Deep in the heart of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda’s UNESCO World Heritage rainforest lies one of its most breathtaking natural wonders: the Kamiranzovu Waterfall.
Fed by the Kamiranzovu swamp just three kilometers upstream, the waterfall plunges more than 100 meters down the rugged cliffs of Nyungwe’s highlands. Its powerful torrents carve their way westward, ultimately feeding Lake Kivu before continuing their journey through the Congo River Basin to Lake Tanganyika.
The cascade is more than just a visual spectacle. As the water crashes over dark volcanic rock, its shifting hues create a dazzling play of light and shadow, a scene that draws visitors into the raw energy of Rwanda’s oldest montane rainforest. The sound of rushing water, amplified by the forest canopy, adds to the sense of wilderness and timelessness.
Nyungwe itself is a hydrological treasure. The park’s rivers flow in two directions: some eastward into the Nile Basin, others westward into the Congo Basin, making it one of Africa’s most important watersheds.
The path to Kamiranzovu is an adventure in its own right. Visitors ascend stone-lined trails through dense vegetation, climbing gradually toward the falls. From the viewing point, one can see not only the roaring curtain of water but also a hidden cave tucked behind the cascade an additional gem in Nyungwe’s mosaic of natural wonders.
For travelers seeking both serenity and spectacle, Kamiranzovu Waterfall embodies the essence of Nyungwe: a place where geology, ecology, and culture converge, reminding us of the deep natural heritage Rwanda safeguards for the world.
Marie Chantal Nyirabera
Photos Rwanda For You
