Things to see and do Burundi

Between Mwaro and Kibumbu, the Chutes falls, known as «Agasumo ka Mwaro», is an ideal place for a picnic and, in addition, a long history of beliefs. Before the introduction of Christian religions by the colonizers, Burundians practised the Cult of kubandwa, in which particular importance was reserved for waterfalls. The most sacred of them, and the best known nowadays, are these in Kayokwe.

To pray, Burundians traditionally passed through Adopt, intermediate between men and Imana (God); the latter, falling from heaven, would have settled in those falls whose waters kept bad spirits and thieves apart. Initiés's insiders regularly took a ritual bath here after a night of worship, to purify their body and spirit, and then threw food and drinks into the water to share them with the spirits there.

Today, the development of the site is underway and a former rugo has been reconstituted. The construction of a campsite and a hotel on site is also in project at the time of writing this guide.

Its landscape is marked by sand benches, lagoons and swampy areas. The vegetation consists of grassland or tree savanes, with several varieties of acacias. Elsewhere, plants in wetlands predominate with house and papyrus.

Wildlife is adapted to this aquatic area. There are still enough hippos so you don't have to miss them. They are often in groups. In general, there are also crocodiles, with which they coexist with all mistrust. More individualistic, these are visible in the sun on the sand clusters, but they also excel in the camouflage by passing on to pieces of dead wood. Caution is placed near the banks of the river and on the edge of the lagunaires passes.

Many reptile species inhabit the delta area. Snakes include the heurtante viper (Bitis arietans), fatal bites, and water cobras (Boulengerina annulata), which are dangerous, but fortunately not aggressive. More harmless, many lizards, chameleon and turtles also inhabit the area. The turtle Pelusios castaneus, whose flesh is appreciated by the neighbours, is a threatened species.

Mammals are more difficult to observe. Poaching has caused havoc and has become more suspicious. Antelopes presence, such as the very rare guib of water (sitatunga) and guib harnaché (Tragelaphus scriptus), is documented, but few have seen them in recent times. There is also the presence of a serval introduced by guards some fifteen years ago, and chives from Africa, threatened because the population loves their flesh. Marais and Egypt hares, Whyte hares and large rodents, perverted (Thryonomys swinderianus), complete this non-exhaustive list of delta mammals.

Birds are the major richness of the delta. The location of the site relative to seasonal migration routes makes it a privileged place for ornithological observation. There are more than 350 sedentary or migrant species, at least half of them in the delta.

Aquatic species dominate, for example, dendrocygnes, bosse, birds of the family of bécassins (including aboyeur redhorse and rousselette), and several types of scallops, the crowned ((Vanellus coronatus). Terns, such as the leucoptère tern or collier à, crested (including ardoisée, Egretta ardesiaca), white stilts, and finally different kinds of pelicans, herons (Bubulcus ibis, boeuf) and ibis complete this list.

Rab the dry season (June to September), there are many migratory birds, such as the rivages of Europe's shores (Riparia riparia) or the red-billed worker (Quelea quelea), which is known for its damage to rice crops. Finally, there are various species of plovers, doves and swifts.

This garden filled with original plant essences was rehabilitated in 2009 with the support of the French Embassy and the Green Belt Association for the Environment (ACVE). It is hemmed between Pierre Ngendandumwe Avenue and Muramvya, Ngozi and January avenues. This is an ideal place to walk or run (courage under the sun!), make a little bike even. Open air concerts are regularly organized (especially in June, on the occasion of the Music Festival). Children's games and sports fields attract a lot of people in the week or weekend. Sports courses and children's activities are regularly organized there. Get information on site.

Built in the mid s thanks to Colonel Gaddafi's financing, following the rapprochement of the Bagaza regime with Libya, this so-called central library includes a large number of works, whether scientific or not, on Burundi and Africa in general. It can be accessed by negotiating a temporary entry with the management or the academic authorities.

Everything about sport in Burundi, especially football…

At 3,5 km from Buta on the Bururi-Makamba track (RN 17), we can take a bad track on the left which joins the areas of Kirabuke and Mwarusi, then Muhweza, about 7 km. At the foot of Mount Kibimbi, there are sources providing hot water that relaxes and boosts. The National Tourism Office, with the assistance of UNDP, planned to reorganize the site's basins, but this is not yet the case in 2012. These natural baths can also be reached in a large walk (with compass) from the source of the Nile to Mount Gikizi.

