Birding Rwanda Albertine Rift Endemics

Birding Rwanda’s Albertine Endemics

Rwanda offers one of the safest and easiest access to the bird-rich and ecological diverse Albertine Rift Endemic Area. Rwanda’s impressive bird checklist of over 750 species includes up to 29 Albertine Rift Endemics which are a popular highlight on all our specialized and classic Rwanda birding tours.

The Albertine Rift covers the whole western region of Rwanda and is Africa’s most ecological zone supporting an impressive cast of endemic flora and fauna unique to this eco system. The Albertine Rift boasts altitudinal variations across diverse habitats and landscapes including the continent’s most stunning landscapes.

These habitats include vast highland lakes, montane rainforests, tropical rainforests, expansive savanna woodlands, lowland forests and high-altitude wetlands all supporting a wide range of diversity.

Birding Rwanda’s Albertine Endemics – Top Birding Hotspots that Lie within the Albertine Rift

Listed below are Rwanda’s birding hotspots that not only lie within the Albertine Rift Endemic Zone but also the most accessible to dedicated birdwatchers.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Stretching over 1019km²across the eastern wall of the Albertine Rift, Nyungwe Forest is an excellent birding hotspot supporting up to 27 species endemics to Albertine Rift alongside a superb checklist of montane and high-altitude specialists. This vast montane rainforest is traversed with excellent birding trails offering access to a varied altitudinal variations and habitats teeming with diversity.

Highlights include; Handsome Spurfowl, Neumann’s’ Warbler, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Dwarf Honey Guide, Grauer’s Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Strange Weaver, Blue-headed Sunbird.

Gishwati-Mukura National Park

Rwanda’s newest national park of Giswhati – Mukura lies North of Nyungwe Forest and supports up to 19 bird species Albertine Endemics across its montane habitats. Highlights include several shy-forest interior specialists, including, Strange Weaver, Masked Apalis, Red-faced Woodland Warbler and more.

Volcanoes National Park

Situated in the north-west corner of Rwanda, Volcanoes NP protects the steep slopes of up to five volcanic peaks that form the trans-boundary Virunga Montane ranges shared by three countries. Although famed by its epic mountain gorilla and golden monkey trekking experiences, Volcanoes NP is a top birding hotspot supporting over 17 Albertine Endemics out of over 170 bird checklists on these slopes. Bird highlights while birding at Volcanoes include, Rwenzori Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin and Scarlet-tufted Sunbird rare from above 3000m.

Rugezi Swamp

Stretching over 20km long and surrounded by towering terraced hillsides, Rugezi Marsh is an Important Bird Area (IBA) owing to the vast biodiversity it supports. Lying at an altitude of about 2100m, the extensive marsh Rugezi is an important water catchment area characterized by papyrus and reed habitats supporting up to 120 bird species checklists. The large marsh is a reliable breeding area for Grauer’s Swamp Warbler (Bradyterus graueri) an Albertine Rift that favors high-altitude marshes.

Other specials include, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Greater and Lesser Reed Warblers among a great list of wetland restricted specialists.