Two young men, Lake Tanganyika © franca_mente
Overlooking the turquoise waters of Lake Tanganyika with a
freshly roasted cup of coffee, banana frites and some succulent
brochettes, the serenity and charm of Burundi will dawn on visitors
like a pleasant surprise. Emerging from a longstanding civil war,
travel to Burundi has been discouraged up until recently and the
small republic in east Africa, sandwiched between African titans
Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is now enjoying an
influx of curious tourists, attracted by its new found peace and
astounding natural beauty.
Lapped by the clear waters of grand dame Lake Tanganyika, the
longest lake in the world, and blessed with lush mountainous
jungles to the north and rolling green hills to the east, the only
land below 3,000 feet (915m) in Burundi is a narrow strip of plain
along the Ruzizi River. A wealth of sights are on offer, from the
thermal waterfalls in the Mugara Reserve and the southern source of
the Nile at Rutovu, to Kibira National Park, where chimpanzees,
colobus monkeys and crested mangabeys dash swiftly through dense
foliage. And even though coffee is the country's largest export, it
is the vast tea plantations of Teza and Rwegura that capture
visitors' imagination.
Burundi has had a turbulent history. A 12-year ethnic-based
civil war between the Hutus and Tutsis, mirroring the violent
genocide in neighbouring Rwanda, broke out in the early 1990s after
tension between the dominant Tutsi minority and Hutu majority
flared up, demoralising the people and weakening the country's
infrastructure. A ceasefire agreement and free and fair election
were conducted in 2005, resulting in relative peace and a new
democratic government.
Although undeveloped and in bad repair, the capital Bujumbura,
offers a friendly and cosmopolitan ambiance. Charming art deco
buildings from the colonial heydays line the streets and
restaurants serving Belgian, Asian and Burundi cuisine, as well as
the local Primus beer, can be found throughout the centre. For
colourful markets, leather, ceramics, ivory and woodcarvings,
follow the road to Gitega, Burundi's second largest city, where the
Museum of Traditions can also be found.
