Papyrus Gonolek

Laniarius mufumbiri Ogilvie-Grant, 1911

Malaconotidae — Bushshrikes

Papyrus Gonolek, Laniarius mufumbiri, is a bird of papyrus swamps in Uganda, western Kenya, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. It belongs to the bushshrikes in the family Malaconotidae and was described by Ogilvie-Grant in 1911. Its range is tied to swampy river systems and lake margins, where it is confined to papyrus. It is a difficult bird to see and has been little studied. The sexes look alike, and the species is known for its brief whistles and harsh tearing notes.

Order
Passeriformes
Family
Malaconotidae — Bushshrikes
Breeding range
Africa: Uganda to w Kenya, e DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi
Papyrus Gonolek
© Francesco Veronesi from Italy · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

22 tours in Uganda 17, Rwanda 3, Kenya 2

12-Day Uganda Birding, Safari and Primates Tour – 2027
12-Day Uganda Birding, Safari and Primates Tour – 2027
Uganda / Entebbe Group tour 12 days

A 12-day Uganda circuit combining Shoebill and Albertine Rift birding with savanna wildlife, boat cruises and optional chimpanzee and mounta...

From USD 3,315 Next: Feb 11, 2027
21 Days Uganda and Rwanda Birding: Elgon, Semuliki and Nyungwe
21 Days Uganda and Rwanda Birding: Elgon, Semuliki and Nyungwe
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 21 days

A private Entebbe-to-Kigali birding journey combining Mount Elgon, several Semuliki forest days, Lake Mburo, Bwindi and two full days in Nyu...

24 Days Uganda and Rwanda Birding: Savannas and Albertine Forests
24 Days Uganda and Rwanda Birding: Savannas and Albertine Forests
Uganda / Entebbe Custom tour 24 days

An Entebbe-to-Kigali journey through Uganda’s major birding habitats, Mgahinga, Akagera and Nyungwe, with time for forest specialties and ...

18 Days Uganda Birding: Forests, Falls and Albertine Rift
18 Days Uganda Birding: Forests, Falls and Albertine Rift
Uganda / Entebbe Custom tour 18 days

An extended Uganda circuit with full days in Mabira, Budongo, Semuliki and both Bwindi sectors, plus Murchison Falls, Kazinga and Lake Mburo...

10 Days Kenya Birding and Wildlife: Mara, Victoria and Kakamega
10 Days Kenya Birding and Wildlife: Mara, Victoria and Kakamega
Kenya / Nairobi Custom tour 10 days

Link Nairobi and the Masai Mara with papyrus birding on Lake Victoria, two days in Kakamega Forest and Lake Nakuru’s lakeshore, woodland a...

7 Days Uganda Birding: Mabamba, Budongo and Semuliki
7 Days Uganda Birding: Mabamba, Budongo and Semuliki
Uganda / Entebbe Custom tour 7 days

A busy week from Mabamba’s Shoebill channels to Budongo and Semuliki forest trails, with Murchison Falls and Kazinga Channel boat trips an...

15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
Uganda / Entebbe Group tour 15 days

A 15-day Uganda birding circuit from Entebbe through Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Semliki for Sh...

From USD 4,685
1-Day Birdwatching Adventure in Kigali, Rwanda
1-Day Birdwatching Adventure in Kigali, Rwanda
Rwanda / Kigali Group tour 1 day

A flexible 10-hour Kigali birding day built around one of two route options: Gashora Swamp with one afternoon Kigali wetland, or Nyandungu E...

From USD 300
10-Day Wildlife and Birding Tour in Rwanda
10-Day Wildlife and Birding Tour in Rwanda
Rwanda / Kigali Private tour 10 days

A 10-day Rwanda circuit combining Albertine Rift birding, Akagera wildlife, primate trekking and wetland birding near Kigali....

From USD 4,200
8-Day Uganda Birding, Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking
8-Day Uganda Birding, Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 8 days

Eight private days combine Mabamba Shoebill birding with Kibale chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth wildlife and a permit-dependent Bwindi gorilla ...

15-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari
15-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 15 days

Across fifteen private days, explore Mabamba wetlands, the Nile at Murchison, western forests, Queen Elizabeth savannah and Lake Mburo....

11-Day Uganda–Rwanda Apes and Aves Safari
11-Day Uganda–Rwanda Apes and Aves Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 11 days

A birding and primate journey through Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Rwanda’s Volcanoes region, combining forest birds, game viewing ...

15-Day Uganda Photography, Primates and Birding Safari
15-Day Uganda Photography, Primates and Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 15 days

A photography-led birding and primate safari combining Murchison Falls, Budongo, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Rwanda’s Volcanoes re...

17-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari
17-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 17 days

A birding and wildlife journey from Entebbe through Murchison Falls, Budongo, Kibale, Semuliki, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Lake Mburo and Mabi...

21-Day Multi-Habitat Uganda Birding Tour
21-Day Multi-Habitat Uganda Birding Tour
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 21 days

A three-week Uganda birding circuit across wetlands, savannah, lowland and montane forests, Albertine Rift habitats and eastern grasslands....

30-Day Hardcore Uganda Birding Safari
30-Day Hardcore Uganda Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 30 days

An intensive month-long expedition linking Uganda’s major wetlands, Albertine Rift forests, savannah parks and eastern dry-country habitat...

Ultimate 26-Day Tailor-Made Uganda Birding Safari
Ultimate 26-Day Tailor-Made Uganda Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 26 days

A 26-day tailor-made circuit spanning Uganda’s Lake Victoria wetlands, western forests, Albertine Rift, Nile savanna and eastern dry-count...

8-Day Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Birding Safari
8-Day Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Birding Safari
Uganda / Queen Elizabeth National Park Private tour 8 days

An eight-day Uganda route pairing Queen Elizabeth’s savanna and Kazinga Channel with the Albertine Rift forests of Bwindi....

16-Day Uganda Mixed Ecosystems Popular Birding Safari
16-Day Uganda Mixed Ecosystems Popular Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 16 days

A 16-day Uganda circuit across Lake Victoria wetlands, western rainforests, Nile and savanna habitats, Bwindi’s Albertine Rift forests and...

Akagera National Park Birding Safari with Roger Irakoze
Akagera National Park Birding Safari with Roger Irakoze
Rwanda / Akagera National Park Private tour 1 day

Full-day private Akagera birding safari for savannah, acacia woodland and wetland species....

From USD 40
Tailor-Made Kenya Birding with Adarsh Nagda
Tailor-Made Kenya Birding with Adarsh Nagda
Kenya / Nairobi Private tour

Private, tailor-made birding guidance from Nairobi and across Kenya with birder, conservationist and photographer Adarsh Nagda....

12 Days Uganda Birding Tour – Bird Watching in Uganda
12 Days Uganda Birding Tour – Bird Watching in Uganda
Uganda / Entebbe Group tour 12 days

This 12-day Uganda Birding Tour is a comprehensive birdwatching safari covering the country’s most important habitats — lowland rainfore...