Rugezi Marsh

Rugezi is a peat marsh of around six thousand hectares in the northern highlands, feeding the twin lakes below it and, through them, the country's hydroelectric supply. It was drained in places in the 1990s with serious consequences for water levels downstream, and has since been restored. It is the most important site in Rwanda for the grey crowned crane, a species that has been badly hit by capture for the pet trade, along with other wetland birds.

What you actually see

• The grey crowned cranes - the country's main population, in a species under heavy pressure.
• The peat marsh - six thousand hectares of highland wetland.
• The papyrus and sedge - the vegetation covering the valley floor.
• The restoration - the recovery after the drainage of the 1990s.

When to go

June to September and December to February are the drier windows and easiest for access. Cranes are present year round. Early morning is best for birds.

Honest expectations

There is no visitor infrastructure: no hides, no boardwalks and no signage. Access is on foot along the edges with a local guide. The ground is wet and boots are essential.

Nearby

The twin lakes are west, and Musanze is beyond them.