Authentic Guide to Ruvubu National Park Burundi
Ruvuba National Park – Tourists Attraction in Burundi
Located in north-eastern Burundi, the park stretches over 4 administrative provinces such as Cankuzo, Karuzi, Muyinga and Ruyigi and covers an area of 50,900 ha. The altitude varies between 1,350 m and 1,836 m and the rainfall varies from 1,100 m to 1,200 mm per annum.
This park extends south-westwards from the border with Tanzania along a 65 km stretch of the valley of Ruvubu River of which it takes its name. The south-west boundary of the park lies some 20 km to the east of the town of Gitega. The Ruvubu river valley comprises a series of flanked by swamp vegetation, gallery forest and, further inland, savanna woodland. The latter comprises Hyparrhenia grassland with Brachystegia , Julbernardia , Combretum and
Terminalia spp and Acacia seyal plus Pericopsis and Parinari spp on hillsides.
Reverie forest lines the Ruvubu, interspersed with areas of Cyperus papyrus and Phoenix reclinata . There are also areas of flood- plain grassland, while papyrus swamps with sparse Syzygium occur along the drainage lines of the smaller valleys. On the high ridge which forms the southern boundary of the park, Protea sp is common. The vegetation of the park includes Zambezian elements at the northern limits of their distribution. The rain season extends from October to May Up to 338 bird species have been recorded, including Ardeola idae, Circus macrourus,
Falco naumanni and Gallinago media .
Large numbers of waterbirds occur codominated by Pelecanus onocrotalus and Mycteria ibis. Out of this recorded number of species.In addition, 3 species of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome and 10 of the Afrotropical Highlands
biome have also been recorded. Around 44 mammal species including panther,baboons, antelopes, buffaloes, jackals, hippos are recorded . Lions also enter the park from the neighboring country of Tanzania.