How to Find Hotels in Bujumbura, Burundi
Burundi is a small, inland African nation that has been seeped in internal conflict for the last decade. The capital and largest city is Bujumbura, a port city on Lake Tanganyika. Once known as the Switzerland of Africa, Burundi is beginning to flourish at the end of a 13-year civil war.
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Things You'll Need
- Mosquito repellent, medications and a first-aid kit
- Passport, visa, and evidence of immunization against yellow fever (required for entry)
- A computer with Internet access to find accommodations in the city
Instructions
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Prepare for Your Trip
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Know that the newfound peace is generally seen as an African success story, but an increasing number of human rights violations and the continuing suppression of free expression tarnish Burundi's image.
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Pack lightweight clothes, but bring a sweater too. The weather is generally mild during the day and cooler at night.
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Change your money to Burundi Francs as soon as you get a chance. Credit cards are rarely accepted, and ATMs are not readily available.
Organize Transportation
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Arrange all transportation through your hotel in order to ensure safe travel.
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Fly into Nairobi or London and catch a connecting flight to Bujumbura International Airport. No direct flights from the U.S. are available.
Find Accommodations
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To book accommodations, contact Burundi National Tourism Office at 011 (+257) 22 2023.
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Arrange travel with your embassy if you are traveling to Burundi on business or with your aid group if you're visiting as a volunteer. There are several business-class accommodations in the capital city.
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Check with your embassy regarding off-limit areas before booking reservations. Portions of the city maybe closed to foreigners due to a threat of violence or high crime rates.
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Stick to the larger hotels when looking for accommodations as these will be safer and offer more services than guesthouses.
Get a Feel for Burundi
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Enjoy a cup of coffee. Coffee is the largest Burundi export.
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Listen to the Master Drummers of Burundi to get a feel for the country. This world-renowned group of traditional Burundi musicians and dancers perform complex percussive music.
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Tips & Warnings
Languages spoken include Kirundi, French and Swahili.
Bring a mosquito net just in case your accommodations do not offer one.
Tipping is required at most hotels to get service.
All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
Outside of the capital city of Bujumbura, there are little tourist accommodations.
The Government of Burundi and the U.S. Embassy maintain a curfew for Bujumbura. Contact the U.S. Embassy for the most up-to-date curfew information.
Crime poses a high risk for visitors throughout Bujumbura, and tourists are always a target.
Since independence, Bujumbura has been the main site of frequent fighting. The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Burundi.
