Lake Rwihinda Natural Reserve
Lake Rwihinda is found in the northern part of Burundi and is one of the most prominent holiday destinations in the country. The Lake and the surrounds are a protected area that boasts some of the unique attractions when it comes to flora and fauna.
The area is dramatically located on the border with Rwanda in a town called Kirundi. Previously known as the Lac aux Oiseaux which means Bird Lake- Lake Rwihinda Nature reserve covers and 8000ha while the lake alone is half of the entire reserve area (425ha). Although the area is known for the fishing villages and agriculture, the natural reserve is nearly 30% under forests and the rest of it under thick shrubs and wetland. Part of the reserve is under nature conservation and research into medicinal plants and herbs among other uses.
Wildlife; Some of the birds in this Burundi nature reserve include Northern Brown-throated Weaver Sharpe’s Pied-babbler, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Scrub-warbler, White-collared Oliveback, , Red-chested Sunbird, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Red-faced Barbet and Ring-necked Francolin among many others
Mwishanga Natural Reserve
The nature reserve of Mwishanga is a protected area that shelters the beautiful Karera falls in Rutana Province in southern Burundi. These falls meander off the Karera River to make a spectacular falls at 50m high rock then flowing into the forest reserve below
The natural reserve covers nearly 150ha dominated by the falls, the forest gallery, savannah and swamps to the banks of the Karera river. There are some caves near the falls that are deemed sacred and many people in Burundi come here for blessing and prayer
Nyakazu Natural reserve
This Burundi Natural reserve is located in a located near a former German military post. There is also a fault constructed in 1914 by the Germans during the World War I. The forested plateau of Nkoma on which it was built to have been, as it is said, cut by the boots of the runaway soldiers in front of the Belgian strengths thus the naming of “Fault of German”
Other reserves in Burundi include Vyanda Natural Reserve located in Rumonge known for its wild chimpanzees, Bururi Nature reserve which is a few kilometers from Rumonge town and is an important birding area in Burundi. More than 117 species of birds and 25 different mammals are found in Bururi Natural reserve. Mugara Burundi forest Reserve and Kigwena and Rumonge forest reserve are some of the natural forest reserves that are still under development plans to protect the primates such as chimpanzees that habit the forest.