Source of the Nile Pyramid (Rutovu)

A small stone pyramid on Mount Gikizi in Burundi marking the spring held to be the southernmost source of the Nile.

The spring feeds the Ruvyironza River, which was identified by the explorer Burkhart Waldecker as the source of the White Nile. From there, water flows into the Kagera River and then into Lake Victoria, where the Nile begins its long trip north to Egypt. The card says the pyramid was built in 1938. Its small size contrasts with the huge river it names.

Which spring is the true source?

Great rivers begin as many streams, so people choose the "source" by different rules. One common rule picks the farthest point from the sea. By that rule, a spring on Mount Kikizi is called the most distant source of the White Nile, linked to Lake Victoria through the Ruvyironza River. Others pick different springs, so the Nile's source remains a matter of definition rather than one fixed spot.

Visiting Rutovu

Rutovu is a small town in Bururi Province, about 37 kilometres by road northeast of the town of Bururi. The first three presidents of Burundi were born there. It receives some visitors because of the nearby mountain, known as the most distant source of the White Nile. For young explorers, it is a reminder that even the longest rivers can begin as a quiet trickle in the hills.

On the globe

The model shows a small stone pyramid marking the spring, as on the card.