Kibira National Park in Burundi
Kibira national park is a national park in northwestern region of the Republic of Burundi stretching through four provinces and covering an area of approximately 400 square kilometers. The park lies atop the mountains of the Congo – Nile Divide. It extends north from the provincial town of Muramvya to the border of the Republic of Rwanda where it is attached with the Nyungwe National Park.
The forest of the park covers about 16% of the park and it consists of the primary montane rainforests and it near to the two large tea plantations where one is in Teza and the other in Rwegura. Kibira national park exceeds 1,100 m in elevation.
The forest park is made up of areas with montane bog and the bamboo stands. Among the dominant tree species in the park include; Newtonia buchananii, Symphonia globulifera, Entandrophragma excelsum, and Albizia gummifera. It consists of more than 644 plant species, 98 species of mammals, and over 200 species of birds. Kibira national park is considered one of the most important sites in Burundi for the conservation of montane forest birds.
Until the year of 1933, this forest of the park was a hunting reserve of the kings of Burundi. The local people respected the forest and believed that it had magical powers. Its sacred character and the prior to the colonial period played a big role in conserving it.
Wildlife of the park
Bird species
Kibira national park is considered among the most important site in the Republic of Burundi for the conservation of the montane forest birds. The park is a home to various bird species including the migratory and the residential birds. Among the most important birds that are noted in the park include the great blue turaco, white spotted fluff tail, mountain buzzard, bar tailed trogon, the black and white casqued hornbill and many others.
Primate species
Managed by the Institut National pour l’Environment ET la Conservation de la Nature, Kibira national park is a home to a number of primate species including the black and white colobus monkeys, the chimpanzees and many others.
Safari activities in the park
Chimpanzee trekking
The thick forest of Kibira national park is a home to a number of primate species including the chimpanzees. Allocating these shy intelligent apes in the forest of the park is somehow difficult due to its thickness. When you meet them by chance, you will definitely enjoy their lifestyles at a distance. While having chimpanzee trekking, get an opportunity and spot other wildlife species like the monkeys and the giant forest squirrels jumping from one tree to another. While going for this activity, remember to move by the orders of the skilled ranger who will enable you move through the forest with ease from one place to another in search of them.
Bird watching
Spot a different species of birds in Kibira national park while having nature walks through the trails of the park. The park is credited among the important birding sites in the Republic of Burundi and among these birds include; the great blue turaco, black and white casqued hornbill, mountain buzzard, white spotted fluff tail and others.
