Introducing Burundi
Travel Alert: The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommends against all travel to some areas and against all non-essential travel to the rest of Burundi, please check with your relevant national government.
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Beautiful Burundi has been blighted by a generation of ethnic conflict, but with the advent of peace, this charming country may at long last be able to put its dark past to rest. A tiny little nation of soaring mountains and languid lakeside communities, Burundi is sandwiched between the African giants of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Tanzania. The scenery is stunning and the welcome warm, and it may once again begin to receive a trickle of travellers as the word gets out that the war is over.
The steamy capital Bujumbura has a lovely location on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and just outside the city are some of the finest inland beaches on the continent. Ask the old Africa hands about Burundi before the war, and it is the sort of place they go misty-eyed about and hark back to the life of the lotus-eaters. Sadly there has been no lotus-eating for most Burundians during more than a decade of violence.
Many of the upcountry attractions have been off limits for years, but the stunning scenery and warmth of the Burundians more than compensates. Choose from the southernmost source of the Nile, the ancient forest of Parc National de la Kibira or the spot where Stanley was reputed to have uttered those timeless words ‘Dr Livingstone I presume?’.
Intertribal tensions have devastated the country since independence in 1962 and there is always a chance things could kick off again. It is a young peace, so make sure you do your homework before embarking on an adventure in Burundi.
Last updated: Mar 29, 2012
Tips & articles
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East Africa: travel books to read before you go
9 October 2010
This excerpt from Lonely Planet’s East Africa guide provides a selection of travel literature to get you in the mood for...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: help for short trip in Brussels
by MTL 22 May 2012
Yep, stay in Brussels. Just don't let them try to convert any of the locals as they did in Burundi- it may not go down well..
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RE: help for short trip in Brussels
by arizona 22 May 2012
I think you should tell what they want to do/see, expect from this visit? Coming from Burundi, there will be no jetlag and their age will…
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RE: help for short trip in Brussels
by Fwoggie 22 May 2012
If they're flying in from Burundi of all places I'd stick with Brussels. It'll have been quite a hike, they'll be tired (probably physicall…
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Burundi
Things to do
- All things to do (15)
- Activities (0)
- Entertainment (4)
- Restaurants (6)
- Shopping (1)
- Sights (4)
- Tours (0)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Burundi
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1 Bujumbura
Dine out in style before dancing the night away in this city where people love to live it up.
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2 Source Du Nil
Journey to Burundi’s very own pyramid, marking the southernmost source of the Nile at Kasumo.
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3 Being in Burundi
Enjoy the novelty of being pretty much the only tourist in the country.
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4 La Pierre de Livingstone et Stanley
Visit the rock where those fateful words ‘Dr Livingstone I presume?’ were uttered.
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5 Saga Beach
Hit the best inland beaches in East Africa for some fun in the sun.
Fast Facts about Burundi
- Time
GMT/UTC +2
- Population
8 million
- Borders
- Seasons
Wet (mid-March to mid-May, October-January); dry (mid-May to mid-October, mid-December to mid-March)
- Telephone
Country code 257; international access code 00
- ATMs
There are no ATMS; come with cash
- Budget
US$20 a day
- Visas
Required by all; US$40 for one month
- Capital
- Languages
Kirundi, French
- Area
27, 830 sq km
- Money
Burundi franc; US$1= BFr1040
Our favourite Burundi Blogs (beta)
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Microfinance skeptics? Rethink your vision of success.
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 30 April 2010
I’d be lying if I said I’m a full believer in microfinance. Each time I hear a client say they’re taking out their fifth loan to restock their shelves, I wince and wonder why they aren’t yet able to sustain such a small business without such small loans. I want so much to hear that the loan will go toward some innovation, I want to hear that they’re seeking to do more with their business, I want to hear that they dream of financial independence and they plan to step out of their fetters.
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Video – Nikon D90 Shines in Africa
Blog: GoBackpacking - 17 April 2010
--------- Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 12 lessons, community forum, audio interviews, and a blog. --------- Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 12 lessons, community forum, audio interviews, and a blog.
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Unmasking Kiva’s Face: the Process Behind the Profile
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 31 March 2010
This is Kiva’s face. When you look the photo in the eyes the borrower’s story smiles back at you. Financial data dangling on the side accents the overall visage: a tidy, friendly invitation to the lending community. (Disclaimer: this post is for the planners and the detail lovers. An up-close look at the nuts and bolts of bringing Kiva borrowers to the world. Process geeks, by all means continue. Other concerned investors, let this shed light on the operational costs of your capital.
