Destination Kivu Belt

Birding at Bethany Hotel

The Bethany Hotel is perfectly located right on the shores of Lake Kivu, within 20 minutes walking distance from Karongi Town. The Hotel has a big lush garden that offers a quiet and calm place for birding and relaxing. The garden comprises exotic and native trees that provide refuge to spectacular bird species, including the Black-crowned Waxbill, Mountain Buzzard and the Palearctic migrant Willow Warbler.

You can take a boat to explore the numerous islands on the Lake, including Napoleon’s Island, where you can spot birds like the Common Sandpiper, Great Cormorant, Red-capped Robin-chat, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, a large number of Fruit Bats and other aquatic species.

The Resort is one hour away from the Gishwati-Mukura National Park, where more than 100 species, including 20 Albertine Rift endemics, can be spotted, along with other attractions such as Chimpanzees.

It is two hours from the Nyungwe National Park, home to 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 Resort.

Bird List

African Common Stonechat
African Dusky Flycatcher
African Palm Swift
African Pied Crow
Black-crowned Waxbill
Bronze Mannikin
Brown-throated Wattle-eye
Common Kestrel
Common Sandpiper
Dark-capped (Common) Bulbul
Familiar Chat
Grey-caped Warbler
Hadada Ibis
Hollub’s Golden Weaver
Little Bee-eater
Mountain Buzzard
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
Pied Kingfisher
Red-billed Firefinch
Red-eyed Dove
Red-ckecked Cordon Blue
Red-chested Sunbird
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Tropical Boubou
Variable Sunbird
White-browed Robin-chat
White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher
White-tailed Blue-flycatcher
Willow Warbler
Yellow-billed Kite
Yellow-fronted Canary
Yellow-throated Greenbul


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