Kibira National Park
Overview
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 Symphonia globulifera, Newtonia buchananii, Albizia gummifera and Entandrophragma excelsum.
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 (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)..
- The park is managed by the National Institute for Environment Conservation of Nature (INECN).
Highlights
Formerly a sacred hunting preserve for the kings of Burundi, it is now a protected area and home to some 98 mammal species, a dozen primates (numerous families of chimpanzees, baboons, rare golden monkeys, black colobus) as well as some 200 species of birds.