Grey Crowned Crane at Umusambi Village, Kigali, RwandaGrey Crowned Cranes at Umusambi VillageUmusambi Village Logo

Join us at Kigali's first Wildlife Sanctuary!

See the majestic Grey Crowned Crane in a semi-wild environment

We nurture disabled Grey Crowned Cranes in a natural environment

Grey Crowned Crane at Umusambi Village, Kigali, RwandaChildren at Umusambi Village

Activities and learning for your children

Join us at Kigali's first Wildlife Sanctuary!

Grey Crowned Crane at Umusambi Village, Kigali, RwandaBirds on Trail Umusambi

Join us at Kigali's first Wildlife Sanctuary!

Enjoy the walk in our beautifully designed trails

Grey Crowned Crane at Umusambi Village, Kigali, RwandaBird Spotters Umusambi

Join us at Kigali's first Wildlife Sanctuary!

Enjoy birding and watching other wild animals in this wildlife paradise.

Grey Crowned Crane at Umusambi Village, Kigali, Rwanda
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Grey Crowned Cranes

Grey Crowned Cranes Umusambi

‘Umusambi’ is the word for Grey Crowned Crane in the Rwandan language – Kinyarwanda

A Unique Conservation Project

Umusambi Village is a beautifully restored wetland area, providing a sanctuary for over 50 endangered Grey Crowned Cranes saved from the illegal pet trade. These majestic birds have been disabled as a result of captivity and are unable to be returned to the wild. Their new permanent home provides an enriching environment for them to enjoy nature again.

As well as the Grey Crowned Cranes, this 21-hectare nature reserve is a peaceful haven for visitors to enjoy the walking trails and be at one with nature, while also learning about our conservation work and the importance of protecting our natural environments.

About Us

Opening Hours

Every day 8am -5pm (last entrance 4pm)

Exclusive, early morning or evening tours available on request.

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Umusambi Village Logo

Located 8 minutes from Kigali’s airport, Umusambi Village is the perfect place to start or end your trip in Rwanda. Spend a half day or longer wandering our walking trails, enjoying a guided or self-guided tour and learning about the importance of these wetlands and how we can better protect Grey Crowned Cranes to ensure they do not become extinct. 

Guided Tours and Activities

Grey Crowned Cranes Umusambi

Learn more about the Grey Crowned Cranes and all our other wonderful wildlife.

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Our Conservation Work

Run by internationally acclaimed conservation non-profit Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, Umusambi Village is an environmentally sound place of interest for socially responsible tourists and locals to visit. The site has been carefully restored, supervised by our dedicated botanist, to remove all invasive and non-native species and populated with a large variety of native plants and trees that can support a rich array of wildlife. During your visit, you will be able to learn about the plants and wildlife around you and understand how important it is to protect wetland areas and promote biodiversity.

About Us

Family Fun

Grey Crowned Cranes Umusambi

Umsambi Village has activities designed with children in mind to help them connect with nature and learn about their environment such as a scavenger hunts, activity worksheets and hands on learning opportunities

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“Umusambi Village is outdoor education at its finest. As a family, we were grateful to spend a day in the beautifully restored marshland, walking, bird-watching, and learning about the endangered Grey Crowned Cranes. Our kids learned about the importance of the marshland ecosystem and planted a native tree that we look forward to visiting again in the coming years.”

Aila Malik & family, USA.

Umusambi Village, 19km From Kigali City Centre

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Our Future Plans

We have big plans for developing Umusambi Village in the future to make the visitor experience even better and to have an even greater impact on wildlife and conservation.

Click here to see our plans

Our Goals

Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association’s goals are to:

• Provide a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to critical conservation issues in order to create sustainable solutions

• Protect wildlife and natural habitats

• Engage and educate local communities and improve livelihoods

• Raise awareness of conservation issues

Umusambi Village fits into these goals by providing part of the solution to the illegal trade of wildlife and raising awareness about important conservation issues.

Radio presenter Sandrine Isheja visits Umusambi Village

Umusambi Village Biking Trail Launching Video

 

“Umusambi Village is a great experience. We loved wandering along all the paths, seeing and learning about so many different birds in their natural habitats. It’s fantastic to have this available so close to Kigali centre.”

Caroline & Laurence Dews, UK