds everywhere which can be witnessed right from the time you land at the Kigali International Airport. Kigali offers several birding spots, and here are a few best birding points in the city.
- Nyandungu Eco Tourism Park.
- Nyarutarama lake
- Nyabarongo wetlands
- Umusambi village nature resort
Nyandungu eco tourism park is one of the first restored wetlands of the urban centers, it is home to more than 100 species of birds and is open to travellers between 6 am to 6 pm throughout the week, expect to see birds like the white faced whistling duck, laughing dove, levaillant cuckoo, little grebe, straited heron, speckled pigeon, wood king fisher, brubru, pin tailed whydah, cape wagtail, African spoon bill, lesser swamp warbler, great egret, African pied wagtail, bare-faced go away bird, little egret Twany flanked prinia, green white eye, common cuckoo, African rumped swallow, trilling cisticola, ring necked dove, tropical boubou, yellow billed duck, white rumped swift, little bittern, black crowned night heron, African pygmy king fisher, hamerkop, hadada ibis, green headed sunbird, African dusky fly catcher to mention a few. The wetland can easily be accessed through the well-maintained trails and is close to the international airport. Birding here can be done all day and at any time of the year.
Nyarutarama Lake is blessed with so many bird species it is one of the newest places that have been sighted for a convenient birding experience expect to see birds like swamp fly catcher, yellow billed duck, bat hawk, cinnamon chested bee eater, little bee eater, sunbirds, weavers, little Greb, Hadada ibis, white faced whistling duck, hamerkop, knob billed duck, Ross’s Turaco, white browned coucal, red-knobbed coot, to mention a few, the bird species are encountered through guided nature walks on the well distributed trails around the lake region you can easily access the Lake for the city off your busy schedule.
Nyabarongo wetlands are angelically placed in the south eastern part of Rwanda, underlined by river Nyabarongo the river is regarded as the longest one in Kigali along which is a growing vegetation cover acting as home to the bird species, around 250 birds have been recorded here to date, while here expect to see birds like yellow billed duck, fulvous whistling duck, blue billed Teal, Egyptian goose, little egret, rock pigeon, red eyed dove, laughing dove, African green pigeon, Ross’s Turaco, common cuckoo, common swift, African swamp hen, three banded plover, wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegalius, blue breasted bee eater to mention a few, these can be spotted on a guided nature walk with an experienced birding guide.
Umusambi village nature resort is one of the best birding spots in Rwanda it is a sanctuary for over 50 species of the grey crowned cranes collected from the illegal pet trade, besides the crested cranes the conservation area is home to several other bird species, small mammals and amphibians, while at the village expect to see birds like palmnut vulture, Fan tailed widow bird, speckled mouse bird, malachite king fisher, black headed gonolek, scarlet chested sunbird, woodland king fisher, Grosbeak weaver, swamp flycatcher, to mention a few all these can be spotted in the region on guided walks on food through the trails distributed in the ecosystem, a team of experts will assist with getting closer to the birds.
Birding in Kigali is a fruitful experience; however, it requires patience to have the best of the birds. It takes longer hours doing birding compared to when you are getting a wildlife experience in the savannah park of gorilla trekking. What to pack for birding includes a guidebook, proper walking shoes, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, gaiters, hand gloves, insect repellents, binoculars, safari-coloured themed clothes in beige and Khaki, and any other important items of a personal nature.
In conclusion, besides birding in Kigali, there is more to the city for example visiting the Kigali memorial site, Kigali city tour, enjoy a night life in Kigali among other things to do.