Rusumo Falls
A broad fall on the Kagera river at the Tanzanian border, where the water forces through a narrow rock gap.
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At Rusumo the Kagera river, one of the headwaters of the Nile, is squeezed through a narrow gap in the rock and drops in a broad brown fall, powerful rather than tall. The border bridge crosses immediately above it, which is where visitors look down from. A hydroelectric scheme built jointly by Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi now takes water from the river here, which has changed the flow.
What you actually see
- The falls - the Kagera forced through a rock gap and dropping in a broad sheet.
- The bridge view - the crossing directly above the fall.
- The Kagera - one of the furthest headwaters of the Nile system.
- The hydro scheme - the regional power project built on the river here.
When to go
March to May and September to November, the rainy seasons, give the strongest flow. The dry months and the hydro abstraction reduce it. Mornings are the best light.
Honest expectations
This is an active border post and photography near the crossing is restricted; asking before taking pictures matters. The hydro scheme has reduced the flow from what older photographs show. There are no visitor facilities.
Nearby
Kibungo is northwest, and Akagera National Park is north.
What to pack for Rusumo Falls
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
