Umusambi Village is a wetland area situated in Kigali city, it was restored and protected as a result of the urge to give home to the orphaned and captivated Crowned crested cranes in Rwanda. With only 400 cranes left in the wilderness there has been a rapid decrease in the population of the birds, the Rwanda conservation organization has been working hard to stop the illegal trade of the crested cranes or taking them as captives for decor or other purposes. While on the hunt for the cranes, they noticed that most of them were crippled as they are de-feathered for them not to fly away. Thanks to the continued efforts of the Rwanda conservation there has been an increased number of crested cranes in the wild.
Umusambi Village is a unique ecosystem of Rwanda providing a beautiful home to the crested cranes, it is a perfect gate away for a guided nature walk and a blend of wildlife experiences in Akagera National Park due to its strategic location along the route that goes to the conservation area. It covers an area space of approximately 21 hectares of land that had been destroyed for human settlement and agriculture. The increased threat to the crowned crested cranes is also attached to the traditional significance of the bird to Rwanda, the locals tend to believe that it brings wealth hence an increased hunt of the bird species.
From the time Umusambi Village was restored, in the shortest period the swamp has had a great increase in its habitat to a great wetland area, the ponds have been filled up with water and actuation life, growing thick papyrus, marshy swampy areas, and the developing woodland. These have attracted several other species of birds besides the crowned crested cranes there are over 100 bird species that have been recorded here, Examplesof species include the African fish eagles, harrier hawk, pelicans, trilling cisticola, olive woodpecker, purple crested Turaco, brown parrot, black kite, village weaver, yellow-breasted sunbirds to mention a few.
Umusambi Village welcomes visitors any time of the day, from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm East African time, activities to be done while here include birding experiences, and guided nature walks, when doing birding it is important to bring good cameras, binoculars, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, insect repellents, and any other important items of personal nature.
Umusambi Village can be visited any time of the year but is best during the dry season between the months of December-February and June to early September, the country generally receives low rainfall during this time hence doing activities at the village is easier, it is located in Kigali city a few kilometers away from the Kigali international airport.
Visiting the Umusambi Village can be combined with other activities of Kigali town for example visiting the Kigali genocide memorial, hiking the Kigali hill, taking a tour further to the national parks for example the volcanoes national park in the northern part of Rwanda for mountain gorilla trekking experiences.