Rwanda is one of the most endowed countries with birds. The country is gifted with forests and water bodies where a variety of birds are seen. The country protects birds within and those which visit her from outside countries. Rwanda’s bird sanctuary includes:

• Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe forest protects approximately 310 bird species, 26 of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley. It is one of the best bird-watching destinations in Africa. Some of the birds that can be seen here include the Great Blue Turaco, the Crowned Hornbill, and the Blue-Headed Sunbird.

Birds in Nyungwe forest include Great Blue Turaco , Ruwenzori Turaco , Black-billed Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Black and  White Casqued Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Crowned Eagle Forest Buzzard ,Handsome Francolin, Olive Pigeon, Cinnamon-breasted Bee-eater, White-headed Wood Hoopoes, Blue-Headed Sunbird, Stuhlmann’s Sunbird, Black-headed Waxbill , Olive Thrush, Slender-billed Chestnut Wing Starling, White-necked Raven, African Saw-wing, Mountain Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, Red-throated Alethe ,White-starred Robin , Equatorial Akalata  and so on.

• Lake Nyarutarama

It is found in Nyarutarama in Kigali. There is a little lake here which has been reported. For an inner-city location this is a little gem of a birding spot. For the resident, it is convenient and always a pleasure and for visiting birders new to Rwanda, it provides a good introduction to some local birds. Here, visitors are expected to see flanked Barbet, Yellow-billed Duck, Bat Hawk, African Hobby, Swamp Flycatcher, Red-chested Cuckoo, Red-backed Shrike, Little Bee-eater, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Squacco Heron, Sunbirds, Weavers, Cisticolas among others.

• Akagera National Park

This is a wonderful little park with stunning scenery and a wide range of habitats from lakes through swamps, flood plains, bush, slopes, and plateaus. Bird lovers can see more common species of bird on the drive-in and among which include Spur-winged Goose up a tree, little bee-eaters, open billed stock, marabou stock black-headed gonolek, robin charts, Common Scimitar-bill, Blue-naped Mousebird among others.

The plains reward visitors with the view of game and birds. Including the teams first Black-bellied Bustard in Rwanda and the teams first Slate-coloured Boubou. Skimming the long grass and resting in small shrubs found small flocks of Banded Martin and in a small pool, we saw what might have been a Marsh Sandpiper, nearby a selection of plovers including Crowned Lapwing.

• Lake Muhazi & Kayonza

Birding is all about getting there early and view a variety of birds. Jambo beach, unfortunately, has a captive Grey Crowned Crane (not counted). Expect to see Pied Crows, Red Eyed Doves, Bronze Sunbirds, Yellow Backed Weavers and Common Bulbuls, Speckled Mousebirds and Tropical Boubou among others.

• Gisakura

While on community walk and another nice feeding party in the gardens of the ORTPN Guesthouse. Expect to encounter White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher, Northern DC Sunbird, Paradise-Flycatcher, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Western Citril, Black-billed Weaver, Collared Sunbird, and Brown-throated Wattle-eye.