Birding in volcanoes national park is one of the most done activities by bird lovers in Rwanda. The park is famous for mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Birding in volcanoes national park can be combined with gorilla trekking or golden monkey trekking activities to make your safari fun and memorable. There are about 200 recorded bird species in volcanoes national park which makes it a birders parasite. 13 0f these bird species are endemic to Virunga Mountains and 16 are endemic to Rwenzori Mountains.

Birding in volcanoes national park begins in the morning after briefing at the park headquarters. After briefing, you are then headed by an experienced bird guide in the jungle as you search for different bird species that stay in the forest. If you are a good birder, you can spot more than a half of recorded bird species in the park.

Some of the bird species sighted in volcanoes national park include strange weaver, Ruwenzori turaco, scarlet – tufted malachite sunbird, Ruwenzori nightjar, Ruwenzori apalis, Ruwenzori batis, red – faced woodland warbler, Ruwenzori double – collared sunbird, lagden’s bush – shrike, grauer’s swamp warbler, narina trogon, lesser honey guide, palm nut vulture, handsome francolin, African long – eared owl, brown woodland warbler, archer’s robin – chat, Doherty’s bush – shrike, brown – necked parrot, dusky crimsonwing, baglafecht weaver, blue – spotted wood, bateleur, cinnamon chested bee – eater and red – backed shrike among others.

If you are planning to do a birding safari in Rwanda, consider volcanoes national park as your first birding destination. Don’t forget to pack a good camera, a waterproof bag, binoculars, lunch, water and others.

Birders in volcanoes national park can combine birding with the most desired gorilla trekking that makes you meet face to face with endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkey trekking and mountain hiking. Volcanoes national park protects five out of eight Virunga mountains and these include Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga, Muhabura, and Sabyinyo.

Apart from bird watching, volcanoes national park is a home to a number of wild life species among which include the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, giant forest hogs, duikers, buffaloes, African elephants, spotted hyenas among others. Volcanoes national park is where you find 5 out of 8 Virunga mountains and these are mountain Karisimbi, Muhabura, Bisoke, Gahinga and Sabyinyo as well as Dian Fossey grave. There are other three national parks in Rwanda that can be visited for many tourism activities and these include Akagera national park with big 5 animals that can be seen during the game drive, or you can choose to visit Nyungwe forest national park to trek chimpanzees and lastly you can visit Giswati Mukura national park for primate watching.