Birding at Maison St. Benoit

Seven km from Rubavu (Gisenyi) town lies the Maison Saint Benoit in a quiet location with a big, lush garden comprising native trees and an excellent view of the Lake.

Our garden attracts a diverse birdlife. To date, we have 46 bird species recorded in our garden, amongst them the Yellow-fronted Canary, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Grey-backed Camaroptera and fisher birds such as the Pied and Malachite Kingfishers, and the  Great Cormorant.

We also offer other activities, such as hiking to Mount Rubavu,  from where you can have an amazing view of Gisenyi town, the airport and the stadium, Goma town in DRC, and Lake Kivu at the same time. Also, within 20 minutes, you can participate in the farm-to-cup tea processing experience offered by Pfunda Tea Factory.

From the Lodge, you can drive to the Gishwati-Mukura National Park in under an hour. The Park is home to more than 100 bird species, including 20 Albertine Rift endemics. You can also drive to the Volcanoes National Park, home to the famous Mountain Gorillas, Golden Monkey and other natural attractions, within an hour.

In four hours, you can visit the Nyungwe National Park, which hosts more than 300 bird species, including 29 Albertine Rift endemics and the quasi-endemic Red-collared Mountain Babbler. The Park also offers other unique attractions, such as the Canopy walkway, waterfalls, hiking, Chimpanzee tracking.

We have trained and experienced birdwatching guides who can also offer other guiding experiences. Should you be interested, please contact our reception for more information. 

Our birdwatching checklist offers you a glimpse of the diverse species of birds you can find in our Lodge.