Bujumbura

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.

Climate
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. As of July 2023 two visas are available on arrival at the Airport: a one-month, multiple entry visa costs US$90, and a 3-day (2-night) transit visa is $40. Visas can be obtained from embassies prior to travel.

If you arrive by land you can only get a 3-day transit visa for 40usd. then you need to go to the immigration office in Bujumbura to get a visa extension 10 or 30 days for 20-50 usd.

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.

By plane
Recording around 5 flights per day, Bujumbura International Airport essentially connects to East African hub airports, via the following compagnies: there are direct Air Tanzania flights to neighboring Tanzania Kigoma and Dar Es salaam but none to Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 * 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

Get around
Taxis are cruising all over the city; you need to negotiate the price with them. As of early 2010, rides in the city centre were about 1500-2500 FBu; rides to and from airport can be absurdly expensive (20,000 FBu) but there's little you can do about it. In the city, during the day, a cheaper option is a moto-taxi costing 500-1000 FBu a journey, but these have been banned from the city centre for safety reasons. Burundians typically rely on the many mini-buses, costing 300 FBu to anywhere in city centre in mid-2011, and 600 FBu to the suburbs. 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

 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Beach

 * Bora Bora Plage is next to Saga.
 * Bora Bora Plage is next to Saga.
 * Bora Bora Plage is next to Saga.

Culture

 * 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.
 * Many activities are organized by the Centre Culturel Francais (CCF), Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore, +257 222351 (City Centre). Extensive monthly film, theatre and music programmes available from their offices. CCF also offers courses in French and Kiswahili (individual and group).
 * Ciné Caméo (19 Avenue des Paysans), in the Asiatic quarter screens all the latest blockbusters for about 2000 FBu. The only cinema in the country, and a place to enjoy some air conditioning on hot dry season nights.

Sports
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. Entrance as of late 2011 is 500 FBu regular and 2000 FBu first class.
 * 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, FBu 3500 (2014). 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.
 * Hotel Club Lac du Tanganyika, Chaussee D'Uvira (take route in the direction of the Border with the DRC - Gatumba), +257 250220/221, fax +257 250219, . 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.

Viewpoints

 * 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
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.

Groceries
Most of the things that one needs can be found in one of the stalls in the Central Market. Stiff bargaining is needed to get it for the right price.

Small supermarkets are found across the city. Google supermarket, Gift Supermarket. They normally stock luxury Imported items at a luxury price.

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.

Souvenirs

 * 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:

Rohero

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

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 are l'Archipel and Havana. L'Archipel can be found at Blv de la Liberté and Havana is on Blv de Uprona (around the corner of the Novotel).

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.

Downtown, lakeside

 * 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. Good value at US$60 per night including breakfast. The road is a little noisy however.

City centre

 * 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. Around US$90 per night.
 * Water front hotel (approx US$100). 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.
 * Hotel de L'Amitie (rooms for US$25 - 50 including breakfast) is on the Avenue de l'Amitie by Blvd l'Uprona. Cheaper rooms come with cold showers. Local restaurant serves awesome fish and chips for 10,000 FBu. There is Wi-Fi in the lobby.
 * Water front hotel (approx US$100). 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.
 * Hotel de L'Amitie (rooms for US$25 - 50 including breakfast) is on the Avenue de l'Amitie by Blvd l'Uprona. Cheaper rooms come with cold showers. Local restaurant serves awesome fish and chips for 10,000 FBu. There is Wi-Fi in the lobby.
 * Hotel de L'Amitie (rooms for US$25 - 50 including breakfast) is on the Avenue de l'Amitie by Blvd l'Uprona. Cheaper rooms come with cold showers. Local restaurant serves awesome fish and chips for 10,000 FBu. There is Wi-Fi in the lobby.

Up in the hills

 * 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. Around US$90 per night.



Stay safe
Bujumbura is a moderately safe city, but common sense should prevail. Walking around during the day should be fine, but at night time (from 18:00) the streets get very dark and you are best off getting a taxi except for very short walks. Day or night there are very few police around. The area near the port feels pretty dodgy day or night.

Connect
English/French language broadcasts are available from BBC World Service on 90.2 MHz and 105.6 MHz.

Internet access is best at an expat restaurant with WiFi, especially Café Aroma on Boul. de l'Uprona. For those without their own device, Surf Internet Café (back of Rusca Plaza, Avenue de l'Amitié) has generally fast Internet on good quality computers during the day. In the evening, your best bet in the city centre is Face@Face near the Waterfront Hotel. 3G wireless sticks are available from Econet as of mid-2011, with other carriers planning to offer them soon.

Embassies and consulates

 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Kigoma, Tanzania: You can take a bus via the Manyovu border post. The distance is 227 km. From Kigoma you can take a train or bus to Mwanza or Dar es Salaam.
 * About 60 km south of Bujumbura are two lakeside resort hotels, Blue Bay  and Resha Royal Imperial Hotel   which make for nice day trips or as somewhere to stay overnight. Both have restaurants serving up excellent grilled fish.
 * The volcano bus company has regular service to Kigali Rwanda. and the Luba express bus company has regular service to Kigoma Tanzania There is an Intercity bus station on Avenue de l'OUA near GTS.