Rugezi Swamp is situated within the Buberuka highlands to the East of Lake Bulera in the Northern Province of Rwanda, Rugezi Swamp is one of the most beautiful Protected Areas in Rwanda and an Important Bird Area in the country. It is sometimes referred to as the “Ruhengeri Marsh” and extends for about 67 square kilometers (6,735 hectares) and is one of the exceptional headwaters of the Nile River.
At an Altitude of 2100 meters (or 6900 feet) above sea level), Rugezi Swamp is known to be a “high altitude peat bog” formed from the uplift of Buberuka highlands coupled with the continued accumulation of organic materials in the quartzite rock-trapping water depression. This Wetland drains its waters into the incredible Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo in addition to also feeding into the Ntaruka Hydro Power Station in Rwanda.
The Rugezi Swamp
A vast expanse of Rugezi Swamp (about 20 kilometers long) catchment area actually sits in a flooded Valley and is surrounded by beautiful Hills, ridges, and highlands thus creating a phenomenal backdrop.
Recognized as an “Important Bird Area” by Birdlife International (a Global Partnership of non-Governmental Organizations that aim at conserving birds and their exceptional natural habitats) in 2001, Rugezi swamp and its surrounding areas are believed to offer refuge to over 43 bird species that include wetland endemics that include Grauer’s swamp warbler together with the White-winged swamp warblers, something that Birdlife International finds uncommon.
Flora in Rugezi Swamp.
The 6,735-hectare Swamp is marked by beautiful vegetation around its edges and a number of unique Wetland plant species that blanket its flowing waters thus creating a unique dense mat. Some of the must-see plant species include Papyrus sedge (or Cyperus papyrus), Silvergrass (Miscanthus or Miscanthidium violaceum), and Cyperus latifolius among others.
Bird species around the Swamp.
Rugezi Swamp is one of the renowned Important Bird Areas in Rwanda with over 43 resident Bird species, which occupy the swamp and its surrounding Afrotropical highland Biomes. There are a number of Globally-Threatened and species of least concern. During your bird trip here, expect to come across Grauer’s swamp warblers, Papyrus gonolek, Papyrus swamp warblers/or the thin-billed flycatcher-warbler, Grey-crowned cranes, thick-billed seed-eaters, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Papyrus canary, Baglafecht weavers, Yellow-browed cistril, Slender-billed starling, the white-collared Oliveback, the White-winged scrub-warblers, to mention but a few.
Other things you can do around Rugezi Swamp.
Besides bird-watching trips, which is the obvious tourist activity provided around Rugezi Swamp, visitors also have an opportunity to meet and interact with the locals to learn about their unique cultures and ways of life. Also, relish the breathtaking landscapes around the Village setting, Tour the tea plantations and processing factory.
Travelers can also visit the nearby Volcanoes National Park for its exceptional gorilla trekking tours, Golden monkey tracking, Volcano hiking/climbing, Dian Fossey Gravesite Hike, and Birding excursions. There are also opportunities of undertaking canoe rides/Boat tours on the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo, Musanze Cave tours, guided tours through Buhanga Eco Park, and a visit to the Gorilla Guardian Village to get immersed in typical Rwandan cultures and traditions.