ALL IN AFRICA SAFARIS USA
WHATSAPP +256 751 725 672
USA/CANADA +1 (888) 279-9907
USA/CANADA/INTERNATIONAL
24/7 Help Support
24/7 Help Support
USA/CANADA [email protected]
A national park located in Burundi, Rusizi sits on over 100 square kilometers. It is located on the banks of River Rusizi from which the animal reserve adopts its name. It was established in 1980 in a bid to preserve the animals that depended on the area as their habitat. Conservation efforts were amplified in 1987 with a hippopotamus sanctuary being put in place in order to safeguard hippos from extinction. The 1987 efforts were the turning point for this game park as visitors started coming in regularly in order to see the hippos. This game park is home to hippopotamuses, Sitatungas and the famous Nile crocodiles.
It is famous for it’s beautiful and well contrasted waters as the river pours its water into Lake Tanganyika. The Rusizi waters appear brown as they enter the beautiful blue-colored waters of the Tanganyika. The thick papyrus and riverine forests also make this place unique but extra ordinarily beautiful.
These majestic water creatures are some of the park’s major highlights. These crocodiles bask on the river banks and sometimes lie casually in the water. It is important to remember that Nile crocodiles can be very aggressive. It is better to watch them from a safe distance.
The Sitatunga, a water dwelling type of Antelope, is surely one of the animals that grace this park. The swampy, humid and riverine forests in this place give the Sitatunga enough room to thrive. They feed on the grasses or marshes around the Rusizi river. These graceful animals are wonderful to observe as we see the power of adaptation as other antelope types do not permanently dwell in marshes or river and lake sides.
Primates are another of the animal species that form Rusizi’s eco-system. They play by swinging amongst the riverine forests. Examples of monkey types include the colobus money and the vervet monkey amongst others. These primates highly value community and hang around together in small groups known as troops.
The park has over 160 different species of birds. These birds are both resident and migratory in nature. Among the resident birds that you can enjoy viewing all year round include; the African Fish Eagle, the white faced whistling duck, red chested sunbird, glossy ibis among others. With the migratory birds, the park also hosts the white winged tern, the flamingo, the African skimmer among others.
These animals are a major factor for the fame of this park. The Rusizi National Park boasts of an incredibly large number of hippos that can be seen relaxing in the water and on the banks of the river. Close encounters with these animals can only be experienced on boat rides with a tour guide. This is because hippos are territorial in nature and be aggressive if they find you as an intruder. Your tour guide is very important in ensuring safety and a safe distance of observation.
Other animals that can be encountered at Rusizi National Park include jackals, mongooses, warthogs, baboons, antelopes and cormorants among others.
Rusizi National Park like some other areas of Africa experiences both the wet and dry season. However, visiting during the dry season means enjoying some activities may be hard due to the abrupt and continuous rainfall down pours. The best time to visit is therefore the dry season as the weather is bright and conducive. The dry season runs from June to September. Also, the dry season brings along the migrant bird species which therefore makes visiting during the dry season the best time. However, even a visit during the wet period is possible and can be tailored accordingly to fit your preference.
This is one of the most interesting activities you can enjoy this park especially during the dry season. Thousands of birds do migrate through this area. Different bird species fly around freely which makes the dry season the most ideal time for bird photography and study in case one is an ornithologist.
Another of the best activities to enjoy is sport fishing. However, in order to participate in this activity, you need a license. Therefore, you must inform your tour operator in advance so that they can process this license for you in due time before your trip. When fishing, you have the option of releasing your catch back into the water or having it prepared for you. You can also choose to prepare your catch yourself if you want to.
These are taken on the Rusizi river in order to spot Nile crocodiles, Hippos and other aquatic life up close. The Sitatunga can also be seen up close from these boat rides since they sometimes love to immerse themselves in water and even hide amongst marsh and papyrus. The boat rides also proceed to the place where River Rusizi pours its water into Lake Tanganyika. From these boat rides, the small lagoons around the park can also be observed up close.
These are carried out with the help of a licensed and experienced tour guide. These walks are taken from selected trails. From these walks, various birds, animals and plants can be spotted and photographed.
In as much as the area was Gazetted as an animal sanctuary, some people still manage to sneak into this park killing some of the wildlife for meat and for survival. This is putting the lives at this game park at risk. However, the Burundian officials are trying so hard to educate the locals and also safeguarding the animals.
Water pollution from industries and human waste is also another problem that this game park is facing. Since it relies on the Rusizi river as a habitat for some of the wildlife, the pollutants put the wildlife at risk.
Tree cutting is the major challenge. The park has some riverine forests surrounding it. However, some of the locals are cutting down these trees for house construction and for sale. This is a huge threat to the eco system that the park is seriously trying to preserve.
The Rusizi National Park is an ideal destination more so if you love a place that is not over crowded. This place gives you peace away from home on top of connecting with nature ! Come through and you will surely not regret it.