The beating heart of Nyanza-Lac is on the water. Coming from the RN 3, after exiting the market, we descend through a track to the shores of the lake and the small fishing port. Des canoes dance and together under the gentle breezes. The beach deserves a stop for its daydreams.

Randa is a former government farm for various agricultural and livestock experiments, along the image of the Ferme farm. In 2003-2004, it was transformed into «camp of Hope», where the recruits of the new Burundian army, FDN (National Defence Force) were trained. Since the late 2000 s, it has regained its primary vocation, but the passage of the military has left certain facilities unusable. The visit is possible upon request.

It is a pity that the recovery of "Castel Maus" a few years ago led to the surconstruction on this parcel that was once appreciated for its air and wilderness. Buildings have pushed everywhere! The result is that this legendary place of the Burundian seaside is now the by tourists, who greatly prefer to flourish in the long place of the nearby Blue Bay Tanganyika. Here you will find the atmosphere of the old beach of Resha (small straw umbrellas, ventilated spaces), in an almost Maldivian style with beautiful squares with a high chaumé roof. We feel better, that is undeniable.

At the Blue Bay Resort as at the Resha Resort, the beaches are accessible to everyone, provided of course that they eat at least one drink. It is clear that despite their rarity, crocodiles can sail around the area, so caution remains.

Inaugurated at the end of 2011, this centre is the result of fruitful collaboration between the municipal administration of Gitega, the Burundian Ministry of Youth and Sports and the international Peace and Sport organization. The aim is to supervise young people, school leavers or school leavers, by offering them sports and cultural activities, the educational virtues of sport being put at the service of the integration of the least favoured.

The house in which the centre is located, near the Olympia on the road to Karuzi and Muyinga, is one of the most stylish in Burundi. Built in the mid s in a modernist genre reminiscent of Le Corbusier, all in geometry, cut corners and piles, it first belonged to an Asian shopkeeper in Gitega and became a luxury hotel before falling into ruins. We can therefore only welcome the aid provided by the European Union for the successful rehabilitation of this beautiful architectural heritage (around 150 000 €).

This literary coffee is a "space where all forms of writings arise and intersect: slam, poetry, tales, news, novels, theatre. This is an initiative of the Association des Writers du Burundi, which is already celebrating several years of regular literary exchanges. Every Thursday, comes who wants to talk about works, authors or themes, with writers, intellectuals, musicians… The main facilitators of this «café» (where one does not drink) are the poet Ketty Nivyabandi, its coordinator, and the writer Roland Rugero, his presenter, whose respective coordinates are indicated here. In 2012, Samandari members published a collective Collection, In-dependency (Soma editions), a literary and poetic approach to the fiftieth anniversary of Independence.

About 21 km south of Bujumbura, at the height of Migera in commune Kabezi, you can take on the right of the RN 3 a small track over a few hundred meters, which leads to the site of Akarava. It's a thermal water that springs the soil and gives the grass a very special texture (hence the name of the akarava).

The place has once known some notoriety, with its three basins (men, women and children) designed to dip, but the war affected that part of Bujumbura Rural and the site deteriorated. The ponds are flooded with herbs, but this phenomenon and the natural formation it creates on the ground is worth a small stop.

A modern tambourinaires troupe repeats here regularly. See for those who cannot go to Gishora to admire traditional batimbo.

A handmade panel on the edge of the road, where the naive fish are drawn, makes it possible to stop here. At the end of the trail leading to the lake, there is no reception facility for tourists, but locals dream of meeting more often. Canoes, children and reeds surround the visitor, who learns how here we fish and survive, and how crocodiles still attack often in the corner of humans…

Prince Louis Rwagasore is the national hero of Burundi, the major political figure of decolonization. Murdered on 13 October 1961, he was buried a few days later on Vugizo Hill, cleared hastily by hundreds of followers of Uprona Party whose leader he was the leader. Cried by the crowds at his funeral, the son of the Mwami Mwambutsa is still celebrated regularly in front of his mausoleum.

The monument is of sober design, with three arches marked with the colours of the national flag and, on the right, plates on behalf of each of the "boroughs" (provincial divisions) of the time. It stands on the outskirts of calm, in this very residential area.

On each side of the mausoleum stands the stelas of two other illustrious Burundians whose deaths remain mysterious: the grave of Ignace Kamatari, senior brother of the Mwami Mwambutsa, killed in May 1964, and that of Pierre Ngendandumwe, the Hutu Prime Minister murdered in January 1965.

In recent years, prohibitions to take pictures of the monument are regularly addressed to the tourist. It is not very logical, but we cannot do much…