Nyakazu Gorge

The Nyakazu gorge cuts through the escarpment in eastern Burundi, a deep cleft in the rock that the country calls the Faille des Allemands, the German Fault, after a colonial-era episode associated with it. From the rim the ground drops away east toward the Kumoso plain and Tanzania beyond. A path runs down into the gorge and the walls close in steeply on both sides. The escarpment here marks the edge of the central plateau, and the drop to the Kumoso plain is several hundred metres.

What you'll find

• The gorge - the deep cleft cut through the escarpment.
• The rim view - the Kumoso plain and Tanzania beyond from the top.
• The descent path - the route down between the walls.
• The escarpment - the eastern edge of the Burundian highlands.

When to go

June to September is the dry season and the path is manageable. The rains from October make the descent slippery. Mornings are clearest for the view.

Good to know

The path down is steep and unmaintained. There is no interpretation and a guide from the village helps. Facilities are none.

Nearby

Rutana is west, and Karera Falls are nearby.