Bujumbura.
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Overview

Bujumbura is the former capital and largest city of Burundi. It is on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal.

Understand

Bujumbura was the capital of Burundi until 2019, when the capital was moved to the second largest city, Gitega.

Bujumbura features a tropical savanna climate (Aw), with distinct wet season from October to April and dry season from May to September. Average temperature is , constant among the year. Bujumbura is much hotter than other part of the country due to it low altitude: . Bujumbura has 147 rainy days per year and records of rainfalls annually, less than other parts of the country. Wind blows from Lake Tanganyika during the day and stops in the evening.

Get in

Visa rules and prices change frequently. Visas can be obtained from embassies prior to travel.

Visa on arrival is only payable in US dollars: euros are often not accepted, Burundian francs (FBu) are not accepted (even if there is ATM in airport). Credit cards are not accepted even if the “Visa” and “MasterCard” acceptance logos are clearly visibles on airport stickers. Customs accepts only recent banknotes.

Recording around 5 flights per day, Bujumbura International Airport essentially connects to East African hub airports, via the following companies: Ethiopian Airlines, from Addis Ababa — 1 flight per day — ET807 Kenya Airways, from Nairobi — 2 flights per day — KQ444 and KQ448 RwandAir, from Kigali — 2 flights per day — WB482 and WB483 Brussels Arilines, from Brussels — 1 flight per week, on Sunday — SN451 there are direct Air Tanzania flights to neighboring Tanzania Kigoma and Dar Es salaam but none to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Get around

Minibuses serving the north of the city arrive and depart at the front of the central market (Marché Central), while those heading south use the parking lot in the back of the market near the Interbank head office. The last mini-buses leave around 22:00 as of 2011. It is not advised to walk at night after that; if you need to go anywhere, take a taxi.

To get a lift in any type of vehicle from the side of the road, hold out your hand with your palm facing upward. This works for taxis, buses, motorcycles, and all sorts of private and commercial vehicles. Mini-bus conductors will honk and use their fingers to show how many seats are available. If the bus is full, they will wave their hand with their palm facing downward. It is not uncommon for private vehicles to pick up foreigners requesting lifts during the daytime. They range from high-end SUVs driven by white-collar workers to flat bed pickup trucks where you must stand up. Payment is generally not expected for hitchhiking short distances, but working-class Burundians regularly give each other money for small favours, so there is no harm in offering.

See

Musée Vivant. Small “zoo” and natural history museum. Exhibits include fishes from Lake Tanganyika, birds, seven species of snakes, two chimpanzees called “Kita” and “Joy”, a golden monkey, a leopard called “Jango”, three antelope, two slender-snouted crocodiles and six Nile crocodiles. There’s also a traditional Burundian village on the grounds. For about FBu 5,000 (2014) per person, a guide will show you around. The guide can even get some snakes out of the cage to let you hold them or feed them with guinea pigs. You can also feed chimpanzees with rice and Carnivores with guinea pigs or rabbits. Hold the hand of a chimpanzee, have a snake on harm and enter in cage of “Lacoste” Nile crocodile is also part of the attraction.Sometimes, local cultural events occur on the grounds, such as performances by the Burundian drummers.

Rusizi National Park. See hippos and crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks of the Rusizi River. The area is also where Gustave, the world's largest Nile crocodile, has been spotted. There are also some amazing birds to be seen. For about FBu 3,000 per person (plus tip), a guide and a guard will join you in the car and give you a tour of the park. You’ll stop at several points along the water to view hippos, crocodiles and birds.

Livingstone–Stanley Monument. It's not the spot where Stanley said “Dr Livingstone, I presume?”, but it has a gorgeous view of the lake. Livingstone and Stanley passed through the area and carved their names on a large rock.

Go for scenic drives (security permitting) for spectacular views from the hills of Bujumbura Rurale to the east of town or along Lake Tanganyika to the south of town. Find a place to enjoy banana beer or maybe a Fanta and chit-chat with shopkeepers.

Cathédrale Regina Mundi de Bujumbura.

Mausolée du Prince Louis Rwagasore. Mausoleum in memory of Burundi's national and independence hero. The place where Burundian Independence Day is celebrated annually on 1 July.

Bugarama. A nice viewpoint on Bujumbura, east of the city. The road RN1 drive you around higher than Bujumbura, at . Eat some brochettes “je m’en fout” (means “I don’t care”).

Do

Saga Plage. Beach with restaurant, entertainment complex and hotel. Nice place to pass some time.

Association Burundaise pour la protection de la Nature (ABN). A local conservation group that conducts birdwatching tours of Rusizi Park and other areas. Some of their guides speak English.

