Experience · Bird Watching
Bird Watching in Rwanda and East Africa
East Africa is one of the densest birding regions in the world. Kelly plans private birding trips across the Albertine Rift forests, the Rwandan and Ugandan wetlands, and the southern African swamps where the shoebill stork breeds.
Nyungwe Forest, 300 Plus Species
Nyungwe National Park in southwest Rwanda is the standout forest birding destination in the country. Over 300 species have been recorded here, including 29 Albertine Rift endemics: great blue turaco, Rwenzori turaco, red-collared mountain babbler, Grauer's swamp warbler, Ruwenzori batis, and the small but spectacular regal sunbird. Birding is best on the trails around Uwinka and the canopy walkway, with the early morning chorus along the forest edges genuinely worth getting up for.
Kelly works with specialist birding guides for serious clients. These are not the general primate guides. They know the calls, the seasonal movements, and the specific spots where each endemic is most reliable.
Akagera National Park, Wetland Species
Akagera is a different birding environment. The papyrus wetlands along the Akagera River and the chain of lakes hold papyrus gonolek, papyrus yellow warbler, white-winged tern, African fish eagle, and a strong supporting cast of herons and ibises. Shoebill stork has been recorded here on occasion, though they are far more reliable elsewhere in the region. A boat safari on Lake Ihema combined with vehicle birding through the savannah is the best way to cover both habitats.
Uganda for Serious Birders
Uganda has 1,068 recorded bird species, more than any other country of comparable size on the continent. Mabamba Swamp on the edge of Lake Victoria is the most reliable shoebill spot in the country. Murchison Falls' Nile delta is the other. Kibale Forest, Semuliki National Park, and the Bwindi forest itself all hold strong endemic populations. A two-week Uganda birding trip with Kelly can comfortably push 400 species without rushing.
The Shoebill Stork, Murchison Falls and Bangweulu Wetlands
The shoebill is the bird most serious birders come to East and Central Africa for. It is large (up to 1.5 metres tall), prehistoric in appearance, and confined to a narrow band of papyrus swamps from South Sudan down through Uganda and into Zambia. The two most reliable places to see it are the Nile delta in Murchison Falls (boat trip from Paraa) and the Bangweulu Wetlands in northern Zambia (a more remote expedition that requires a few days set aside).
Kelly plans both. For the Bangweulu trip, she works with the African Parks operation and the Shoebill Island Camp, which has the highest probability of a close encounter during the right months (May to July).