Burundi

Understand

Burundi is about 27,834 km2 (10,747 sq mi) large and has a population of almost 12 million people, making it one of the smallest countries in the world. Although the country is landlocked, much of the south-western border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika, one of the deepest lakes in the world. The region was colonised in the 19th century as part of German East Africa, then taken by Belgium after the First World War. It became independent in 1962. Burundi is one of the poorest and least developed nations in the world. The vast majority of Burundians live in poverty and work as subsistence farmers. There are many reasons behind Burundi's lack of development and poverty: civil wars, political instability, corruption, a lack of access to education, and the effects of HIV/AIDS. Cobalt and copper are among the nation's natural resources. Other resources include coffee, sugar and tea. Burundi's population today is mostly comprised of the Hutu ethnic group (85%) followed by the Tutsi (14%) and Twa (1%).

History The earliest known people to live in Burundi were the Twa, a short "pygmy" people who remain as a minority group there. The Hutu and Tutsi people moved into the region several hundred years ago, and dominated it. Like much of Africa, Burundi then went through a period of European colonial rule. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Germany and Belgium occupied the region, and Burundi and Rwanda together became a European colony known as Ruanda-Urundi. This ended with its independence from Belgium in 1962. In the decades since then, Burundi has known civil wars between the Hutu and Tutsi populations and genocides (much like the more notorious genocide in Rwanda to the north), and a series of political assassinations. Peace and the re-establishment of civil democracy took place in 2005 with a cease-fire and the election of former Hutu rebel Pierre Nkurunziza as president.

Climate Burundi in general has a tropical highland climate, with a considerable daily tem

Getting there

Immigration and visa requirements All nationalities require a visa to visit Burundi except citizens of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Europe, visas are available from the Burundi Embassy in London UK as well as embassies in Berlin, Brussels and The Hague. A 30-day tourist visa from the Burundi Embassy in London costs £60. Embassies elsewhere provide a 30 day multiple-entry visa for USD90. As of 2023, two types of visa are available at Bujumbura airport: 3 day for ̯USD40, and 30 day multiple entry visa for USD90. When entering Burundi over land, the only visa available is a 3 day transit visa costing USD40. Please note that the UK government website incorrectly states 30 day visas are obtainable at land borders. A visa extension from the Immigration office in Bujumbura costs USD20 for 10 days or USD50 for 30 days. You will need a passport photo, the original receipt for your 3 day visa, and copies of your passport information page and the arrival stamp page. At the immigration building, find office 121, which is the visa office. The immigration office is a chaotic place, and this process will take a few hours at least.

By plane 1 Bujumbura International Airport (BJM IATA). The main airport in the country is served by airlines including: Kenya Airways (Nairobi), RwandAir (Kigali), Ethiopian airlines (Addis Ababa), Brussels Airlines (Brussels), Uganda airlines (Entebbe). Air Tanzania Kigoma and Dar Es Salaam.

By bus Buses are available mainly to Bujumbura. There are international buses from Kigali, Rwanda and Kigoma, Tanzania. Companies include Volcano and Luba Express. It is also possible to get into Burundi from the east. To do this, take a bus to Kabanga, Tanzania, and from there take a shared taxi to the Burundian border. Luba express bus lines run a daily bus from Kigoma via the Manyovu border crossing. You can also take a bus to Bujumburu from the border via Mabanda after taking a boda-boda through the bor

Getting around

Road and water transport are the main ways for getting around. There are no railways in the country, and the airport in Bujumbura is the only one with scheduled flights (all international).

By bus There are buses between Bujumbura and other cities in the country.

By taxi Taxi is an option for intercity travel as well. For example a roundtrip between Bujumbura and Gitega by taxi would cost you around $50 including the fuel.

By car Traffic culture is moderate, but motorists should be careful. Beware of pedestrians walking in the middle of the road, don't be afraid to use the horn. Moreover local drivers, particularly taxi and van drivers ignore traffic rules all too often. In Bujumbura, traffic can be very confusing at times and the rural roads are narrow and winding due to the hilly terrain. Roads are of decent quality. Major roads are paved. The roads along the shores of Lake Tanganyika are dangerous; they are in poor condition and are not fenced off at the steepest points.

See

Bujumbura is in the western part of the country. Moving towards the east, is Gitega; it’s a large market held in the middle of the town, and its Museum of Traditions (ancient utensils, pictures, commented visit). Travellers will have to make advance bookings to be able to watch an extraordinary and fascinating show unique in the world: “The Drummers of Giheta” playing in their traditional environment. Then you will be making head away towards Rutana to see the admirable panorama of the Karea Falls and the Nyakazu Break, called the “Break of the Germans”, which is an exceptional lookout that oversees the Kumoso plain. You will be ending your tour by the visit of Gihofi, a booming town with its new sugar refinery in the heart of the sugar cane plantations country. Towards the South-eastern part of the country, don’t miss by any means the visit of the Nile Sources near Rutovu. Don’t forget to take your swimming gear with you; otherwise, you may miss the benefit of the hot springs in charming and subtle surroundings. You will also be able to see on your way the last traditional enclosed villas (round habitations surrounded by wooden fences strip in turn surrounded by grazing meadows and ploughed fields). Further south, you will be able to cross a line of villages succeeding one after the other and wedged between the lake and abrupt mountains. Fortunately, you will be able to stop and have a rest, or go for nautical sports and have a meal in restaurants or simply stop for a drink, on nicely arranged fine sand beaches. Still further south lays the Nyanza Lake. Why not to take a boat and go to Tanzania on the other side of the lake and visit Gombe Natural Park? Towards the north just before reaching Bugarama, there is an important market for high quality fresh foodstuffs. You can walk across the primeval forest of Kibira the access of which is still very difficult but which is in a process of beaconing. Carry on towards Kayanza and Ngozi, two big agricultural production an

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