Muramvya

Muramvya sits high on the ridge between Bujumbura and Gitega and was one of the royal seats of the Burundian monarchy, a place the kings held court at before the colonial period reorganised everything. It is a small provincial town now, on cool high ground with tea and coffee grown around it and the Kibira forest running north along the crest. The town gave its name to one of the country's provinces and sits at around eighteen hundred metres.

What you actually see

• The ridge position - high cool ground between the two capitals.
• The royal history - one of the seats of the Burundian monarchy.
• The tea and coffee - the crops grown on the surrounding slopes.
• The Kibira crest - the forest running north along the ridge.

When to go

June to September is the dry season. The altitude keeps it cool year round. The rains from October bring heavy afternoon storms.

Honest expectations

Very little survives of the royal period and there is no interpretation. The town is workaday with few facilities. It works as a stop on the ridge road.

Nearby

Teza is north, and Gitega is east.