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As one of Africa’s smallest nations, you might think there isn’t a lot of competition when it comes to the top 5 national parks in Burundi. However, Burundi sits on the Great Rift Valley, on the geographical limits of east Africa. Its habitats shift between the waters of Lake Tanganyika in the west, to miombo woodland and grassy mountain plateaus.
There are just three national parks in the country. But throw in reserves and other natural sights, and it can soon leave you reeling with uncertainty as to where to spend your hard-earned time. Read on to discover all about Burundi’s protected areas and what you might spot there!
1. Ruvubu National Park
The largest of Burundi’s protected areas is Ruvubu National Park. It straddles the Ruvubu River in the country’s east.
Formed in 1980, it’s almost 200 square miles (500 square km) in area. Protecting some of the country’s last natural grasslands, it provides habitats for a number of plains species.
These include Cape buffalo and duiker, alongside predatory species such as lion and leopard. Hippos fill the river and its banks, while several monkey species occupy its trees.
Also a Ramsar wetland site since 2013, around 200 species of bird have been recorded inside the park. These include several species dependent on the waters of the river, the most obvious of which are probably great white pelicans and yellow-billed storks.
There are several ways in which to explore Ruvubu. Game drives can be organised during the day, and more unusually for Africa’s national parks, at night too. After dark is the best time to seek out its big cats.
Walking safaris will certainly get the blood pumping, while boat trips provide unrivalled opportunities to snap away at snapping crocs and hippos.
There are several hotels to choose from in the nearby city of Muyinga, or you can opt to camp within the park boundaries to be even closer to the action.
2. Kibira National Park
Pretty much diagonally opposite Ruvubu, Kibira National Park lies on Burundi’s northern border with Rwanda. It forms a continuous protected area alongside Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park.
Among Kibira’s treasures are the last remaining sections of montane forest in the country, since almost all the park sits at 1,100 metres above sea level.
Part of Kibira’s survival into the twenty-first century is because its trees are considered sacred by local communities. Thanks to this, visitors have the opportunity to head out on chimpanzee treks.
But if Kibira is known for anything, it’s the park’s birdlife. Among hundreds of species that inhabit the area, some of the most impressive are the great blue turaco and the black and white casque hornbill.
On the park’s boundaries, you’ll also find the elegant terraces of the tea plantations at Teza and Rwegura.
3. Bururi Nature Reserve
If you miss the chimps of Kibira National Park, you can get a second chance at Bururi. While small in size at less than six square miles (around 15 square km), the reserve has been protecting an important area of native lowland forest since 1951. That’s more than a decade before independence from Belgium.
The park’s impressive list of plant and tree species tops 350. But for most visitors it’s the animals they might encounter which make the journey to Bururi in the south of the country worth the while.
Unforgettable chimp encounters await, with chimpanzees actually being one of the easiest of five different primate species to spot.
Chimps aside, unconfirmed reports from locals (who are usually proven right) suggest at least one leopard on the prowl. If correct, this would suggest a healthy population of the animals, like monkeys, which they prey on.
There’s also somewhere in the region of 200 birds inhabiting the reserve, including the delightful rose turaco.
4. Rusizi National Park
This national park provides protection for the Rusizi River where it enters Lake Tanganyika. The zone on the lake source forms a small delta of papyrus, while a second zone encompasses the river itself.
The park lies just nine miles (15 km) from Bujumbura, the country’s largest city and home to the international airport. You can combine a tour of both Bujumbura and Rusizi as a result.
And while the species list may be similar to the animals that can be seen in Kibira (minus the chimp tracking), Rusizi boasts some of Africa’s largest Nile crocodiles.
In particular, there is one individual by the name of Gustave who is almost legendary. Said to be some nine metres (30 feet) long, Gustave has a reputation for attacking people. Tens if not hundreds of locals have been snatched from the waters here over the decades.
Whether it’s an individual creature or several is up for debate, but not the terrible result of taking the water safety for granted.
Other rarer creatures to watch out for are sitatungas, a type of antelope that lives among the marshy delta.
Despite the danger, boat trips are the best way to explore. Game drives are also available, with the park easily accessible by road.
5. Lake Rwihinda Nature Reserve
If it’s the extraordinary birding that’s taking you to Burundi, you really shouldn’t miss Lake Rwihinda Nature Reserve. Its alternative name is even Lac aux Oiseaux – the Lake of Birds.
Several migratory species use the scrub around the lakefront as nesting sites. And instead of making noise as you crash through the trees, a great way to get up close to heron and cranes is to drift towards them on near-silent barges.
The lake is situated immediately north of the town of Kirundo, from where most Kirundo tours depart. But since the reserve lies close to the Rwandan border, it’s as easily accessible from Rwanda as the rest of Burundi. It’s therefore really simple to tag Lake Rwilhinda Nature Reserve onto a trip to Rwanda’s top national parks too!
What are the top national parks in Burundi?
While one of Africa’s smallest nations, that doesn’t mean Burundi lacks in natural wonders. There are several reasons to consider spending some time in Burundi’s top national parks and protecyed areas, from chimp tracking to bird watching.
