Bird watching in Rugezi Marsh, Safari Rwanda

Rugenzi marsh is also called Ruhengeri marsh and it is also a headwater of the Nile located in a valley in the Northern Province of Rwanda and in the eastern side of Lake Bulera along the Uganda border. It is a great place worth visiting on your Safari in Rwanda, and it lies at an altitude of about 2,100metres and the vegetation is mainly the Miscanthidium violaceum kind along with lots of Cyperus latifolius especially close to the outer edges of the swamp. There is lots of papyrus around that point of outflow.

Its survival is as a result of the rain fall that this area received throughout the year, averagely, this place receives about 1,200mm every year.   This swamp is said to have developed as a result of accumulation of organic substances within some quartzite rock that has the ability to trap a lot of water.  Given its sate which is still a natural state, it is playing an important ecological, socio-economical site, a hydrological and also a historic site that people visit for its historical significance. More to this, Rugezi marsh is also used for recreational purposes thus making it a vital site in the tourism sector.

In regards to tourism business, it is a very great birding site given the fact that in 2001, this wetland was also recognized by Bird Life International. Within this swamp, there are 43 different bird species, out of the 25 species in Rwanda that are  Albertine rift endemic, only 1 specie lives in this swamp, there are about 6 species out of the 11 species  that come from the Lake Victoria basin and cross over to Rwanda.  There are popular birds like the Grauer’s swamp warbler, also the white-winged swamp warbler and many more living together.

There are also 3 species that are listed on the world’s most threatened bird species and these are the Papyrus Gonolek, the Grauer’s Rush Warbler and also the Lesser Swamp Warbler.

When you visit this swamp, try to search for as many birds as you can, a very knee bird watcher might be able to see almost all of them. Visiting this place a really great addition activity that anyone can do while in Ruhengeri. You can always combine visiting the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo with visit this Rugezi swamp. You will have an amazing experience and it will be worthwhile.

For more information about Rugezi please visit www.gorillas-safaris.com/rwanda-safaris/