The Ruvubu River (also spelt Rurubu and Ruvuvu) is a river in central Africa whose waters gather from the most distant, southern portion of the Nile basin. With a total length of 416 km and has a drainage basin of 14,000 km2. It rises in the north of Burundi, near the town of Kayanza and then does a southward arc through Burundi, being joined by the Ruvyironza River near Gitega. From there it runs northeast, through the Ruvubu National Park, up to the Tanzanian border. After a stretch along the border, the Ruvubu crosses properly into Tanzania, before joining the Nyabarongo River on the Tanzania–Rwanda border near Rusumo Falls, to form the Kagera River. The Ruvubu gets its name from the Kirundi word for hippopatamus, imvubu, because the river is home to a large population of hippos.

Course

The Ruvubu River originates on the Congo-Nile ridge at Ngoga, at an altitude of 2,300 m. It flows from northwest to southeast to Mugera, and from there, takes a northeast direction. It flows for 285 km through Burundi, and drains most of Burundi’s part of the Nile watershed. Its watershed covers 10,200 km2 and covers the center of Burundi. Tributaries on both banks include the Kinyankuru River, Ndurumu River, Nyakigezi River, Nkoma River, Mubarazi River, Ruvyironza River, Nyabaha River and Kayongozi River. Most of these rivers have their source on the Congo Nile ridge. The Ruvubu passes through the Buyenzi, Kirimiro and Bweru natural regions. The Ruvubu marshes are largely flooded and occupied by permanent swamps.

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