Burundi
The information below is provided by Lonely Planet readers and is not verified by Lonely Planet. For the official lowdown, contact your nearest embassy or check out our Travel Links.
Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings
Visas for Burundi takes 15 minutes in Dar es Salaam and cost US$40 or you can get them on the border for US$20. You must have a cholera vaccination.
There are no passenger boats from Kigoma (Tanzania) but it's easy enough to find a cargo boat to get to Burundi. The price is fixed at US$25.
I crossed to Rwanda from Bujumbura to Butare. Buses run every day and although there were soldiers every few metres it seemed to be ok. You can get the Rwanda visa on the border for US$60.
Hannah Finholt, Norway (Jan 03)
Yarns, Fables & Anecdotes
At the time of the visit, the rebels (rather bandits-robbers) had killed 14 people in a car and looted their belongings. After that or because things like that had happened before, all main roads crossing the country were full of soldiers every 5 km or even closer. They were patrolling markets, fields, road junctions, small settlements, etc. As the expatriates sarcastically said, "when the rebels come the soldiers will disappear", but as long as you see them around it is a good sign that nothing will happen. This allows the visitor to have at least a feeling of security. I travelled overland from the north of Burundi all the way to Nyanza Lac in the south, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, and the same scenes were repeated. Everywhere the army guarded the country and even the schools, central market and main squares in Bujumbura were guarded by the gendarmerie.
Haralampos Bizas, Greece (Sep 03)
^ back to top
|