Check local flyers for information on Burundian drummer performances, or just be on the look out for a wedding reception taking place somewhere. With help from locals, you can also arrange to visit a drum troupe, get a lesson, and then see a private performance. Extensive monthly film, theatre and music programmes available from their offices. CCF also offers courses in French and Kiswahili (individual and group).

Several swimming pools available for who wants to cool down from the hot days. Federation Football (soccer) games at the Stade in Rohero are at 14:00 and 16:00 on Saturdays. Université de Burundi ("Collège") has a large swimming pool with high-dive and a spectacular view of Bujumbura and Lake Tanganyika. Entente Sportive, Avenue du Stade. Daily 07:00 – 19:00. Old spacious colonial entourage. There are separate pool for children and even 3 m and 5 m high-dives. Length of the pool is 33 metres. Daily open until 20:00. FBu 4000 during the week and FBu 10,000 during the weekend. Hotel pool, but in the weekends meeting point for the ex-patriate community of Bujumbura. Breakfast and lunch served at the poolside. Beach nearby.

War Memorial at the top end of Ave Belvedere - for great sunset views. The Belvedere and Chez Vaya restaurants are nearby and offer equally good views - although during weekdays they only open at 18:30 - after sunset.

Buy

Withdraw money Diamond Trust Bank, Ecobank, Kenya commercial Bank and some others have ATMs in Bujumbura that accept international Master cards and Visa cards, Interbank charge ~5000 FBu for each transaction. At Gar du Nord bus station there is only one ATM around which sometimes is out of service, so come prepared.

Most of the things that one needs can be found in one of the stalls in the Central Market.

Small supermarkets are found across the city. Google supermarket, Gift Supermarket.

The Greek-owned 'Boucherie Nouvelle' on Avenue du Congo is worth a visit. Always busy, but then it offers a wide variety of meat, cheese and charcuterie. Opposite the butcher you find vendors with exclusive and rare vegetables and in the rainy season wild mushrooms of all types. Be prepared for hassle and 'persuasive' sales techniques.

The best place to buy souvenirs is the small curio market on Avenue de Stade. Another small curio market is found on Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagazore, opposite Library St. Paul.

Eat

The people in Bujumbura love their food and enjoy eating out with friends or family. A beef or fish brochette, chips or fried plantain and a fresh salad is available in all restaurants. But take your time. All food is freshly prepared and the cooks take time. Waiting an hour before the food arrives is certainly not abnormal.

Restaurants are scattered all over town, but the best are in Rohero and Kiriri.

Some restaurants that are worth a visit are:

Botanika. Small, European-style, funky dining. Expensive. Great outdoor eating area, inner patio, good for brunch on weekends, has wireless. Popular with business, government and expats, often full. Bring your own bottle.

Le Bouteille d'Or. Basic beer garden that serves a local speciality, beef "michopo", deliciously seasoned steamed beef served with little dough cubes.

Le Cayor. Busy for lunch. General Burundian dishes, but also Cameroonian food.

Le Plaisir. Popular restaurant serving Burundian dishes. Busy for lunch, especially if you want a table upstairs. Menu items are not always available, so it is best to ask the server what is available. The Sangala fish topped with onions is excellent, and the stewed beef (lunch only) is very reasonably priced.

Oasis. Greek restaurant and pizza on the main drag in town. Excellent Greek mezze. 15 Greek specialities & 17 types of pizzas.

Pont Muha. Best Burundian brochettes in the city. If you are hungry have the brochette Hôtelière.

Tropicana. Stylish restaurant and internet café. Very good burgers, omelettes, fruit juices and coffee.

La Baguette Magique. Not a café or restaurant, just a very good bakery. Worth stopping at to stock up on cakes & croissants.

Chez Michel. Next to Hotel le Tanganika. Excellent Belgian Bistro with Belgian beers.

Fleur de Sel. Good cuisine. Each week a new menu with 3 starters, 3 mains, 3 desserts. The owner is a gentle Belgian woman. They also offer breakfast. The owner opened this restaurant after closing the old Safran.

Rohero Fleur de Sel in city centre (Blvd 1er Novembre). (June 2016)

BBQ. Interesting menu and cosy ambiance.

Chez Andre. Super fancy restaurant in a large, decked-out mansion. Service can be slow and disappointing.

Shanghai. Very fast service (in and out in less than an hour), also open for lunch.

Tandoor. Good Indian food. Quiet garden.

Le Belvédère. Dining with a superb view over the city. Also open for lunch. Beef is tender, and they have Asian specialities (Japan, Thai, Vietnam). Expensive.

“Chez Vaya”. Traditional Greek kitchen opened in 1989. Panoramic view.

Kiriri Garden. One of the most famous place according Burundians.

