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🇧🇮Things to Do in Burundi
From the shores of Lake Tanganyika to Burundi's UNESCO-listed drumming tradition - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Burundi remains one of the least-visited countries in East Africa, sharing the shores of Lake Tanganyika - the world's second-deepest lake - with its larger, more visited neighbor Tanzania. Its royal drumming tradition, recognized by UNESCO, remains a genuine living practice rather than a staged performance. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Lake Tanganyika
The world's second-deepest and second-largest freshwater lake by volume, with Bujumbura's beaches along its shore offering swimming and sunset views across to the mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
📍 Bujumbura
🚉 The lake shore begins at Bujumbura: minibuses run along the coast road to Saga and Rumonge, and the beaches south of the city are 20 minutes by taxi.
Royal Drummers of Burundi
A drumming tradition recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, historically tied to Burundi's royal court and still performed at ceremonies and for visitors around the country.
📍 Gishora, near Gitega
🚉 The drummers perform at Gishora, near Gitega, where the royal drum sanctuary stands - Gitega is two hours from Bujumbura by minibus, and the site is a short taxi ride on.
Karera Falls
A series of waterfalls in eastern Burundi, set within forested hills that offer a cooler, greener landscape than the lake basin.
📍 Rutana Province
🚉 The falls are near Rutana in the south-east, about three hours from Bujumbura by minibus with a change at Gitega, then a local taxi to the site.
Gitega
Burundi's political capital and site of the National Museum, home to a well-regarded collection covering the country's pre-colonial and colonial history.
📍 Gitega
🚉 Burundi's political capital is two hours east of Bujumbura on a good road, served by frequent minibuses from the Gare du Nord, with the national museum in the centre.
Mark Burundi, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Burundi?
4-5 days suits Bujumbura and Lake Tanganyika well, with a day trip to Karera Falls or Gitega for those with more time.
What's the best time to visit Burundi?
June-August is the drier season and generally the more comfortable time to visit.
Is Burundi good for a first-time visit?
It's worth checking current regional safety advisories before planning a visit, as conditions have varied in different parts of the country in recent years.
Do I need a visa to visit Burundi?
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa online in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: evisa.gov.bi.
What are some things to do in Burundi on a tight budget?
Bujumbura's public beaches along Lake Tanganyika are free, local Burundian food is inexpensive, and watching a drumming performance is often included in community visits at a modest cost.
Can I rent a car in Burundi, and what licence do I need?
Check your government's travel advice first, as some regions carry warnings and the political situation has been volatile. Where travel is advised, hiring a car with a driver is the normal arrangement for visitors and handles the checkpoints and the language. A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for short visits, and the minimum age is generally 23. Roads between Bujumbura and Gitega are good; rural routes are unpaved and difficult in the rains. Confirm current requirements with a Burundian embassy before travelling.