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Living in Bujumbura

Preparing Your Trip

Visa/Vaccines – Apply for your visa at the Burundian diplomatic representation in your country. When you arrive at Bujumbura International Airport, you can obtain an entry visa if you don’t already have one – this will depend on your country of origin.

The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, and some health professionals recommend following an anti-malaria treatment. Prepare accordingly.

Airlines – Before giving instructions to your travel agent, be aware that the airlines that land in Bujumbura are: Air Tanzania, Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Rwandair, and Uganda Airlines.

Currency – The legal currency in Burundi is the Burundian franc. To know its current exchange rate against other major currencies, check the information on the Bank of the Republic of Burundi website. In Bujumbura, Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted in very few places. It is therefore preferable to have cash in US Dollars or Euros that you can exchange once there.

Clothing – Bujumbura is built on the shores of Lake Tanganyika (about 800m altitude) and has an average temperature of 26°C (between 22 and 30°C during the day, very rarely below 21°C at night). It is therefore not necessary to pack your winter wardrobe! However, a windbreaker (K-Way type) is useful when traveling within the country at altitudes of 2,200 m. Light and very airy clothing is therefore recommended.

Luggage – Travel with your medications and cosmetic products to last you a few months, giving you time to find the available equivalents in Burundi. Bonus: Travel with a pen, you will need it to complete forms upon your arrival at Bujumbura airport.

Tourism – If you are here for a short stay and plan to visit the country, we suggest touring with Ikaze ventures.

Hotels – If you want to stay in an international class hotel, here are some of our suggestions:

In general, prices range between US$ 200 and US$ 600. If you want to save money, there are mid-range hotels in the city center with prices ranging between US$ 40 and US$ 80.

Welcome to Bujumbura

Communication – Having a Burundi SIM card will be essential for your autonomy. The most used telecommunication companies in Bujumbura are Lumitel and Econet. You will have access to internet and mobile payment services in addition to the usual call and messaging services.

Accommodation – For medium to long-term stays, our team at Interimmo will be pleased to find a villa or apartment that meets your needs. You can see most of our choices here.

Water/Electricity – Water and electricity supply is provided by REGIDESO, a state-owned company; their agents will inform you about the available payment options.

Security Companies – The presence of one or two security agents is often synonymous with more security and peace of mind. These are some of the local security companies:

Furniture – In addition to local artists and craftsmen that you will get to know over time, here are some stores we recommend:

Banking – National and international banking transactions are handled by the following banks:

Insurance – Insurance companies offer you a varied range of insurance services:

Groceries – For your shopping, we recommend:

International Schools – Don’t worry about the continuity of your children’s education. Indeed, Bujumbura has good quality international schools. We particularly recommend:

For a French program:

For an English program:

Places of Worship – Bujumbura is one of those cities where life slows down a bit to allow people to participate in their religious gatherings. Here are some places of worship that might suit you:

Sports – For physical activities, you have many choices:

For personal training and/or group classes in the gym, here are some recommendations:

Cosmetic Care – For your skin, hair and nails care, massages, etc. we recommend:

Entertainment – Bujumbura is a vibrant city; during the week, evenings are often punctuated by ‘live music’ commonly called ‘karaoke’, and cultural centers have several art events on their programs, ranging from cinema to comedy nights and theater. Check their programs to find what you would like:

Night clubs/Lounges – Arena, Malibu, PClub, Toxic
Live music – Arena Restaurant Lounge Bar, Zanzi Bar
For children – Harmonie Woods, Splash

Cafés – Whether for moments of relaxation, work, or an opportunity to enjoy good Burundian coffee, Bujumbura offers a wide variety of cafés, here are some favorites:

Restaurants – Bujumbura restaurants offer different African dishes as well as specialties from other countries such as French, Chinese, Indian, Italian, and Greek cuisine.

During your stay in Bujumbura, you can take the opportunity to visit tourist places in Burundi and the Great Lakes region. For this purpose, consult the Petit Futé.

 

 

 

 

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