How to Find Luxury Hotels In Burundi

The central African nation of Burundi is small, landlocked, and currently quite dangerous. After 12 years of civil war, Burundi is attempting to make the transition to democracy, but continues to experience domestic instability, with frequent battles still taking place with rebel forces. Burundi is not considered a safe location at this time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• The appropriate visas.
• A valid passport.

Find Luxury Accommodations in Burundi

1. To book accommodations, contact National Tourism Office at [phone] or visit the Web site (see Resources below). Stick to Bujumbura. Burundi's capital, Bujumbura, is the only town in Burundi that has hotels, or safe accommodations of any sort.
2. Live the jet setter's life. Among Burundi's higher-end hotels are several 5-star accommodations that specifically cater to international travelers and staff from the United Nations. These luxury lodgings have the best amenities, the cleanest rooms and the most reliable service you will find in Burundi.
3. Develop an appreciation of the little luxuries. Even the handful of 5-star accommodations in Bujumbura are not going to be lavish. If your lodgings have hot water, reliable electrical service, air conditioning and a clean bed, that equals luxury in Burundi.

Navigate Burundi

4. Know that travel within Burundi will be difficult. Due to the ongoing fighting, many roads throughout the country are closed or blocked, making travel between towns difficult and sometimes impossible.
5. Try the mini-bus. Burundi's safest and most reliable source of public transportation is its min-bus system. This system runs between towns in Burundi on a daily basis, when the roads are open. If you plan on visiting more than one town during your stay, the mini-bus system is your best bet for getting there in one piece.
6. Commune with nature. Burundi has several spectacular national parks, though whether or not they are open on any given day varies according to how bad the local fighting is. If you happen to catch one that is open, take advantage of the opportunity these parks offer to see native African wildlife close up in its natural habitat.

Tips & Warnings

• It is helpful to have a basic knowledge of French, as that is the main language spoken in Burundi's cities. In rural areas, knowing a few words of Swahili will prove useful.
• Keep off rural roads. Roads between towns in Burundi are the sites of frequent rebel ambushes. These attacks are usually violent and sometimes fatal for those caught up in them. Play it safe and keep to the main thoroughfares if you are traveling.
• Curfews are in place throughout the country, for the safety of locals and visitors alike. These curfews are strictly enforced by government troops.

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