Birding/bird watching safaris in Gishwati-Mukura National Park offer a remarkable opportunity to birders to indulge into the park’s rainforest to identify diversity of bird species. The huge population of bird species in Gishwati-Mukura consist of Albertine rift endemic species and forest birds. In total, there are about 232 bird species that have been recorded in this park alone making it an ideal birding destination.
Birding tours in Gishwati-Mukura National Park are best carried out with lead of an experienced guide. The park guides have worked for long in this park and they have knowledge of every kind of bird you will be interested in. 10 of the 232 bird species in Gishwati-Mukura feature on the IUCN red list of rare and threatened species.
The Albertine rift endemic birds of Gishwati Mukura
Gishwati-Mukura National Park is found in the Albertine rift region and most of its birds are special. Some of the Gishwati Mukura N/Park bird species are endemic to the montane forest areas of the Congo Nile divide and or only in Gishwati Forest or Mukura Forest and Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The notable birds to expect to identify while at Gishwati-Mukura include the Abyssinian ground thrush, black faced apalis, strange weaver bird, handsome francolin, Rwenzori turacos, grauer’s swamp warblers, regal sunbird, red-throated alethe, Rwenzori batis, grey crowned cranes, mountain yellow warblers, dusky crimson wing, woodhoopoe.
Other special birds include slaty flycatchers, grasshopper buzzard, purple-breasted sunbird, yellow ramped tinker bird, red-faced barbet, martial eagle, yellow-eyed black flycatchers, booted eagle, cardinal woodpecker, short tailed warblers, etc.
Bird watching in Gishwati-Mukura N/P
There are two birding sessions in Gishwati-Mukura N/Park. The morning and evening birding tours, these all begin with briefing. The briefing is done mainly to give a deep insight into the guidelines to be followed while searching for birds. Bird watchers are accompanied by experienced bird guide.
When is the best time to go birding in Gishwati-Mukura N/Park
Birding safaris in Gishwati-Mukura National Park are open all-year-round. But birders prefer visiting the park from June to September/December to February- the dry months of the year. These the months when the park receives either little or no rains and the bird watching trails remain relatively drier making them passable.
The rainy season or months are ideal for visitors who are interested in migratory bird species. Besides, the wet/rainy months are breeding months for most birds at Gishwati-Mukura N/Park and there are two phases -the March to May and October-November.
What to carry for birding tours in Gishwati-Mukura N.P
The list of items you should consider carrying for actual birding expedition at Gishwati-Mukura National Park include sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts/clothes, waterproof hiking boots or shoes, snacks, bottled water, voice recorder, bird guide book for Rwanda birds, insect repellents, rain jacket, safari hat, waterproof daypack, pair of binoculars, and many others.