Bujumbura is the former capital and largest city of Burundi. It is on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Bujumbura was the capital of Burundi until 2019, when the capital was moved to the second largest city, Gitega. Bujumbura features a tropical savanna climate (Aw), with distinct wet season from October to April and dry season from May to September. Average temperature is 23 °C (73 °F), constant among the year. Bujumbura is much hotter than other part of the country due to it low altitude: 800 m (2,600 ft). Bujumbura has 147 rainy days per year and records 786 mm (30.9 in) of rainfalls annually, less than other parts of the country. Wind blows from Lake Tanganyika during the day and stops in the evening.
Taxis are cruising all over the city; you need to negotiate the price with them. Minibuses serving the north of the city arrive and depart at the front of the central market (Marché Central), while those heading south use the parking lot in the back of the market near the Interbank head office. The last mini-buses leave around 22:00 as of 2011. It is not advised to walk at night after that; if you need to go anywhere, take a taxi. To get a lift in any type of vehicle from the side of the road, hold out your hand with your palm facing upward. This works for taxis, buses, motorcycles, and all sorts of private and commercial vehicles.
1 Musée Vivant (Living Museum of Bujumbura), 11 Avenue du 13 Octobre (heading west, just before Lake Tanganyika — visitors must come via Ave du Large or Ave de la Plage, as Ave 13 October is closed), ☏ +257 22 22 60 82. 08:00–17:30. Small “zoo” and natural history museum. Exhibits include fishes from Lake Tanganyika, birds, seven species of snakes, two chimpanzees called “Kita” and “Joy”, a golden monkey, a leopard called “Jango”, three antelope, two slender-snouted crocodiles and six Nile crocodiles. There’s also a traditional Burundian village on the grounds. For about FBu 5,000 (2014) per person, a guide will show you around.
Karera Beach, Uvira Roadway (on Lake Tanganyika about 20 min from the city). Nice beach resort. Saga Plage, Uvira Roadway (on Lake Tanganyika about 20 min of town), ☏ +257 79 38 67 24. Beach with restaurant, entertainment complex and hotel. Nice place to pass some time. Bora Bora Plage is next to Saga. Association Burundaise pour la protection de la Nature (ABN), ☏ +257 22 24 94 70. A local conservation group that conducts birdwatching tours of Rusizi Park and other areas. Some of their guides speak English. Check local flyers for information on Burundian drummer performances, or just be on the look out for a wedding reception taking place somewhere.
The people in Bujumbura love their food and enjoy eating out with friends or family. A beef or fish brochette, chips or fried plantain and a fresh salad is available in all restaurants. But take your time. All food is freshly prepared and the cooks take time. Waiting an hour before the food arrives is certainly not abnormal. Restaurants are scattered all over town, but the best are in Rohero and Kiriri. Some restaurants that are worth a visit are: 1 Botanika, 11 Blvd de l'Uprona, ☏ +257 22 22 67 92, +257 22 22 87 73. Small, European-style, funky dining. Expensive. Great outdoor eating area, inner patio, good for brunch on weekends, has wireless.
There are several bars on Avenue de l'Universite (between Bld de l'Independence and Blv Mao Tse Tung). The best known places for a transnight dance is l'Archipel which can be found on Blv de la Liberté. Coeur d'Afrique (Quartier Asiatique, near Ciné Caméo). Outdoor 'cabaret' features live singing on weekend nights, popular with the college-aged crowd. Probably not wise during the raining season as there is no roof. They usually run out of cold beer early in the evening, but many Burundians prefer their beer warm. Food is available from the calmer place across the street.
Bujumbura is a moderately safe city, but common sense should prevail. Walking around during the day should be fine, but at night time (from 18:00) the streets get very dark and you are best off getting a taxi except for very short walks. Day or night there are very few police around. The area near the port feels pretty dodgy day or night.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €268 — book ahead for the popular ones.
Tours and tickets provided by Viator (a Tripadvisor company). Some links earn Stayonomy a commission.
In Jul, Bujumbura typically sees ~28°C daytime highs and 4 rainy days.
Cheapest destinations travellers searched recently — refreshed daily.
Flight prices are real fares travellers found in the last 48 hours, refreshed daily — the booking site confirms the final price. Train, bus and ferry fares are shown on the operators' booking sites. Weather data by Open-Meteo; exchange rates: ECB reference. Data updated 2026-07-25. Some links earn Stayonomy a commission at no cost to you.
stayonomy