The tiny country of Burundi sits in central Africa and has a population of about 7.5 million people. The capital city is Bujumbura, with a population of about 250,000. Other major
centers include Teza, Rwegura, Gitega, Muramvya, Kayanza, Kirundo, Ngozi, and Rutovu. Burundi was a Belgian colony until it gained independence in 1966. French and Kirundi are the
official languages and you’ll also find English and Swahili are also spoken. It has a warm equatorial climate with hot and humid summers and warm winters. It’s also pretty dry.
Even though it’s landlocked, Burundi offers some excellent clear waters in Lake Tanganyika, which is the longest lake in the world, and is abound with outstanding natural beauty. The
country is also filled with lush jungles and mountains, forests, lakes, rolling green hills, valleys, banana groves, grasslands, picturesque rivers, and beautiful waterfalls.
Some of the best places to enjoy the fantastic scenery and wildlife are the Mugara Reserve and Kibira National Park. Here you’ll be able to see colobus monkeys, crested mangabeys, and
chimpanzees as well as dense foliage. The tea plantations in Rwegura and Teza are also popular.
The capital of Bujumbura is a very friendly place with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. You’ll find wonderful art deco structures from the colonial days and numerous restaurants that
specialize in succulent Belgian, Burundi, Greek, and Asian dishes. The city also has colorful markets where you can buy many of the local arts and crafts. The Museum of Traditions is a
great place to study local culture and history and can be found in Gitega.
Bujumbura sits on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and is a pretty active place. Some of the other interesting attractions are the Islamic Cultural Center and two more museums. The lake
is lined with restaurants and cafes and is an ideal spot for water sports and fishing. If you’d like to visit a piece of Burundi’s rich history, you can just head outside of the
capital where there’s a stone that represents the historic spot where Stanley and Livingstone met.
Bujumbura International is the country’s major airport and you can also get there by water as there are ferries on Lake Tanganyika that originate in Tanzania and Zambia, with several
stops on the way. You can drive there from Congo Dem Rep, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Once there, you can travel by road to take in the splendid scenery, but roads are sometimes closed down
by the military. You can travel around Bujumbura and other main towns by bus and taxi.
The nation loves its sports and you’ll find residents are very good at soccer and track and field. When it comes to food, most of it is roasted, stewed or boiled over open wood fires.
There are some fine French, Asian, and Greek restaurants in Gitega and Bujumbura. Some of the best local food includes sweet potatoes, plantains, peas, cassava, maize, fruit,
groundnuts, cane sugar and spicy carrots.
The national drink of Burundi is called Urwarwa, which is a homemade banana wine and is consumed at celebrations. Primus beer is also very popular as it’s locally brewed. Impeke is
also popular as it’s a home-made beer that’s brewed from sorghum. For a good night out you can find some good bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in Bujumbura.
Most of the country’s hotels are located in the capital and Gitega. However, you may find some rooms in the smaller towns.
Burundi has some exceptional scenery that ranks right up there with the best in the world. It’s a great place to take in the peaceful and picturesque countryside as well as learn about
local African history and wildlife.
About Burundi