My five favourite places to watch birds in Kigali

In 2022 the City of Kigali was awarded Wetland City accreditation. The City is also home to more than 300 different birds. They thrive in gardens, public spaces, and increasingly in the natural habitats which the City is working hard to protect and restore. This diverse avian world can also be found in the wetlands, hills and waterways, all within the city limits. Over the last few years of photographing Kigali’s birds I keep returning to five places. If your visit to Rwanda is only Kigali-based or time constrained to a quick work trip or conference, but you have some free time and want see some of Kigali’s bird life – these five places all give you options. Some you can spend half or the whole day, others are ideal for those short early morning trips. All are easy to find on google maps. All offer something different in terms of habitat and therefore species you’re likely to encounter.

Umusambi Village

Starting life as a private sanctuary for injured Grey Crowned Cranes, Umusambi Village is a restored area of wetland on the eastern outskirts of Kigali, roughly 10 minutes from Kigali International Airport. Umusambi means Grey Crowned Crane in the Rwandan language, Kinyarwanda. Now open to the public seven days a week, this nature reserve covers 21 hectares of wetland and wooded areas criss-crossed with streams and ponds. 204 species of birds have been recorded at the site since it opened, including the White-collared Oliveback, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Spotted Eagle Owl, Copper Sunbird, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, and Meyer’s Parrot.

Umusambi Village is also home to more than 50 Grey Crowned Cranes. Wild cranes also fly onto the site, which allows for great views of them in flight. In the mornings they like to roost on the tops of surrounding trees – Crowned Cranes are the only crane species able to do this, because of a longer rear claw compared to other cranes. It’s exciting to report that there’s been breeding success for mixed pairs of injured and wild cranes in the last few years, raising the next generation of Rwandan’s Grey Crowned Cranes. You can read about how Rwanda’s Grey Crowned Cranes were saved here.

With an onsite café and restaurant, it is really easy to spend the whole day at Umusambi Village wandering the trails and walkways immersed in avian awesomeness! Its location also makes it a great place to stop on the way to Akagera National Park.

Nyandungu Eco-Park

Opened to the public by the Rwandan government in 2022, Nyandungu Eco-Park is a 120-hectare restored wetland site nestled into the eastern side of Kigali. 10 km of walking and cycling paths take you through bamboo forest, open scrubland, marshes, and various wetland habitats. 226 different birds have been recorded on the site, including typical savanna species such as the Buff-bellied Warbler, Black-necked Weaver, Spot-flanked Barbet, Narina Trogon, and Red-faced Crombec. White-collared Oliveback is a range restricted bird that is difficult to find elsewhere in Africa, but here and at Umusambi Village they are fairly common.

Several ponds are dotted around the site which are home to breeding Malachite Kingfisher, Little Bittern, and Black Crake. Opening daily at 06:30 this site makes for a great early morning birding site and the onsite café and restaurant also make it an option for longer trips too. It stays open long into the evenings, allowing visitors to watch Square-tailed Nightjars around the restaurant.

Fazenda Sengha

Located on the top of Mount Kigali in the south-eastern outskirts of Kigali City, Fazenda Sengha is an outdoor recreation centre with horse riding, archery, zip lines, and much more. The wooded areas and higher elevation of the location make it a great place to see some awesome birds too! 123 species have been recorded at the site so far, including the Lanner Falcon, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Northern Puffback, Fiery-necked Nightjar, and White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher.

The stunning panoramic views also make it a great place to spot soaring raptors, swifts, and swallows. With an onsite bar and restaurant, it’s easy to spend the day at Fazenda Sengha.

Nyarutarama lake

Nestled on a valley floor and surrounded on three sides with trees and wetland, and the Kigali Golf Resort and Villas on the other, Nyarutarama lake is a great spot for an early morning visit to soak up the dawn chorus and see some great birds. A trail takes you around much of the lake, although it does get muddy during the seasonal rains. 239 bird species have so far been recorded on the site, reflecting the efforts of many birders over the years – so expect to see fewer species on a single visit than at Umusambi Village or Nyandungu Ecopark. It is the best site in Kigali for ducks, mostly White-faced Whistling Duck and Yellow-billed Teal, and there are always Woodland Kingfisher, Black-headed Heron, and other wetland birds. Bat Hawk can sometimes be seen in the trees, especially in the early morning, and it is the best place in Kigali to find African Fish Eagles.

Masaka / Inyange Factory Wetland

Located between Nyandungu Eco-Park and Umusambi Village on the main eastern road (RN3) out of Kigali, Masaka / Inyange Factory Wetland sits behind the Inyange Factory. The site is great for early morning visits, I often stop here before continuing to Umusambi Village (which unless organised beforehand doesn’t open until 8 AM). If you’ve got other plans in Kigali that day after your visit, keep in mind the traffic can get heavy and slow moving as you return to town. 189 species have been recorded at the site, including Grey Crowned Crane, Long-toed Lapwing, Pink-backed Pelican, and African Jacana. It’s a large wetland, and undoubtedly holds more birds than are reported, so it is worth exploring fully if you have time.

While Rwanda’s National Parks and other areas of the country boast some amazing avian diversity, the City of Kigali also provides some wonderful opportunities to access nature and see our feathered friends without the need to travel far.