Akagera National Park

Birds

Expert

By Ariadne van Zandbergen

Ariadne and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Rwanda.

With around 480 species recorded, Akagera offers excellent birding. Of the 480 species, 100 birds are not found in any other protected area in Rwanda. Akagera is Rwanda’s second most important birding site after Nyungwe, and the two parks complement each other perfectly – very few birds recorded in Rwanda can’t be found in either park. Akagera is a good place to see a variety of raptors, including bateleur, white-backed and Ruppell’s griffon vultures, and brown snake eagle.

Notable Birds in Akagera NP

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African fish eagle
Common

Birding Rating

Expert Rating

4.0/5 5 Birding Reviews

User Rating

3.5/5 2 Birding Reviews

Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders

Facts & Figures

Bird Species

480+

Migratory Birds

Nov to Apr

Best Time for Bird Watching

The birdlife in Akagera National Park is good year-round. Each season offers a different array of species. The Dry season, from June to September, is best for francolins, many wetland birds, nightjars and owls. The early rainy season, in October, is best for lapwings and many open grassland birds. Songbirds are most active from September to November and again in March and April. Colonial breeding waterbirds like cormorants, darters, herons, storks and ibises mainly breed from February to July. Migratory birds are present from November to April.