- Destinations
- Africa
- Burundi
Burundi
Overlooking the turquoise waters of Lake Tanganyika with a
freshly roasted cup of coffee, banana frites and some succulent
brochettes, the serenity and charm of Burundi will dawn on visitors
like a pleasant surprise. Emerging from a longstanding civil war,
travel to Burundi has been discouraged up until recently and the
small republic in east Africa, sandwiched between African titans
Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is now enjoying an
influx of curious tourists, attracted by its new-found peace and
astounding natural beauty.
Lapped by the clear waters of grand dame Lake Tanganyika, the
longest lake in the world, and blessed with lush mountainous
jungles to the north and rolling green hills to the east, the only
land below 3,000 feet (915m) in Burundi, is a narrow strip of plain
along the Ruzizi River. A wealth of sights are on offer, from the
thermal waterfalls in the Mugara Reserve and the southern source of
the Nile at Rutovu, to Kibira National Park, where chimpanzees,
colobus monkeys and crested mangabeys dash swiftly through dense
foliage. And even though coffee is the country's largest export, it
is the vast tea plantations of Teza and Rwegura that will capture
the visitor's imagination.
Burundi has had a turbulent history. A 12-year ethnic-based
civil war between the Hutus and Tutsis, mirroring the violent
genocide in neighbouring Rwanda, broke out in the early 1990s after
tension between the dominant Tutsi minority and Hutu majority
flared up, demoralising the people and weakening the country's
infrastructure. A ceasefire agreement and free and fair elections
were conducted in 2005, resulting in relative peace and a new
democratic government.
Although undeveloped and in bad repair, the capital Bujumbura,
offers a friendly and cosmopolitan ambience. Charming art deco
buildings from the colonial heydays line the streets and
restaurants serving Belgian, Asian and Burundi cuisine, as well as
the local Primus beer, can be found throughout the centre. For
colourful markets, leather, ceramics, ivory and woodcarvings,
follow the road to Gitega, Burundi's second largest city, where the
Museum of Traditions can also be found.
Information & Facts
Business
The business world in Burundi is relatively undeveloped.
Lightweight suits should be worn to formal meetings, which are
usually conducted in French. An interpreter should be organised
beforehand. Handshakes are important in Burundi and formal meetings
often include food and drink, which is considered rude to turn
down. Office hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 12pm and 2pm to
5.30pm. During the hotter months, a longer lunch break is
taken.
Climate
Burundi enjoys a warm equatorial climate. Temperatures vary with
altitude and season. Summers are hot and humid and winters only
slightly cooler. Rainfall is irregular, falling mainly in the
northwest with rainstorms common at higher altitudes
.The rainy season occurs from March to May and
September to December. Dry seasons vary in length but are usually
from June to August and January to March.
Communications
The international dialling code for Burundi is +257. The
outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g.
0044 for the United Kingdom). There is good mobile phone coverage
in the western area of the county and a handful of Internet cafés
can be found in Bujumbura.
Customs
Respect for elders is practiced with conviction in Burundi and
travellers should adopt a similar philosophy when interacting with
locals.
Duty Free
Travellers are allowed to import 1, 000 cigarettes or 1, 000 grams
of tobacco, one litre of alcohol and a reasonable amount of
perfume. Cameras should be declared on arrival.
Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two pin
attachment plugs and round pin plugs with receptacle or male
grounding pin are standard.
Health
There have been cases of cholera confirmed in Burundi.
Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant malaria is a
major concern in Burundi and travellers should take the necessary
prophylactics containing lariam, malarone or doxycycline. A yellow
fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from an
infected area or visiting any area outside of the main cities.
Travellers should be wary of kiosk foods and drink only bottled or
boiled water. Burundi's medical facilities are very basic.
Travellers should ensure they have health insurance covering
evacuation by air ambulance.
Language
French and Kirundi are the official languages and Swahili
is widely spoken along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura
area.
Money
The official currency is the Burundian franc (BIF), which is
divided into 100 centimes. Since Burundi started issuing its own
currency, centimes have not been produced. Currency exchange can be
conducted at a main bank in Bujumbura or Gitega. US dollars, dating
before 2003, are often not accepted. Travellers cheques in US
dollars or Euros are accepted but commission rates are high. Banks
are open from Monday to Friday in the morning only. Credit cards
are rarely accepted and ATMs are not readily available, so it is
wise to bring the necessary capital in an easily exchangeable
currency.
Passport Visa
A visa will be issued on arrival if there is no Burundi
diplomatic representation in the traveller's country of origin.
Diplomatic representation is currently available in Belgium,
Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan and the USA. Tourist or
business visas, valid for up to 30 days, incur a fee of EUR50.
Return or onward tickets, all documents required for next
destination and sufficient proof of funds are recommended.
Safety
Travellers should consult the nearest Burundi embassy regarding
the security situation before embarking on travel to Burundi. Since
democratic elections and a ceasefire agreement in 2005, Burundi has
returned for the most part, to a normal state of affairs and is
enjoying an increasing influx of tourists. Travel to the rural
border areas with the Democratic Republic of Congo should be
avoided as cross border fighting by armed guerrillas from both
sides occurs sporadically. Travellers should be aware of the
still-active rebel group, the Forces Nationales de la Liberation
(FNL), who attack government forces and civilians intermittently,
but mostly travellers to Burundi tend to gravitate toward Bujumbura
and therefore should be more concerned with threats such as pick
pocketing, purse snatching, armed robbery and petty crime. Locals
should be consulted about the presence of crocodiles and
hippopotamus along the border of the lake. Travellers should also
exercise caution after dark, avoid walking alone and be aware of
curfew laws.
Time
Tipping
A 10% tip at restaurants is customary. Porters should also be
tipped a few dollars.