Bugesera and Gashora Wetlands which lie within the vast Nyabarongo Wetland system rank as the best birding hotspots easily explored on a-half-a-day-trip from Kigali City or tailored into a Rwanda Classic Birding Tour.
These vast wetlands support an impressive checklist of over 150-species across a wide range of bird-rich habitats from papyrus and reeds, to open water, mixed acacia woodlands and cultivation areas.
Bugesera and Gashora Wetlands are easy and well accessible birding hotspots lying only 1-hour drive from Kigali City. The wetlands make one of Rwanda’s Important Bird Areas (IBA’s) protected for its avian biodiversity importance and ecological balance.
Key Habitats to explore and Species-list while Birding at Bugesera and Gashora Wetlands
A day birding tour to Bugesera and Gashora Wetlands begins with a drive from Kigali City, taking ample time birding around Nyabarongo Bridge that lie on the boundary of Bugesera and Kigali Districts. The tour extends into Gashora wetlands located about 40-minutes drive south of Nyabarongo bridge to seek more papyrus-restricted species.
-
Birding at Nyabarongo Bridge within Bugesera Wetlands
Key highlights include a list of Lake Victoria biome-restricted species; the elusive Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Blue-headed Coucal and Carruther’s Cisticola. The swamp also attracts Winding Cisticola, Greater Swamp Warbler, Grey-capped Warbler, Grey-Crowned Crane, Black-headed Weaver, Papyrus Swamp Flycatcher, Malachite Kingfisher and more.
Wetland specialists include, Yellow-billed Duck, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Little Egret, African Jacana, Long-toed Lapwing, Fan-tailed Widow, Papyrus Canary, Slender-billed Weaver and more. The luxuriant vegetation on the wetland edges support, Winding, Red-faced and Chubb’s Cisticolas, Fawn-breasted and Crimson-rumped Waxbills, African Yellow Warbler, Red-chested Sunbird, White-chinned Prinia and more.
Woodland species include; Black-headed Gonolek, Lizard Buzzard, Grosbeak Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Woodland Kingfisher, Ruppell’s Starling, Lirac-breasted Roller, Shikra, Palm-nut Vulture, Hammerkop, Long-crested Eagle, Western Banded Snake-Eagle and Yellow-breasted Apalis.
More bird highlights include; Spot-flanked Barbet, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove, Fork-tailed Drongo, Red-faced Crombec, African Green Pigeon, Little Bee-eater, White-rumped Swift, Lesser-stripped Swallow, Red-chested Cuckoo, Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Grey-backed Fiscal, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Tropical Boubou, Red-chested Sunbird, Black-lored Babbler, African Grey Hornbill and more.
-
Birding at Gashora Wetlands
Gashora Wetlands lies south of Nyabarongo river bridge at the heart of Nyabarongo Wetland system, comprising of dense papyrus and reed habitats flanked by Lakes Rumira and Mirayi.
Bird highlights at Gashora Wetlands include; Malachite and Pied Kingfisher, African Darter, Purple Heron, Striated Heron, Squacco Heron, Yellow-billed Duck, White-backed Duck, Pink-backed Pelican, Black Crake, Egyptian Goose and Spur-winged Goose. The shy Little Grebe and Madagascar Pond Heron are seasonal wanderers here.