The 10-days Burundi Best of safari, is designed to allow you explore and experience the hidden natural wonders of Burundi. Located in East Africa, Burundi is a landlocked country, and it still features among the untouched destinations in Africa. This trip offers a lifetime opportunity for you to unlock Burundi, explore its unspoiled parks including Rusizi National Park, the biggest park and home to dozens of hippos; Kibira National Park where huge concentration of over 98 mammal species live including chimpanzees, colobus plus 200 species of birds.
Details of safari
Day 1: Arrival, Bujumbura Airport- Burundi
Meet your experienced Burundi guide for a warm welcome, and later transfer to pre-booked hotel in Bujumbura city (formerly referred to as Usumbura). Bujumbura is Burundi’s biggest city, and it is located Northeast of Lake Tanganyika, the 2nd deepest freshwater Lake in the world.
Day 2: Bujumbura city excursion
Explore Bujumbura city of Burundi, a colonial town and home to numerous sites. On a city tour in Bujumbura, you will explore different historical, religious sites including the Livingstone Stanley monument, Burundi Geological Museum, the markets, presidential palace, etc. Bujumbura also serves as the country’s main port, and its main export is coffee, plus tin ore, cotton, and others.
Day 3–4: Rusizi N/P
Breakfast in the morning, after transfer to Rusizi National Park/Parc National de la Rusizi. This park is found 15km North of Bujumbura city, and prides itself of distinct faunal and floral species. It is divided into 2 sections- the Eastern bank of the Rusizi River and Delta region.
Rusizi N. Park covers the land area measuring up to 90sq.km and protects hippos, sitatungas, a crocodile (also popular as Gustave) plus some monkeys. The key experiences to expect on 2‑day excursion in Rusizi N/Park include game viewing, nature walk, birding, etc.
Day 5–6: Kibira N/Park
Lying along the apex of the Congo-Nile divide, Kibira National Park sits on 4 provinces, and it is Burundi’s biggest park. The park occupies over 400sq.km, featuring a primeval rainforest and other habitats which host over 98 species of mammals including several primates especially chimpanzees, baboons, colobus monkeys, 200 species of birds and different plant life. The possible ways to explore and experience Kibira NP is by undertaking a boat tour, primate walk/chimpanzee trekking and more.
Day 7 to 8: Explore Rwihinda Lake Nature Reserve
Drive from Kibira to Rwihinda Reserve which is found in the Northern side of Burundi, nearby border with Rwanda. It derives its name from Lake Rwihinda, also previously referred to as Bird Lake. This nature reserve sits on the land area of 80sq.km and variety of migratory birds will be spotted here. On your birding expedition, expect to keep an eye on the reserve’s birds such as white winged scrub-warblers, Northern brown throated weavers, red-faced barbet, red-chested sunbird, Carruther’s cisticola, ring necked francolins, crested cranes, herons, papyrus yellow warblers, etc.
Day 9: Return to Bujumbura
Drive back to Bujumbura city, enjoy lunch en-route and arrive at the city early. Drop off at the hotel or lodge for a long evening relaxation, and overnight sleep.
Day 10: Departure
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after, check out of your hotel in Bujumbura, do some shopping and drive to the airport. From Bujumbura airport, fly to the next destination, or back home which marks the end of 10 days best of Burundi safari.