Bird Watching in Nyungwe, Nyungwe National Park is located in southwest Rwanda partly abutting the Burundi border, it is a vast area of mountain rainforest. The Nyungwe forest, land to thousand hills is also home to many wonders and the forest is one them, it has been in existence for thousands of years, in 1903 during the colonial era, Nyungwe which was colonial crown land was declared a forest reserve by the German colonial government between 1958and 1973 when the area reduced due to fires, woodcutting, poaching of animals, according to research a whole 150kilometer square of the forest area was reduced some biodiversity studies conducted in the area by the wildlife conservation society revealed a vast population of colobus monkeys, tourist centers were set up but later destroyed due to the Rwanda genocide in 1994.
Car hire in Rwanda gives you the flexibility to explore the many birding spots in the country.
The national park is also the largest tropical afro montane rainforest east of Central Africa it receives over 2000mm of rain each year, it is Rwanda’s largest water catchment area and it is home to two-thirds of Rwanda’s water. Nyungwe is stated as the most important site for biodiversity Conservation by birdlife international approximately 280 bird species, 25 of which are endemic. Nyungwe Forest extends to an altitude of 1600 to 2950meters above sea level, it is home to butterflies, moths, and other interesting insects. The park is one of the most important bird-watching areas in Rwanda with more than 280bird species recorded to date majority of the birds are forest specialists and 26are regional endemics whose range is only to few forests along the Albertine rift valley.
While in Rwanda you can easily find budget cars for hire in Kigali which will not only make your Rwanda safari affordable but also more adventurous.
Bird watching at Nyungwe is a little tiring due to its thick forest, birds stick to the canopy several birds some of them including; the great blue turaco, flycatcher, red-throated leather, sunbirds, gravers warbler, forest hornbills, red-colored bubbler, Rockefeller s sunbirds among many species.
Due to the thick forest, it can be difficult to view the birds and most of them stay on top of the canopy more than the inside of the forest, however, there are spots where they are normally seen some include bigugu mountain, karamba area near Gisakura, Kamiranzovu swamp, as well as the Gisakura tea estate. Forest birding is not easy but the wide road running through the park offers a great access point into the canopy, of specific interest Are the many Albertine rift endemics, of all the 37birds restricted to the range with difficult access, 27 are found in Nyungwe National Park. To enjoy birding, one is advised to come along with binoculars, long-sleeved shirts, and trousers.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is famous for chimpanzee tracking safaris in Rwanda and can probably be best enjoyed with the self drive Rwanda car hire option.
Besides bird watching, Nyungwe is endowed with several tourist activities to participate in like golden monkey tracking, canopy walks and hikes, chimpanzee tracking, Nyungwe forest is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda Burundi border in the south, Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of Congo lie on the west side of the park.
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