Exploring Burundi is a unique and off the beaten track experience due to its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and warm and welcoming people. The country is often overlooked by tourists, making it a hidden gem for those seeking …
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Backpacking Burundi in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Burundi with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Visit Burundi
Venture into the heart of Africa with Burundi, a unique backpacker destination offering a blend of scenic beauty and cultural richness. Pros? Immerse yourself in vibrant local markets, explore serene lakeshores, and experience the warmth of Burundian hospitality. The country is off the beaten path, ensuring an authentic experience. However, infrastructure can be limited, and travel advisories should be considered. For the intrepid backpacker seeking a less-explored African gem, Burundi promises a genuine adventure, where every encounter unveils the untamed beauty of this lesser-known destination.
Why to go?Why backpacking in Burundi
Uniqueness
Scenery
Burundi is a beautiful country with diverse landscapes that offer a range of stunning sceneries to explore. From the tranquil shores of Lake Tanganyika to the lush green hills of the countryside, there is no shortage of natural beauty to discover. …
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People
The people of Burundi are incredibly warm and welcoming, always ready to open their homes and hearts to visitors and strangers alike. Their hospitality is deeply ingrained in their culture, and they take great pride in making guests feel comfortable …
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💡 HighlightsTop-5 things to do in Burundi
- Explore Bujumbura: Start your journey by exploring the capital city of Burundi, Bujumbura. Visit the beautiful Lake Tanganyika, one of the largest lakes in the world, and enjoy its stunning beaches and water activities. Discover the vibrant local markets, historical sites, and immerse yourself in the lively culture of the city.
- Go on a Safari: Burundi is home to several national parks and wildlife reserves. Embark on a thrilling safari adventure in the Ruvubu National Park or Kibira National Park, where you can spot a variety of wildlife including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.
- Visit Gitega: Explore the cultural heart of Burundi by visiting Gitega, the country’s second-largest city. Discover the Royal Palace, a historic landmark, and learn about the country’s monarchy. Explore the National Museum of Gitega, which showcases Burundi’s rich history and traditional artifacts.
- Experience Lake Rwihinda: Escape to the serene beauty of Lake Rwihinda, located in the southern part of Burundi. This picturesque lake is surrounded by lush green hills and offers a peaceful environment for relaxation and birdwatching. Enjoy a boat ride on the tranquil waters and soak in the natural beauty.
- Hike Mount Heha: For adventure enthusiasts, a hike up Mount Heha is a must-do activity. This dormant volcano is the highest peak in Burundi and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Challenge yourself and experience the thrill of reaching the summit.
But Burundi offers more...
🌤️ When to go?Best time to go backpacking Burundi
The best time to visit Burundi for backpacking is during the dry season, which runs from June to September. During this time, the weather is generally pleasant with less rainfall and lower humidity, making it ideal for outdoor activities and exploring the country. Additionally, the dry season is also the best time for wildlife viewing in national parks such as Kibira National Park and Ruvubu National Park.
Risk level: high (75%)Safety advice for Burundi
- Flash flooding and mudslides are common from February to mid-May. Earthquakes occur.
- The security situation is unstable. Violent attacks on individuals are common. Get expert security advice.
- Terrorism is a significant threat. Arrange personal security measures and be alert to threats.
- Violent crime is widespread and often involves weapons. Foreigners can be a target of kidnapping. Be alert to carjacking and other threats. Don't travel after dark.
source: smartraveller.gov.au
source: www.gov.uk
BurundiMy tips to get you on the way!Does Burundi sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Burundi. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Burundi may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Burundi. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Burundi may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Burundi, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Burundi, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 29 September 2024