List of birds in Akagera national park
List of birds in Akagera national park- Although Akagera national park is popular for game drives and hosting most of the wild animals in Rwanda, it is also one of the best birding spots in Rwanda. Akagera national park located on the eastern side of Rwanda is one of the best birding sites in the country. The park hosts over 525 bird species that have found their home in the thick savannah, swamp, and montane type of vegetation. Akagera national park was open for tourism in 2009 and birding has been one of the activities that are carried out in this park.
Apart from Akagera national park being home to over 400 bird species, it is also a home to different wild animals that are found nowhere else but in this park in the whole of Rwanda. Akagera national park is a home to sitatungas, zebras, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, cape elands, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, waterbucks, topis, bushbucks, roan antelopes, hyenas, impalas, and leopards to mention but a few.
Akagera national park also hosts 7 small lakes such as Lake Ihema where boat cruises are done, Lake Shakani where sport fishing is done, Lake Hago, Lake Mihindi, Lake Kivumba, and Lake Rwanyakizinga. If you are a bird lover and want to spot as many birds as you want then don’t think twice about visiting Akagera national park.
Tourists from outside countries will have to fly to Kigali international airport and then connect with their tour operator who will be ready waiting for them at the airport. You will be driven to Akagera national park which is in the northeastern part of the country in Kayonza and the journey will take 2-3 hours of going through different rolling hills, vegetation and meeting smiling people.
Bird watching activities in Akagera national park
Bird watching activities in Akagera national park are done from the different birding spots within the park. The activity is done with the help of a ranger guide who takes the birders to different areas of the park where birds concentrate as they also protect them from the dangerous wild animals. Akagera national park is among the most important birding areas in Rwanda with over 400 bird species that have been recorded in the park.
List of birds in Akagera national park
There are over 400 bird species in Akagera national park and here we are going to list as many as we can that you will be likely to spot on a birding safari in this park. Amur falcon, hamerkop, African jacana, blue-shouldered robin-chat, beaudouin’s snake eagle, African grey hornbill, booted eagle, cardinal woodpecker, browned-chested lapwing, grey crowned crane, cabanis’s bunting, carruther’s cisticola, white-faced whistling duck, goliath heron, black-headed weaver, denham’s bustard, eleonora’s falcon, blue checked bee-eater, dimorphic egret, red-faced barbet, and yellow-billed eremomela.
Other bird species in Akagera national park include white-winged swamp warbler, helmeted guinea fowl, papyrus gonolek, souza’s shrike, tabora cisticola, red-winged francolin, crested barbet, grasshopper buzzard, dimorphic egret, stripped pipit, common squacco heron, northern brown-throated weaver, grey-backed fiscal, sooty falcon, palm nut vulture, slate-colored boubou, long-tailed cormorant, ring-necked francolin, ring-winged francolin, black-headed weaver, short-tailed pipit, shoebill stork, pin tailed whydah, saddle-billed stork, shelley’s francolin, and grey-backed fiscal.
Other notable bird species in Akagera national are woodland kingfisher, palm-nut vulture, white-browed coucal, great egret, white-backed vultures, eastern grey plantain-eater, lilac-breasted roller, crowned lapwing, white-browed coucal, African rock pigeon, eastern grey plantain eater, crested barbet, woodland kingfisher, little bee-eater, lesser striped swallow, long created eagle, red-billed fire finch, African darter, northern fiscal, marabou stork, saddle-billed stork, crowned lapwing, cattle egret, and ross’s turaco among others.
The best time to do birding in Akagera national park
Birding in Akagera national park is done throughout the year but there are months that are better than the east. In the dry season of June to September, there is little or no rainfall and this leaves the trucks, the vegetation si short for clear views of the birds, and the roads leading to the park are passable.
The rainy season of October to November is also good for birding because that is when migratory birds are in the park which means birders will benefit from spotting the permanent birds of the park as well as migratory birds. Most birds concentrate in the park in the rainy seasons due to plenty of food but there is always too much rainfall, the game trucks are muddy, the roads leading to the park are impassable but there are huge discounts on accommodation facilities.
What to pack for a birding safari in Akagera national park?
After confirming your birding safari in Akagera national park, you have to think about what you need to have the best of their safari and this is what we think shouldn’t miss on your packing list. The birding books, a pair of binoculars, a camera, drinking water bottle, waterproof hiking shoes, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellents, rain jacket, long-sleeved clothes, face mask, sanitizer, and energy-giving snacks.
Where to stay on a birding safari in Akagera national park?
There are so many accommodation options in and around Akagera national park so birders coming for a safari in the park don’t have to worry about where they will stay. Some of the accommodation facilities in Akagera national park include Karenge Bush Camp, Magashi Safari Camp, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Akarenge Game Lodge, Magashi Tented Camp, Ruzizi Tented Camp, Vintage Cottages, Akarenge Game Lodge, Akagera Resort and Country Club, Nyagasambu Real Beach Hotel Akagera Rhino Lodge among others.
