Kigwena Forest Reserve Burundi

Kigwena Forest Nature Reserve Burundi is located in South-Western Burundi in Rumonge Commune in Bururi Province. It is enclosed in Cabara and Karonda villages in the Kigwena zone. From the reserve, Lake Tanganyika is located to the west to the East is a palm grove, to the South, and a footpath which leads to the Port of Karonda to the North. The Kigwena forest is a peri-Guinean forest like the Congo basin forest. It is very rich in vegetation species out of which most of the representative is Terminalia Superba, Elaeis guineensis, Albizia zygia, etc.

Kigwena Forest Nature Reserve borders Lake Tanganyika which is the center of attraction 97 waterbird species are recorded, out of which 3 are threatened, 1 is of Afro-tropical Highlands forests and two are of Zambezian biome.

Non-bird biodiversity: The reserve shelters diversified wild fauna. Two species of primates are most remarkable the olive baboon and Tantalus monkey. Other less remarkable mammals are: Hippopotamus, Some species of snakes also live here: Python and many species of butterflies.

Located in Rumonge near Bururi Town about 42kilometers from Bujumbura, the forest reserve of Kigwena extends over 3,300 hectares between 773 and 820m above sea level along the Lake Tanganyika in Rumonge commune.

It stretches out over the western piedmont of the Congo-Nile ranges and comes down the gentle slope on the plain down to the lake.

It comprises a peri- Guinean forest, very rich in fauna and flora: luxuriant vegetation, big calaos, various monkeys (of which baboons living in large families, and other primates), and also many species of birds and butterflies.

Situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Kigwena Forest Nature Reserve is enclosed by the villages of Cabara and Karonda. It protects a peri-Guinean forest similar to the forest in the Congo Basin and has a high differentiation in plant species while the lake attracts a large variety of water birds. It is considered to be an Important Birding Area by Birdlife International; rare species found here include the grey cuckoo shrike, Arnot’s chat, and chirping cisticola. Primates found in the reserve include the olive baboon and Tantalus monkey.

What to see in the Kigwena forest reserve?

Walks can be arranged with a local guide to search for the few primates surviving in the forest reserve and the abundant birdlife is a key attraction in the area for travelers as Lake Tanganyika provides a great habitat for breeding.

How to get to Kigwena Forest Reserve?

By road Kigwena is 42 km south-western Burundi in Rumonge Commune in Bururi Province and using 4×4 travelers can drive to the reserve approximately an hour to two will be required to access the forest reserve.

Where to stay in the Kigwena forest reserve?

Accommodation near the forest can be found in Gitega town located about 10 km from the forest which includes Tropitel-Gitega hotel and Helena hotel.