"Bujumbura!" Bujumbura by Rrroel

Bujumbura Travel Guide: 18 reviews and 31 photos

Bujumbura is not exactly on the tourist map and understandably so. As the capital of war-torn Burundi, most of the people here have enough things to worry about and tourists simply stay away. Beginning of July, when I was starting to prepare my move to Burundi, embassies and international organisations were busy evacuating their staff, since rebels were indiscriminately shelling the centre of Bujumbura. People living in the outskirts of town could wake up finding dead child soldiers in their garden...

But eventually I made it till Buja in the end of September and everything is fine here - I'm here because it's safe, not the other way around! Downtown is the only part of the city (and of the whole country, for that matter) where it's safe, but there is still a curfew from 11pm till 6am. There's even a peace agreement now that seems to be respected! Despite all this, the general situation is still pretty volatile and it's well possible that the next time you come across some news about Bujumbura, and you will visit these pages, that it will be because of bad press and that the little stability there is now will all be wiped away in a coup d'état or yet another rebel attack...

But people have to live and they try to make the best out of it, on a day-by-day basis. Bujumbura itself is a small capital, on the northeast point of lake Tanganyika. Everything is green and tropical and you can have wonderful views over the Burundese hills and on the Congolese mountains on the other side of the lake. The only possible and safe excursion, some 5 km out of town, goes to a beach on the northside of the lake. Very popular on weekends. In the city are plenty of bars, cafés and restaurants, many of them are professionally run. And despite the curfew at 11pm, it is still possible in weekends to go out all night long, trying out trendy moves on hot Tanzanian music in Buja's tremendous open-air nightclubs! They're packed every weekend and even most of all on Sunday evening for the after-beach. Welcome in Bujumbura!!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Wonderful vistas, wicked nightlife and a nice beach!
Cons:Capital of a war-torn, African country, with all the sad side effects of it...

Last visit to Bujumbura: Sep 2003
Intro Updated Dec 15, 2003
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Reviews (14)

Sunset with a view over the Congo - Bujumbura

Beach Things to Do (1)

Bujumbura's favourite Sunday afternoon activity is lazing around at the beach on the north shore of Lake Tanganyika.... more travel advice

Drinking beer Local Customs (1)

If Burundians have a big garden and too much money, hey open a small bar in their garden. If they have a little bit of... more travel advice

La marche (walking) Sports & Outdoors (1)

It's debatable whether it's really sport, but the locals are convinced it is. Especially on Sunday mornings, people go... more travel advice

Rusizi National Park Off The Beaten Path (1)

10 to 15km north of Bujumbura on the road to the Congo is the Rusizi National Park, where you can see some hippos and... more travel advice

Restaurants (4)
See All Belgian fries in Buja
Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All Crime and armed robbery

Nightlife (4)
See All More nightlife
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Comments (6)

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SLLiew Mar 2, 2007 at 10:33 PM

Great informative tips of a less travelled country. Cheers, SL
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sprdak11 Jan 17, 2007 at 10:41 AM

Nice page. Greetings.
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triplehelix Jan 17, 2006 at 8:56 PM

thats so sad... what exactly is going on over there? hope you remain safe in such an unstable country.
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blue_sky04 Nov 30, 2004 at 12:31 AM

Nice photo & information. I have always wanted to visit African countries.
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yumyum Nov 25, 2004 at 7:10 AM

I thought there was Bilharzia in the lake, anyway that's what we were told when we camped on the shore there in 1989!
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Narviking Dec 15, 2003 at 8:31 AM

Very nice info. I wanted to go there but was afraid because of the unstable situation. Hope to make a trip in the future. Greetings from Norway !