Kibira National Park is the largest rainforest in Burundi is contiguous with Nyungwe 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 of Kibira National Park
Is located about 48 kilometers to the northeast 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 Symphonia globulifera, Newtonia buchananii, Albizia gummifera and Entandrophragma excelsum. The forest contains areas of montane bog and bamboo stands.
Wildlife in the Park
- 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 (Buteo oreophilus), White-spotted Flufftail (Sarothrura pulchra), Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), Bar-tailed Trogon (Apaloderma vittatum)and the Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill (Bycanistes subcylindricus).
Getting here in the park
Access to the 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 Beyond Kigali City Tours.