Visit Kibira National Park in Burundi. The largest rain forest in Burundi is contiguous with Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda, and is believed to still be home to hundreds of colobus monkeys. There are also a number of chimpanzees present (although they’re very hard to see).
Location
Kibira National Park is located about 48 kilometers to the north east side of Bujumbura covering 400 km.
Kibira National Park lies atop the mountains of the Congo-Nile Divide and it is estimated that around 16% of the park consists of primary montane rainforest, the only montane forest in all of Burundi, and is adjacent to two large tea plantations, one in Teza and the other in Rwegura. Dominant tree species include Symphoniaglobulifera, Newtoniabuchananii, Albiziagummifera and Entandrophragmaexcelsum.
The forest contains areas of montane bog and bamboo stands.
Wildlife
- There are 98 species of mammal in the forest and 200 species of birds have been recorded here.
- The Kibira is home to a number of primate species, including chimpanzees and black and white colobus monkeys.
- The park is home for birds such as Great Blue Turaco, Mountain Buzzard (Buteooreophilus), White-spotted Flufftail (Sarothrurapulchra), Grey Parrot(Psittacuserithacus), Bar-tailed Trogon (Apalodermavittatum)and the Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill(Bycanistessubcylindricus)..
Getting here
Access to the Kibira National Park is via the northern town of Kayanza (which had several places to stay of reasonable standard), but the park itself is fairly uncharted and you would do well to organize a visit through Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris.
