Birding Trails in Nyungwe

Birdwatching Trails in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Nyungwe has one of the most rewarding and specialised birdwatching spectacles in East Africa, though in its deep-forested highlands of southwestern Rwanda, deep into the undergrowth drilled by dykes and trails cut by the forestry teams. Nyungwe Forest National Park is a stretch of montane rainforest, bamboo zones, wetlands, and rugged ridges, which span above 1,000 square kilometres of the border of Rwanda with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Such an ecological richness has rendered Nyungwe the most significant birding site in Rwanda, where over 320 species of birds have been recorded, including an astonishing number of Albertine Rift endemics that are not found anywhere in the world. To serious birders and nature-orientated tourists, the birding trails in Nyungwe are not just walking paths but highly guarded entry paths into one of the remaining great montane forests in Africa.

Nyungwe is 225 kilometres southwest of Kigali, and the major access route to the park is Huye, once referred to as Butare, and to the park headquarters at Uwinka. This route is a road trip of approximately five to six hours, traversing the green tea plantations, hills and rural towns of Rwanda. The vast majority of visitors to the park are mostly birding visitors who remain in or around the Gisakura region, located on the western end of the park, with some lodges and camps that enable easy access to the most fruitful trails.

The reasons behind Nyungwe being the best birding site in Rwanda.

The value of Nyungwe in terms of birdwatching is based on the fact that it is located in one of the most biodiverse areas of Africa, namely, the Albertine Rift. The forest is located between 1,600 and 2,950 meters, which forms a diverse habitat with lowland and highland species of birds. This renders the birding trails in Nyungwe suitable for observing the species not found in the savannah parks in eastern Rwanda.

Some of the most demanded birds in this region are the Ruwenzori turaco, red-collared babbler, purple-breasted sunbird, handsome francolin, Kungwe apalis, Ruwenzori batis and Albertine owlet. These species are associated with the forest ecosystem and can only be predictably observed in several locations in East Africa. Nyungwe is regarded as the most appropriate place in Rwanda to see them and, in some cases, is the only place in the country.

Due to this fact, birding trails in Nyungwe on a Rwanda safari have helped in drawing international birding tours, researchers and independent travellers who desire more than general wildlife viewing. The paths permit slow, silent travel across various forest areas that are vital in the observation of the canopy birds, shrike species, and mixed feeding flocks.

Birding trails and the Uwinka area.

The Uwinka is the head office and tourism centre of the Nyungwe Forest National Park and is located on a high ridge in the middle of the forest. Many of the most productive birding trails begin or go through this area, so it is the centre of serious birders.

The Uwinka to Bigugu trail is one of the most crucial trails since it leads to the mountain, Bigugu, which is among the tallest mountains in the park. This trail goes through thick montane forest and bamboo stands, which are the main habitats of Albertine Rift endemics. The elevations of the area around Bigugu are especially favourable to species like the Ruwenzori turaco, strange weaver, and dusky crimsonwing. Bird calls reverberating through the foggy treetops are common in the early-morning walks along this trail.

The other important trail in the area of Uwinka is the Uwinka to Kamiranzovu trail that leads to the bottom of a very big forested wetland called Kamiranzovu Marsh. A totally new dimension is introduced to birding in this zone, where species of papyrus, open water, and forest edge are found. In this case, the birders can find the Grauer’s swamp warbler, the white-winged swamp warbler, and different herons and kingfishers. This is one of the most diverse birding areas of Nyungwe owing to the combination of forest and wetland ecosystems.

The western Nyungwe birding area and Gisakura.

The majority of the travellers spend their nights in the Gisakura section on the west of the park, in the direction of the main entry of this park (on the Cyangugu or Rusizi side). It is also lower and warmer, and this explains why there are slightly different species of birds in this area than in Uwinka.

The Gisakura birding trails are through the tall rainforest that contains huge mahogany and fig trees forming optimal habitats for the canopy birds and hornbills. The common sights here include black-and-white casqued hornbills, great blue turacos, and Ross’s turacos. Fruiting trees also flock to the lower elevation, and the colourful barbets and sunbirds are attracted.

The Gisakura trail to the Nyungwe canopy walkway is one of the most common trails. Although the suspended walkway is a tourist spot on its own, the surrounding forest is also a good place to go birding, particularly during the early morning when the birds would be on the move at various canopy levels. Taking the trails with a local guide also gives one an opportunity to walk quietly in between the trees and look at birds that are on their way in and out of the trees, giving close-up opportunities at species like those that are hard to view in other places.

Bigugu and the birding trails of high altitude.

The greatest birding area in Nyungwe is the highest, which is Mount Bigugu with its adjacent ridges. These tracks involve a little extra effort, but they pay off with the birders having species adapted to cooler and misty forest conditions.

Of particular interest are the bamboo belts close to Bigugu. Here, the most common birds are the Apalis, Kungwe and Turaco. It has a forest that is not as tourist-friendly as the Gisakura region and thus brings a more natural feeling of the wilderness. The trees with moss and lichens hanging on them, coupled with the faraway calls, make the place a very special place to birdwatch, according to many travellers who are visiting Rwanda.

These birding trails are often accompanied by park guides due to the terrain and the elevation, who understand the best spots to listen and the areas to feed. This has a very high probability of observing rare and timid species.

Nyungwe seasonal birding.

In Nyungwe, you can visit the birding trails at any time of the year, although each season will influence the view you get and the ease of navigation through the forest. The dry seasons, especially those between June and September and between December and February, are the most comfortable to walk in with less mud, and the paths in the forest are clear. The activity of birds during these months is high in the afternoons and evenings.

Heavier rain is in the wetter seasons between March and May and October and November; however, during these seasons, many birds are in breeding season. This implies that there is increased singing and show behaviour, and this makes the birds easier to find. Nevertheless, the paths are quite slippery, and proper footwear and rainproofs are necessary.

Guiding and leading birding trails in Nyungwe.

Nyungwe is easily accessible by road through Huye to Gisakura or Uwinka through Kigali. A large number of visitors will go on a birding trip alongside chimpanzee tracking, canopy walkway tours, and forest hikes to Nyungwe, not as a one-day visit but as a multi-day visit.

Any birding within the trails is accompanied by professional guides who know the calls of birds, their movement habits and their ideal habitat. This is more so when we are in a thick forest like Nyungwe, where the birds can be heard before they are seen. It can also be of great importance to get an expert birding guide to enhance the experience.

A place that should be included in the list of any birder.

The birding trails in Nyungwe are not necessarily the tracks through a forest; they are the door leading to one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in Africa. The rainforests of the lowlands around Gisakura to the misty highlands around Bigugu and the wetlands of Kamiranzovu all define the different aspects of the natural heritage of Rwanda, with each trail bringing out a new perspective. Nyungwe has something to offer to those travellers who appreciate wildlife, conservation and meaningful experiences with nature.

You can be an avid birder in search of Albertine Rift endemics or a nature enthusiast just looking to explore more than just the savannah, and the inclusion of the birding trails in the Nyungwe into your itinerary will add richness, discovery and memories beyond the typical East African adventure.