Birding in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Explore some of the most interesting birds in Africa only on birding expedition in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Nyungwe Forest is one of the biggest montane forest dominated protected areas on African continent, spreading up to 970sq.km. Created in 2004, Nyungwe Forest National Park is an excellent bird watching spot with over 310 bird species.

Nyungwe National Park protects Albertine rift endemics and forest species making it a must visit to encounter a variety of birds in Africa. The park is ideal for bird watching all year-round, although the best months are March, April, May then November when birders can also come across migratory birds.

Birds of Nyungwe National Park –Rwanda

The bird species in Nyungwe Forest National Park: African hill babblers, Archer’s robin chat, Great blue turacos, Kungwe apalis, Blue headed sunbird, Bar tailed trogon, Dwarf honey guide, Mountain masked apalis, Purple breasted sunbird, Neumann’s warblers, Kivu ground thrush, Albertine owlet, Red faced woodland, Yellow eyed black flycatchers, Red collared babblers, Rwenzori batis, Dusky crimson wing, Eastern mountain greenbul, Chin spot batis, strange weavers, Red throated alethe, Rockefeller’s sunbirds, and more.

Birding trails in Nyungwe Forest

Kamiranzovu trail

Kamiranzovu in Nyungwe Forest is a special bird watching trail, and extends 6km. This trail gets birders exposed to bird species such as Grauer’s swamp, Grey crested Kakamega, to mention but a few.

Karamba trail

Karamba is a 4km long birding trail and visitors on birding tour can come across birds such as blue headed sunbirds, yellow eyed black flycatchers, Archer’s robin chat and more.

Bigugu trail

Along Bigugu trail -2950m, 13 km birding trail, expect to sight the Red collared mountain warblers.

Gisakura trail

Along Gisakura trail, the birds to be identified range from the regal sunbird, mountain masked apalis, Kivu ground thrush, and short tailed warblers.

Primates of Nyungwe

Aside from birds, Nyungwe NP is a rich primate destination, accounting for a total of 13 primate species. These include Red tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, chimpanzees, Dent’s Mona monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, Angolan colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, silver monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys and owl-faced monkeys.

How much is birding in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Birding fees in Nyungwe Forest National Park cost USD 50 per visitor per day. Birding safaris in Nyungwe can be incorporated with other activities such as nature walks, chimpanzee trekking, canopy walks, hiking, and more.

Valuable items to carry on birding trip in Nyungwe Forest

Packing right is a must if you are visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park for birding or chimpanzee tracking. Essentials any birder visiting Nyungwe should have include a pair of binoculars, a camera with extra batteries, field clothes –rain jacket, hiking boots, gardening gloves, safari hat, and a sweater; insect repellent, toiletries, daypack, and others.

When to go for birding expedition?

Nyungwe offers birding tours all year round, but the most preferred time is from March to May. June to September, become vocally active and can be spotted while feeding and April, although challenging due to heavy rains, it is the best months to see migratory birds.

Where to stay on Nyungwe birding tour

• Nyungwe Top View Lodge
• One and Only Nyungwe House
• Nyungwe Nziza Eco-Lodge
• Gisakura Guesthouse

How to get there for birding tour

Nyungwe National Park is easier to reach by road or air. By road, you leave Kigali city and drive Southwestwards through Butare, about 6 hours and you will be at the park. To save time, you will require a professional driver with knowledge of routes to Nyungwe NP and a comfortable 4×4 tourist vehicle for your road trip. By air, take helicopter flight conducted by Akagera Aviation to Nyungwe NP and save a lot of time if you had used road transport.