Source of the Nile: Burundi's Claim to the World's Longest River
The Luvironza River near Rutovu in Burundi's southern highlands is considered the Nile's southernmost tributary — a pyramid monument marks the spot where the world's longest river begins its 6,650-km journey
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Nile Source Pyramid Monument
A small stone pyramid near Rutovu marks the source that feeds the Luvironza-Ruvyironza river system — one of several competing claims to be the Nile's ultimate source, but Burundi's southernmost
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Ruvyironza River Valley
The highland valley where the Ruvyironza flows is one of Burundi's most beautiful landscapes — hillside terraced agriculture, mountain forests and the outlets of a river system of continental importance
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Nile source debate history
The search for the source of the Nile drove 19th century European exploration - Burton, Speke and Stanley all searched for it; the complex river system means the claim remains genuinely contested
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Montane Forest of Bururi
Bururi Forest Reserve near the source of the Nile is Burundi's most important remaining montane forest – chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and rare birds live in the misty highland forest
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Bururi Province Highland Life
The communities of Bururi Province live at altitudes above 2,000 meters — the highland agriculture, tea estates and mist-covered hills create a landscape unlike any other in Burundi
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Kayaking at Ruvyironza
Adventure kayakers come to paddle the Upper Ruvyironza through the highland valleys - a journey through one of the least visited river systems in Africa with extraordinary scenery