Cercle de la Paix de Bujumbura. Maybe the more quiet place of Bujumbura. The food is nothing to impressed with, but the views (on a clear day) on Lake Tanganyika and the mountains of Congo (DRC) are unforgettable.

Kiboko Grill, Ubuntu residence. Nice garden setting in deluxe hotel with rather overpriced food & swimming-pool. The garden also houses several turtles, peacocks, and has some resident Uganda Cranes. Menu features specials meats (“Jambonneau moutarde”, “Texas spare ribs”) and 14 pizzas.

Eden. Great lake views. Best pizzas in Bujumbura, owned and managed by well-known Belgian restaurateur who flies the mozzarella in from Italy.

Restaurant Tanganyika. Set in a glorious 1930s Art Deco building and run by a professional Belgian chef Restaurant Tanganyika serves up some of the best food in the city.

Restaurant Hotel La Palmeraie. Nice hotel with garden/pool side restaurant serving excellent French and international cuisine.

La Cervoise du Gaulois. Owned by a Quebecer-Burundian couple. Gourmet hamburgers, steak, ribs, etc. Beer on tap in frosted glasses. WiFi. Ask about film screenings and NHL ice hockey game nights.

Drink

There are several bars on Avenue de l'Universite (between Bld de l'Independence and Blv Mao Tse Tung).

The best known places for a transnight dance is l'Archipel which can be found on Blv de la Liberté.

Coeur d'Afrique. Outdoor 'cabaret' features live singing on weekend nights, popular with the college-aged crowd. Probably not wise during the raining season as there is no roof. They usually run out of cold beer early in the evening, but many Burundians prefer their beer warm. Food is available from the calmer place across the street.

Sleep

Bujumbura Accommodation can be broadly split into the northern beach resorts and the city centre. The city centre can be further split into places near the lake, the city centre proper and up in the hills behind the city centre.

Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika. The Italian-owned hotel is popular on the weekends with the expat crowd so a fee of FBu 10,000 was introduced for the usage of the pool. Located outside of the city at the beach. It also has some sporting facilities such as tennis courts.

Karera Beach Hotel. on the lake. Breakfast and other services not included.

Restaurant Tanganyika 1 Avenue de la Plage - has 4 spacious rooms overlooking the garden with art deco fixtures, free wifi and air conditioning. A small sandy beach is over the road. The road is a little noisy however.

Safari Gate. Don't believe the prices quoted on their website, they are long out-of-date.

Ceprodilic. Wifi only downstairs in the common area and restaurant.

Hotel Pacific. Budget rooms are simple but solid, with Wifi in the room, small table and chair, mosquito net, private bathroom, some rooms with ventilator, solid hotel restaurant, very central location, somewhat noisy neighbourhood with bars opposite.

Mess des Officiers. It is in the military area, large green area, restaurant and bar next to it.

Camel Africa Hotel. Fan room, with own bathroom, flat screen TV, free Wi-Fi. Owner speaks English. Great place for backpackers and overland travelers.

Hotel Amahoro. In the center of town. Wifi, nice little restaurant, and conference rooms. The cheapest rooms have cold showers.

Hotel Botanika tiny, delightful boutique hotel above Restaurant Botanika - one of the best restaurants in town. Located in city centre, in the vicinity of a lot of bars and nightclubs, so very noisy on weekends. Good food and service and Wi-Fi. The former international Novotel brand and has been privatised after being state-owned for several years. The former first hotel in town, is in desperate need of renovation and has seen a lot better times. Cheaper rooms come with cold showers. Local restaurant serves awesome fish and chips for 10,000 FBu. There is Wi-Fi in the lobby.

Vaya Hotel. Vaya Hotel The restaurant is old, shabby and overpriced, but the 4 rooms are good value. It's at the top of the hill near University, far from the centre of town, so it's quieter and cooler.

Village Hotel. In Rohero. Owned by Interbank Burundi. 28 rooms, all amenities including swimming pool and internet.

Hotel Alexestel. Room types: basic, single rooms - double rooms and deluxe room. Facilities: free wireless Internet connection, free swimming pool, a bar-restaurant. Laundry service, free breakfast, mosquito net, hot water in bathroom.

Hotel Alexestel, Nyakabiga. Room types: Single rooms/double rooms with or without air-con. Free wireless Internet connection, a restaurant. Laundry service, breakfast, mosquito net, hot water in bathroom.

Best Outlook Hotel. Most rooms and restaurant with nice view on Bujumbura city and Lake Tanganyka, Congo visible on clean atmosphere on the opposite shore. Rooms in new building (40x and 50x) are hotter.

Embassies and consulates

United Kingdom. There is no UK embassy in Burundi, but there is a liaison office + 257 22 22-32-66. Burundi is covered from the British High Commission in Kigali, Rwanda. Consular assistance is provided by the Embassy of Belgium.