List of birds in Nyungwe forest national park
List of birds in Nyungwe forest national park- We all know that Nyungwe forest national park is popular for hosting endangered chimpanzees, it’s home to a number of bird species and this has made it one of the best birding spots in the country. Nyungwe forest national park harbors over 310 bird species that have been so far recorded in the park and they have found their home in the rain forest, swamps, bamboo as well as shrubs vegetation species.
Nyungwe forest national park is located in the southwestern part of the country in Rusizi district. Apart from hosting over 310 bird species, the national park protects 85 mammals, 13 primate species and it’s home to over 1086 plant species. The national park has 13 primates among which chimpanzees and Angolan colobus monkeys are habituated for trekking activities at all times of the year. Nyungwe forest national park is easily accessed by road transport and air transport from Kigali and can be visited at any time of the year.
Birding watching activities in Nyungwe forest national park
Bird watching activities in Nyungwe forest national park can be done in the morning or evening hours but is a guided activity done a fee that comes with ranger guide fees. The birding watching activity starts with a briefing at different park offices where birders are taught about the rules and regulations of the birding activity before heading out to the jungle. The birders are led by armed ranger guides who know about the different bird species of the park and these lead them through different trails of the park looking for the birds. When the birders reach a certain birding spot, they stop and they stop and spot different birds in the area while following rules and regulations.
List of birds in Nyungwe forest national park
Nyungwe forest national park is home to over 310 bird species and these have been so far recorded in the park. The birds in Nyungwe forest national park include regal sunbird, red-throated alethe, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, barred long-tailed cuckoo, great blue turaco, Rwenzori apalis, red collared babbler, Albertine owlet, mountain sooty boubou, archer’s robin-chat, dusky crimson wing, great blue turaco, shelley’s crimsonwing, Rwenzori nightjar, blackface rufous warbler, stripe-breasted tit, handsome francolin, Rwenzori batis, Neumann’s warbler, and Doherty-bush shrike among others.
How much is a birding permit in Nyungwe forest national park?
The permits for birding in Nyungwe forest national park costs $50 per person per day, and those that want to do birding for more than 3 days do pay $50 the first day and $25 the following days. Without a birding permit, you won’t be allowed to join other trekkers in Nyungwe. The birding permit is bought from the offices which you need to buy before the activity.
What is the best time to go birding in Nyungwe forest national park?
Nyungwe forest national park can be visited for birding activities at any time of the year but there are months that are better than the rest and these are the rainy months. The rainy months between March and May, October and November are the best for birding activities in this park although there is always plenty of rainfall which makes the birding trails muddy and slippery.
During the rainy months, there are so many bird species in the park due to migration, inbreeding, and others come looking for food since its always plenty in the park. The birding activity takes a shorter time during the rainy seasons since birds are not far into the forest looking for food since its plenty everywhere. All you have to do in the rainy season is put on your waterproof hiking shoes, long-sleeved clothes and have your rain jacket with you.
Birding can also be done in the dry months of June to September and December to February when there is little or no rainfall. The birds in the dry months might be few compared to rainy months but the birding activity is smooth with birding trails dry, the vegetation shot giving clear views of the birds and the roads leading to the park are passable.
What to carry for birding in Nyungwe forest national park?
There are essentials to carry along with you to go birding in Nyungwe forest national park in order to have a successful birding safari. Some of the things you need during the birding safari include a birding book, a pair of binoculars, a camera, notebook, pen, waterproof hiking shoes, long-sleeved clothes, insect repellents, energy-giving snacks, drinking water, a rain jacket, hat, sunscreen, face mask, and sanitizer.
Accommodation on a birding safari to Nyungwe forest national park
Tourists intending to visit Nyungwe forest national park for birding activities don’t have to worry about where they will stay if they want to spend a night or two in the park. There are several accommodation facilities built outside the park premises where tourists can stay and they do range from budget to mid-range to luxury options with where to stay depending on your budget.
The accommodation facilities birders can use in Nyungwe forest national park include One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hotel, Gisakura Guest House, Gisakura Family Hostel, E.R.A Gisakura Visitor Guesthouse, Emeraude Kivu Resort, Peace Guesthouse, Hotel du Lac, Rusizi Progress Hotel, Golden Monkey Hotels, Comoran Lodge, and Delta Resort Hotel among others.
