Burundi is a small central African country located between Tanzania and the DRC and Rwanda. Burundi is rather poor and was ranked as the unhappiest country of 2016. There have been many factors contributing to this, the aftermath of several conflicts and the current unrest which began in 2015 are certainly contributing to it. The country is struggling with starvation, poor or unavailable healthcare and even lack of building materials for houses as even traditionally built huts made out of mud and leaves are lacking the natural material of leaves and grass due to deforestation and soil erosion.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Burundi are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on visitors nationality. Only several African countries are exempt from the requirements of a visa; Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Citizens of any other countries must obtain a visa in order to visit Burundi. Visitors who wish to drive in Burundi may do so using their national driving permit. Despite that, an international driving permit is recommended as it will certainly aid drivers when checked by the police, or renting a vehicle. An IDP may only be obtained in the visitors country of origin and it does not substitute for the original documents. Both must be present with the driver at all times.

Traveling hazards

While travel on most roads is generally safe during the day, travelers must maintain constant vigilance. There are no functioning traffic signals in Bujumbura and virtually nothing of the kind elsewhere in the country. Roadways are not marked, and the lack of streetlights or shoulders makes driving in the countryside at night especially dangerous. Additionally, drivers may encounter cyclists, pedestrians, and livestock in the roadway, including in and around the capital. Mini-vans used as buses for 18 persons should be given a wide berth as they start and stop abruptly, often without pulling to the side of the road. Large holes or damaged portions of the roadway may be encountered anywhere in the country, including in Bujumbura; when driving in the countryside off main roads, travelers should carry multiple spare tires. During the rainy season, many side roads are passable only with four-wheel drive vehicles. Burundi’s supplies of gasoline and diesel fuel are imported predominantly from Kenya and Tanzania and are relatively expensive due to high transportation costs. Service stations are rare outside of the major cities. There have been reports of violent attacks on vehicles traveling the roads throughout the country outside of Bujumbura. The US Embassy recommends that visitors should not travel on the national highways from dusk to dawn. Drivers without valid permits and the ease with which a driver’s license can be acquired without training make Burundian drivers less careful, predictable, or mindful of driving rules.

Environmental hazards

Despite the small size of the country, Burundi is full of incredible flora and fauna. The African bush elephant is the largest land animal on earth. These animals are generally not aggressive, but if startled or angered they can easily trample people, flip over cars or even break trees. Hippopotamuses inhabit the waters of Burundi. These animals despite their harmless look are some of the most fierce creatures on earth. Hippopotamuses are responsible for more deaths across Africa than lions, elephants, and crocodiles taken together. Crocodiles in Burundi are responsible for many deaths. There is even a single Nile crocodile named Gustave in Burundi. It is reported that this giant has eaten over 300 people. It was last seen in 2015, dragging an adult bull buffalo into the river. There are several lethally venomous snakes in Burundi. Most dangerous among these are the black mamba, green mambas, and the puff adder. Surviving a bite of any of these snakes is largely dependant on the proximity of the nearest hospital or the response of emergency services. Burundi is landlocked however it has access to one of the largest lakes in Africa and the world; lake Tanganyika which is shared between 4 countries.
Burundi is exposed to a number of hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, river floods, and water scarcity. In addition to these, vast deforestation causes soil erosion, poorly run farms lead to crop failures and soil infertility.

Health hazards

Everyone traveling to Burundi must get vaccinated against yellow fever and have proof of such vaccination on arrival. Apart from the yellow fever vaccination, there are no other vaccination requirements. There are however several other vaccines which are recommended to ensure disease-free travel. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, cholera, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies vaccines. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination against the Zika virus or malaria and both of these are carried by mosquitoes in Burundi. Although there are no vaccines against these, there are alternative ways to protect against these. Using mosquito repellents and installing mosquito nets in the windows of your accommodation is advised and helped to protect against bites and possible contraction. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria which should be available after consulting your local general practitioner. Pregnant women are advised to reconsider travel due to the risks carried with contracting the Zika virus. The aftermath of the civil wars saw the country economy buried and made the already bad situation worse. A large amount of countries citizens are deprived of even the basic healthcare services and those hospitals that operate are largely underfunded, badly supplied and lack modern equipment. Private services that exist are limited to the capital city of Burundi and almost exclusively used by rich Burundians and tourists.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

There are ongoing political tensions in Burundi, and there has been sporadic violence throughout the country, including frequent gunfire and grenade attacks. Police and military checkpoints are common and can restrict freedom of movement. Police have searched the homes of private citizens as part of larger weapons searches. Visitors must beware that jogging in pairs is not allowed as it is considered a subversive action against the government. Despite no risk of religious terrorism, political violence is common. Due to the lack of funding, training, and equipment, local police is inefficient or simply not present in certain parts of the country. Military partially plays a role in enforcing the law. Any sort of narcotics in Burundi are illegal. Possession, distribution, and cultivation are illegal however due to the inefficiency of the local police many locals do not obey the law.

Summary

There is much attraction in Burundi ranging from various water activities near Tanganyika to exploring the source of the river Nile. Despite that Burundi is not a safe place for inexperienced travelers as it embroiled in tensions due to political instability, widespread poverty, and food shortages. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.burundiembassy-germany.de/index.php?en_visa
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/burundi