Welcome to Burundi!
Located in the heart of Africa, this tiny country really surprised me with its greenery and such warm people!
ARRIVAL / VISA
We wanted to take advantage of the new VOA program that just started a few weeks ago! "Your Burundi Guide" arranged the whole trip and sent us a letter from the hotel we'd be staying at to show on arrival at Bujumbura Airport.
It's a little confusing when you arrive at Bujumbura airport; first thing is to show your negative PCR test before entering the building. Then, go straight ahead to the window in the very middle -- there's a big visa sign above. You give them your passport and they start inputting your info into the system. After that, go to the window to the left for the cashier. You have to pay for the visa ($90 for 30 days, $30 for a 3-day transit) and PCR on arrival ($100). You can pay in USD and they give you change in Burundi Francs. After you receive your receipts, go back to the middle window so they can put your visa in your passport. Then go to the window on the right to show your PCR on arrival receipt and they give you a slip of paper to do your PCR. Proceed to the next window to get your passport stamped, then go to baggage claim to put your bags thru the x-ray machine, and go through a back door next to one of the baggage claim conveyor belts to do your PCR test.
ACTIVITIES
TEA PLANTATION & GISHORA DRUMMERS
The first day we went to a tea plantation near Gitega; I was surprised how green everything was! It was really beautiful. In the afternoon we went to the famous drummers of Gishora, and it did not disappoint. The energy was fantastic and the local village all crowded around to watch.
BUJUMBURA
The second day we did a Bujumbura city tour. My favorite activity of the day was the boat ride on Lake Tanganyika to see the hippos. After that we went to some monuments around the city, but it was fun driving around seeing so many bicyclists and their way of life.
