Bujumbura Travel Guide

  Rue l'Amitié
by co48
 
  • Rue l'Amitié
      Rue l'Amitié
    by co48
  • Hotel Beauséjour Iramviya
      Hotel Beauséjour Iramviya
    by co48
  • Bujumbura with Lake Tanganiyka
      Bujumbura with Lake Tanganiyka
    by MikeAtSea
  •   Bujumbura
    by co48
  •   Bujumbura
    by co48
 

Explore Bujumbura

Things to Do  

University of Bujumbura

University of Bujumbura, Bujumbura

 MikeAtSea Says:  The University of Bujumbura offers splendid views across the capital city and Lake Tanganyika. It is the only university in the poverty stricken tiny central African country. Its facilities are deteriorating and significantly damaged due to an ongoing civil war. In its... 

Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika, Bujumbura

 MikeAtSea Says:  An ocean in the middle of Africa, with white sandy beaches and sun chairs? Okay you have not had too much local Rum - but you have arrived at the biggest fresh water reserve on the continent of Africa, right in the heart of Africa - Lake Tanganyika. It is the deepest lake in... 

Independance Monument

Independance Monument, Bujumbura

 MikeAtSea Says:  High above the city of Bujumbura towers the Independance Monument honouring the countries independance after German and Belgium rule in 1962 and when Bujumbura regained its current name after the original name of Usumbura. 

New Suburbs

New Suburbs, Bujumbura

 MikeAtSea Says:  Towards the East of the town centre of Bujumbura one can find a building franzy with hundreds of new homes beeing build, showing that residents have gained the confidence again and are investing money in the restructuring of this war torn country. 

Border to the DRC

Border to the DRC, Bujumbura

 MikeAtSea Says:  One thing that amazed me was the friendliness that greeted us when we decided to hop across to the DRC for a few hours. The myth African border crossings are unfriendly and rude took a complete different shape when even the Station Commader decided to pose for a picture,... 

Beach

Beach, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  Bujumbura's favourite Sunday afternoon activity is lazing around at the beach on the north shore of Lake Tanganyika. There are three places, all slightly different.Petit Bassam has a nice pool and is popular with families with children. It has a replica of a traditional hut... 

Hotels  

Hotel Club Du Lac Tanganyika

 1 Review and 32 Opinions  The local rating for this hotel is four star - I gave it a two star since service and some of the... 

Restaurants  

Petit Bruxelles: Belgian fries in Buja

Petit Bruxelles: Belgian fries in Buja, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  The first "friterie" in town, le Petit Bruxelles is a nice place to have some Belgian fries or a small snack. They have draught beer and can be quite crowded in the evening, weekdays or weekends. 

Le Kasuku: Good food in an arty decor

Le Kasuku: Good food in an arty decor, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  Another good restaurant with Belgian-Burundian cuisine. It looks lovely and the food on the original menu is great. 

Lac Tanganyika: A classic

Lac Tanganyika: A classic, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  Very good menu, local ingredients with a Belgian touch on the shores of the lake. Arguably the best restaurant in town.The building is very nice and it has even some history. It was on its grounds that, days before independence on 15 October 1961, the future head of state,... 

Karera Beach: The best on the beach

Karera Beach: The best on the beach, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  Especially on Sunday noons, but as lovely on weekdays, the restaurant at Karera Beach is one of my favourites in town. The have good sangala (fish) and capitaine (another fish) and the view on the beach is just great. Filet de capitaine provençal 

Nightlife  

Consulat, Calvados, Entente,...: More nightlife

Consulat, Calvados, Entente,...: More nightlife, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  Despite the war and poverty, Burundians are a happy bunch and life can be fun. During July and August, when schools have closed and Burundians from the diaspora return home to spend money and visit friends and relatives, some other places keep moving all night long.Le... 

Odéon Palace: "Karaoke"

Odéon Palace: "Karaoke", Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  Every Wednesday night, locals find themselves in the Odéon palace to enjoy the Karaoke. In fact this has nothing of a karaoke, but is a life band playing local classics and hot tunes. The band is really good and occasionally there are guest performances. Great atmosphere,... 

Havana Club: Another monument in Buja's nightlife

Havana Club: Another monument in Buja's nightlife, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  Arguably the most famous nightclub in Buja, the Havana is the best place on Saturday nights. Fridays are nothing special since the crowds gather in l'Archipel. They also occasionally give concerts from local stars or even international reggae bands (recently I saw a band all... 

L'Archipel: L'Archipel on Friday nights

L'Archipel: L'Archipel on Friday nights, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  The place to be on Friday nights! The local upperclass and youths go dancing till the break of day to the tunes of an old DJ. The music's in fact nothing special and definitely not up-to-date, but the open-air atmosphere and moving crowds make it a wonderfull place to start... 

Meridien (basement disco): Meat

Meridien (basement disco): Meat, Bujumbura

 babeteaser Says:  - worn out furniture- blacklights only- lot of local meat at questionable prices- olds & new commercial hits 

Local Customs  

Drinking beer

Drinking beer, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  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 money and lots of time to spare, they tend to feel slightly thirsty and start drinking beer.The local brews, Amstel and Primus, are nothing special but are... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Crime and armed robbery

Crime and armed robbery, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  As Burundi is still struggling to come to terms with itself, the country is awash with poverty and illegal arms, a dangerous combination. Everywhere in town, armed robberies are happening, very often with victims. This does not only happen in the poorer more poplar... 

Curfew!

Curfew!, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  Bujumbura is a wonderful place to live, people like nightlife, but officially there's a curfew after midnight! If you stay downtown, you can get away with it, but because of this most clubs and bars close at 11pm or otherwise keep going until the early morning.Police has... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Rusizi National Park

Rusizi National Park, Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  10 to 15km north of Bujumbura on the road to the Congo is the Rusizi National Park, where you can see some hippos and crocodiles. There is debate whether there are still some antilopes and the last elephant has been shot and eaten years ago by one of the rebel movements. He... 

Sports & Outdoors  

La marche (walking)

La marche (walking), Bujumbura

 Rrroel Says:  It's debatable whether it's really sport, but the locals are convinced it is. Especially on Sunday mornings, people go walking up the hill in town to the university, discussing politics and other gossip, after which they end up having a beer in one of Buja's five hundred... 

The Place

Plan a Bujumbura vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Bujumbura locals

Experience Bujumbura
  •   23 Tips and Reviews
  •  31 Photos
  Share your Travels  
Map of Bujumbura
 

The People

2 Members Live Here
 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

 Owner has his own fishing boats that bring in fresh sangala every day. 

2 members live in Bujumbura

 

Questions and Answers

magdalena123 profile photo

Q:  Hello I'm traveling to Bujumbura next week, what are the essentials that I need? (in-case I forgot something). My baby is 6 months... 

CatherineReichardt profile photo

A: Hi Hmmm ... not the ideal place to travel with a baby, but assuming that you have no choice but to go, here are a few ideas that will hopefully be of help. You don't... 

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Top 4 Bujumbura Writers

1

Bujumbura!

Rrroel profile photo

 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.... 

2

Bujumbura - Capital of the Heart of Africa

MikeAtSea profile photo

 Bujumbura was known formerly as Usumbura, and is situated in western Burundi. Today it is the capital of the country and of Bujumbura Province located at the north-eastern end of Lake Tanganyika.... 

3

babeteaser goes Buju

babeteaser profile photo

 Nice well laid out town on the shore of the Tanganika Lake. Population estimated around 1mio! Unsafe to go beyond this city due to gangs. 

4

Bujumbura

co48 profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Bujumbura. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 11 photos uploaded, and 1 travelogue I've created. 

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