how much is bird watching in nyungwe forest in 2025/2026
Visitor category
Foreign
Foreign resident in Rwanda
Rwandan citizen
East African citizen
East African foreign resident
Adult
$50
$40
RWF 5000
$10
$40
Student/Child
-
$20
RWF 2000
$5
$20
Tourists are advised against making erroneous, incomplete, or false applications. Such cases may include, among others, applying for the wrong product, uploading a false ID or visa, and uploading an expired ID or visa. Please be advised that verification of tourist documents is done at park entry gates. Tourists who submitted incorrect, incomplete, or false applications WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY TO THE PARK, regardless of whether they paid for and received a system-generated permit. Click here to view mountain gorilla trekking safaris
In case of any doubt about your application and supporting documents, please send your inquiry to Devine African Safaris Reservation Office at info@gorillasafariscompany.com, Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour.
Rwanda Development Board accepts no liability for erroneous, incomplete or fraudulent applications
what are the guidelines for bird watching in nyungwe forest
Requirements
Reporting times at the visitor information/registration center for the guided birding walk are 6:30 in the morning.
To qualify for Rwandan or East African Foreign Resident status, foreign residents in Rwanda and East African countries must have a minimum of four consecutive months of residency status or work permit in their passport or diplomatic card.
A diplomat who has a residence visa can be allowed to use the applicable resident rates for his spouse and legally accepted children even if the spouse and legally accepted children do not have resident visas (reside outside of Rwanda).
Reporting East African residents need to provide EAC ID cards or passports.
A tourist with one Rwandan parent and a tourist with a Rwandan spouse will be considered Rwandan as long as the Immigration and Emigration Director General confirms it.
Restrictions
The minimum age for a guided birding walk in Nyungwe National Park is 5 years old.
Processing Time
A tourist permit will be automatically issued by this system upon completion of the application process.
Application Process
The application process is as simple as picking an available slot in the product of your choice, filling out mandatory forms, uploading the requisite support documents, and paying the applicable fees.
Applications are made with full details of the client (names, passport number, email, and phone number) at the time of payment.
Bookings and reservations are done on a "first come, first served" basis.
Rwandan nationals are expected to pay full amount at the time of booking
can i do bird watching in Nyungwe forest in 2025/2026?
Described by Birdlife International as "the most important site for biodiversity conservation in Rwanda," Nyungwe National Park is home to roughly 310 bird species, 27 of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift. Although actually spotting birds in the park's forests may be challenging, the bird songs you'll hear during the trek will surely make it more enjoyable. If you would like to learn about birds you might see and hear, book a guide for $50. at the headquarters of the Rwanda Development Board. The guides are so knowledgeable about birdlife in Nyungwe that they can identify birds by ear, such as the Rwenzori turaco and Kungwe apiaries.
With nearly 700 species in just 10,000 square miles, Rwanda is a birder’s paradise.
When it comes to birding, Rwanda is among Africa's most exciting destinations. Within this relatively small and compact country, there are over 1450 bird species, of which 27 are Albertine Rift endemics.
Highlights include the Red-Faced Barbet, Shoebill Stork, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Papyrus Gonolek, and Miombo Wren-Warblers.
Rwanda has seven Important Bird Areas (IBAs), including the three National Parks—Volcanoes, Akagera, and Nyungwe. The other IBAs are at Rugezi Swamp, Akanyaru, Nyabarongo, and Cyamudongo.
Rwanda’s location in the Albertine Rift makes for an ideal and stunning landscape for bird enthusiasts. Because of the diversity and appeal of certain species, bird-watching in Rwanda can appeal to visitors of all levels, from the absolute novice (who may have only visited for the primates) to the most serious of birders. Birding is experienced throughout the year, with the migrant bird season being from December through February.