The Karera Falls

The Karera Falls, in the green highlands of southeastern Burundi near Rutana, are among the most beautiful and beloved natural attractions in this small, mountainous country. Here a series of graceful waterfalls, several distinct cascades fed by highland streams, tumble down mossy rock faces through lush, ferny forest, filling the air with spray and birdsong. Cool, verdant and refreshing, the falls can be explored along shaded paths and viewpoints that reveal the different cascades from various angles, a delightful escape into nature. Long a cherished local beauty spot, Karera showcases the green, well-watered and hilly landscapes that give Burundi its reputation as a land of a thousand hills.

What you actually see

• The cascades - the several graceful waterfalls in the forest.
• The lush forest - the ferny, mossy woodland around the falls.
• The viewpoints - the shaded paths revealing each cascade.
• The highland setting - the green hills of southern Burundi.

When to go

June to September, the dry season, offers the easiest and most pleasant access along the forest paths, with comfortable weather; the falls flow strongly after the rains earlier in the year, when they are at their most powerful. The green highland setting is lush and lovely through much of the year.

Honest expectations

Karera is a set of modest but graceful highland cascades rather than a single thundering giant, reached along forest paths ideally with a local guide, so its appeal is peaceful natural beauty over grand scale. As one of Burundi's loveliest and most cherished natural sights, graceful waterfalls amid lush green forest, though, the Karera Falls are a genuinely refreshing and delightful destination.

Nearby

The Nyakazu fault viewpoint and the southern highlands lie nearby.