Bird Watching in Rwanda Pro Tips

Bird Watching in Rwanda Pro Tips : There are many places in Rwanda where one can enjoy bird-watching, but the best time to do so is during the morning and early evening hours. This is because the birds are more active during these periods and the light is more favorable for taking pictures. Some good locations for bird watching in Rwanda include Butare’s Ibirunga Park and the Rwanda Museum of Science and Technology in Kigali. Since birds are sensitive to human presence, it is best to minimize your movements and noise to avoid scaring them away. Also, make sure you wear light-colored clothing so that you blend in with your surroundings. By following these tips, you can enjoy a relaxing birding experience in Rwanda!

  1. Watch the birds at sunrise or sunset when the light is ideal for taking pictures. Birds are active in the early morning and late afternoon when they are most visible and are less likely to be scared away by human activity.
  2. Look for local tour companies that offer bird watching tours. These companies are knowledgeable about the best spots for bird watching and have comfortable vehicles to drive you to these locations such as Volcanoes National Park. They also provide the necessary equipment that you will need such as a telephoto lens and a spotting scope.
  3. Dress appropriately. Wear light-colored clothes so that you will be easy on the eyes for the birds. Also, avoid wearing strong perfume or cologne as this may scare them away. For optimum visibility, you can wear a headband to keep your hair away from your face and keep it from getting in your eyes.

    Bird Watching in Rwanda Pro Tips
    Wattled Cranes
  4. Use a tripod and a remote control so that you can capture high-quality pictures. A tripod will allow you to take clear pictures of the birds without shaking the camera. The remote control will help you to take the picture from a distance without disturbing the birds.
  5. Focus on one bird at a time and take multiple pictures of it from various angles to get a better perspective. This will allow you to identify the bird later on. Take close-up pictures of the birds’ feathers so that you can see the intricate details more clearly. This will help you identify the bird more accurately when you are looking for it again,Bird Watching in Rwanda Pro Tips.
  6. Keep the volume down on your recording device so you can hear the sounds made by the birds.
  7. Practice patience when you are waiting for a bird to appear. You may need to wait for a few minutes before the bird shows up. Don’t worry if this happens to you as it is bound to happen at some point during the trip. Please remember to be patient because you won’t be faster than the birds anyway. it is best to stay put and wait for the right moments when the birds settle and get comfortable with having you around.

Best birding spots in Rwanda

Rwanda’s Lake Kivu birding experience

Lake Kivu is located approximately 45 kilometers from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and covers an area of over 2,000 square kilometers. The lake is the second largest inland lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika and it plays an important role in the lives of the local people. The bird species there include Great Blue Turacos, African Openbills, Wattled Cranes, and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, Bird Watching in Rwanda Pro Tips.

Albertine Rift Escarpment birding experience

The Albertine Rift escarpment is a mountainous chain that stretches more than 1,500 km along the borders of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. It has a wide range of ecosystems, including rain forests, swamps, savannah grasslands, and volcanic areas. The bird species you could enjoy on your Rwanda tours in this area include Dusky Robin-Chats, Grey-headed Canary-Robins, White-winged Warblers, Cassin’s Sparrows, Black-backed Weavers, and many more.

Volcanoes National Park

The Volcanoes National Park is located in the Western Province of Rwanda, about 60 km west of Kigali city and covers a total area of approximately 104 sq km. The national park is home to 8 of the world’s 14 volcanoes and a wide variety of different bird species. Some of the bird species that can be found here include Western Nicator Eagles, Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, King Vultures, Eastern Black Korhaans, and Hooded Vultures. There are also several lakes in the national park which are home to flamingos and other species of birds.

Bird Watching in Rwanda Pro Tips
King Vultures

Nyungwe Forest Reserve

The Nyungwe Forest Reserve is one of the largest continuous expanses of tropical rainforest in East and Central Africa. It is located approximately 150 km from Kigali city and covers an area of approximately 1000 sq km. Aside from being an awesome spot for gorilla tours, this national park has some amazing bird species such as Golden Olivebacks, Blue-headed Coucals, Streak-breasted Bulbuls, White-thighed Barbet, Black, Bird Watching in Rwanda Pro Tips

Birds are an integral part of the environment in Rwanda and their presence helps to enrich our daily life by providing food for us in the form of eggs, meat, and honey as well as by being sources of inspiration for artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and many others in Rwanda. Birds also play an important role in maintaining the balance of nature and helping us to understand the dynamic relationship between humans and nature.