Bird watching in Nyungwe forest national park.
Observing birds in Nyungwe Forest National Park One of Africa’s oldest rainforests, Nyungwe Forest National Park is situated in the southwest of Rwanda between Lake Kivu and the Burundian border. Originally created in 1903 as a forest reserve, the national park was elevated to a national park in 2004.
The 970 square kilometer Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to a variety of wildlife species, including 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, dwarf galagos, butterflies, and 75 mammals, including duikers, bush pigs, and giant forest hogs.
With over 310 known bird species, including 25 indigenous species of the Albertine Rift, 11 of the 23 Guinea-Congo forest biomes, montane birds, and migratory birds, among others, Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of Rwanda’s top places to go bird watching.
Bird watching in Nyungwe forest national park can either be done in the morning or in the evening and during the birding experience, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide and follow well-constructed birding trails such as Karambi trail, Bigugu trail, Gisakura trail, Kamiranzovu trail among others where you will be able to spot different bird species including the Great Blue Turaco, White Tailed Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Red Collared Mountain Babbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Red Throated Alethe, Ruwenzori Batis, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Kivu Ground Thrush, Archers Robin-chat, Ruwenzori Apalis, Dusky Crimson wing, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Kungwe Apalis, Regal Sunbird, Handsome Francolin, Stripe-breasted Tit, Neumann’s Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Congo Bay Owlet, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Rockefellers Sunbird, Barred Long Tailed Cuckoo, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Blue-headed Sunbird, Strange Weaver, White Bellied Robin Chat, Grey-chested Kakamega, Doherty’s Bush Shrike, Blue Turaco among others.
The ideal time of year to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park to see birds
The best time to go bird watching in Nyungwe Forest National Park is during the wet season, which runs from March to May and September to November. This is because there is an abundance of food for the birds during this time, allowing you to see a variety of migratory and colorful bird species.
Accommodations available in Nyungwe Forest National Park
During your birding safari, you may stay at a variety of lodging options in and around Nyungwe Forest National Park. One and Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge, Chimpanzee Lodge Gisakura, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Kitabi Eco-Centre, Golden Monkey Hotel, Mariah Hill Resort, Rwiza Village, Gisakura Guest House, Nyungwe Top View Hotel, Gisakura Family Hostel, E.R.A. Gisakura Visitor Guesthouse, Emeraude Kivu Resort, Rusizi Progress Hotel, Nyungwe Eco Village, Uwinka Campsite, and Café Resto Bar Keza are just a few of the affordable, midrange, and luxury lodging options available.
Things to bring to Nyungwe Forest National Park for your birdwatching expedition
A field guide book, hiking shoes, binoculars, a waterproof rain jacket, a camera and extra batteries, insect repellent, a wide-brimmed hat, energy snacks, drinking water, and a backpack are among the necessary items that visitors should bring with them on their bird watching excursion.
Additional activities in the National Park of Nyungwe Forest
Chimpanzee trekking, which allows visitors to spend an hour with the primates, nature walks and hikes, canopy walks, tropical waterfall hikes, and colobus monkey trekking, which allows visitors to see a variety of primates, including red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, Angola colobus monkeys, and Mona monkeys, are among the other exciting activities offered by Nyungwe Forest National Park in addition to bird watching.
The Nyungwe Forest National Park travel route
Driving from Kigali via Muhanga, Kings Palace in Nyanza, Butare, and finally reaching the park headquarters takes around six hours. Nyungwe Forest National Park is situated in the southwest region of Rwanda and is accessible by road transportation.
Another way to go to Nyungwe Forest National Park is by air. Travelers may reserve charter helicopter flights from Kigali International Airport to the one and only Nyungwe House with Akagera Aviation.
In addition, Rwanda Air offers flights from Kigali airport to Kamembe airport in Rusizi, from which visitors may take a one-hour drive to the park headquarters.
