Ruvubu National Park is a wildlife national park found in Burundi. Ruvubu National Park is considered the largest national park in Burundi covering a 508 square kilometres. Ruvubu Park is located in the north eastern part of Burundi and it borders with the provinces of Karuzi, Muyinga, Gankuzo and Ruyigi. Ruvubu Park is only 216km from Bujumbura. The official name of the protected area is Parc National de la Ruvubu, and it was designated supposedly in 1980. Ruvubu National Park got its name Ruvubu River which runs through the park. The park is the last of the previously large natural grassland ecosystem.
Ruvubu National Park neighbours Tanzania in the south. The park’s altitude reaches as far as 1836 metres above sea level with relative rainfalls all year through. Ruvubu River that runs through Ruvubu National Park is responsible for the floodplains and papyrus swamps found in the park
Ruvubu National Park is home to a number of striking flora and fauna species making the park standout among all the other attractions in Burundi. Travellers who get to visit Ruvubu Park are sure to be amazed at the vast array of flora and fauna found in this park, in Burundi. The distinct habitats in the park offer refuge to different animal species, species of birds, as well as various plant species.
Wildlife in Ruvubu National Park
Wildlife in Ruvubu Park is abundant and its distribution makes it possible for travellers visiting the park to spot different wildlife species on almost every turn. Among the various wildlife species travellers are sure to encounter are hippos, Nile crocodile, cape buffalos, various duiker species, waterbucks, 5 primate species that include vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, Senegal bushbaby, red colobus monkeys, and olive baboons; as well as about 400 different species of birds that include warblers, babblers, sunbirds and the papyrus gonolek among so many others, butterflies, plant species like the towering trees and proteas. Ruvubu Park had humans who had settled in the park evacuated thereby preserving the endangered wildlife of the park by providing them with their natural habitat free from human encroachment.
Activities in Ruvubu National Park
There are a number of activities in Ruvubu National Park that travellers can do while in the park. These include among others;
Game drives
With about 50km of tracks inside the park guided game drives can be done by travellers while in the park. Guided game drives have travellers spotting a number of wildlife roaming the park as they go about their activities like the cape elephants, various bird species, as well as plants. There can be night guided game drives where travellers get to go out into the park in the night with a ranger guide to spot nocturnal animals like lions and leopards which could be rather hard to see during the day, on a day game drive.
Walking Safaris
Walking safaris are like game drives only that they entail one walking on foot to encounter the savannah grasslands with their inhabitants including buffaloes and other wild animals, birds and different plant species.
Bird watching
Travellers can also do bird watching in Ruvubu Park. The shores of River Ruvubu is the most ideal for bird watching in Ruvubu National Park. Be sure to carry binoculars to be able to spot more birds no matter how far they are.
Boat safaris
Boat safaris are a great way to relax and also spot aquatic wildlife like birds and animals say the Nile crocodiles and hippos.
Nature walks
Nature walks have travellers extensively exploring the park. Nature walks give travellers an opportunity to learn more of the park and its inhabitants including even those hidden ones that would otherwise have been missed.
Travellers can visit Ruvubu Park throughout the year to take part in the various activities in the park. The best time to visit Ruvubu Park is during the dry season that runs through the months of June to August, as well as December to February. The rest of the months receive relative rainfall from time to time. Irrespective of the season, travellers can visit the park and explore it extensively with the various activities available.
There are comfortable enough accommodation facilities in and outside Ruvubu Park though not so many and is thus literally hard to find one. Travellers are advised on booking way in advance so as to secure their camping areas for there have been camping facilities put up in the park. More comfortable lodging options are rather far off, about 100kms away.
Getting to Ruvubu Park is not so hard. Travellers get to fly into the country and then be transferred by road or air to the park. Ruvubu National Park is only 216kms from Bujumbura the capital of Burundi. Travellers can charter flights to the park from a small airport in Bujumbura.
Ruvubu Park is a beautiful place that travellers in Burundi should consider visiting for an opportunity to get up-close with nature and also encounter a number of wild animals, birds and so much more. The park can be visited alone or could be combined with other attractions and destinations in Burundi like Rusizi National Park. Take time to reach out to a trusted tour operator to help you plan an authentic and memorable Ruvubu National Park safari.
Jabiro, Kirundo, Burundi
Burundi
508 km²
Many people in the Burundi's Mubimbi community don't have access to safe drinking water. They're exposed to the risks of drinking contaminated water from the local river which can lead to all kinds of diseases, especially in children.
Burundian franc (FBu) (BIF)
January, November
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