Travel to Burundi

Burundi: arrival and transport

How do you get to Burundi?

As a rule, the quickest and cheapest way to get to Burundi from Europe is by plane.

Aircraft

direct flights from Europe to Burundi does not currently exist. The country’s international airport is located in Bujumbura.

Ship

On Lake Tanganyika there is shipping traffic between Bujumbura and Kigoma in Tanzania, Kalemi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mpulungu in Zambia.

Car

The roads from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to Burundi are in a reasonably good condition, the road connections to Tanzania, however, are poor. The regions near the border should be avoided for security reasons!

Travel in the country

Air connections

There is no domestic air traffic in Burundi.

Railway

There are no railway lines in Burundi.

Bus

A national bus network connects the country’s cities with one another.

Ferry connections Ferry

traffic exists on Lake Tanganyka.

Roads

The country has approximately 1,000 km of paved roads. For safety reasons, we do not recommend driving outside of Bujumbura. Most of the roads are barely passable during the rainy season.

Car, rental

car An international driver’s license is required for rental cars.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, Burundi’s international license plate is:

BU

Burundi: climate

As in its neighboring country Rwanda, the climate in Burundi is moderate due to its proximity to the equator and the high altitude. The average daytime temperatures are 18 °C all year round in the highlands. In the rest of the area they rise to 24 °C during the day and drop to 18 °C at night. From September to May there is 60-180 mm of rainfall per month. During this time the air humidity is 70 – 80%.

Burundi: travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings

Infectious diseases

In Burundi, with a few exceptions, there are no infectious diseases to be expected that do not also occur in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. However, you should be particularly careful:

  • Malaria, there is a risk of malaria in the country nationwide and all year round. About 80% to 90% of infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, the rest with malaria tertiana,
  • AIDS, HIV,
  • Amoebic dysentery,
  • Bacterial agitation,
  • Schistosomiasis,
  • Cholera, but there is only a risk of infection for travelers who may come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food,
  • Dengue fever,
  • Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella and worm infestation as well as all kinds of viruses and bacteria,
  • Filariasis,
  • Typhus,
  • Yellow fever,
  • Hepatitis A and B, but infection with hepatitis B is only to be expected in people who may come into contact with blood or those who seek sexual contact,
  • Polio, polio,
  • Meningococcal meningitis,
  • Tetanus,
  • Sleeping sickness,
  • Rabies,
  • Typhoid, but there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food,
  • Tick bite fever.

Vaccination recommendations

  • Yellow fever, absolutely !!
  • Cholera, but only among travelers who may come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food,
  • Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Hepatitis A and B, vaccination against hepatitis B, is only required for people who may come into contact with blood or who are looking for sexual contact.
  • Polio, polio, a vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus, should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Typhoid, but only in travelers who may come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food

Compulsory vaccination

There are no vaccination requirements when entering or staying in Burundi, with the exception of trips to the Azores and Madeira. There is a compulsory vaccination against yellow fever for travelers arriving from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO.

  • Yellow fever vaccination for children In most countries where a yellow fever vaccination is compulsory, this also applies to children over one year of age, in some countries even from six months. It should be noted: When vaccinated against yellow fever, there were a number of side effects such as B. Encephalitis. About two thirds of those affected were children under six months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided. Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!

Malaria prophylaxis

When traveling in the country, it is strongly advised to undergo malaria prophylaxis. If the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by product” with you.

Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?

Most people in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.

Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007. There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory additional payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €.

Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge. Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis. As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.

  • cholera
  • diphtheria
  • Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
  • Yellow fever
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Pneumococci
  • Polyo (polio)
  • Tetanus (tetanus)
  • rabies
  • typhus

Current warnings

Foreign Office (AA) of the Federal Republic of Germany

Citizen Service

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000

www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/Laenderinformationen/Burundi/Sicherheitshinweise .html

Burundi: currency, shopping and exchange rate

The national currency of Burundi is the Burundi Franc (BuFr)

1 Burundi Franc = 100 Centimes.

The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:

  • 5,000
  • 1,000
  • 500
  • 100
  • 50
  • 20th
  • 10 BuFr

Exchange rate

You can find a currency converter here:

www.forium.de

Bank opening times

  • Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Closed Saturday and Sunday

Shop

Shop opening times

  • Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • Closed on sunday

Inexpensive or country-specific goods, souvenirs

In Burundi , tourists like to buy basketry, handmade jewelry, wooden sculptures and other handicrafts.

Burundi: Diplomatic missions

Visit Countryaah for a full list of Burundi embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

German representations in Burundi

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bujumbura

22, avenue du 18 Septembre

Bujumbura

:

Ambassade de la République fédérale d’Allemagne

BP 480

Bujumbura, Burundi

Tel: 00257 – (0) 22 – 257 777

00257 – (0) 22 – 257 778

Fax: 00257 – (0) 22 – 221 004

Email: info@bujumbura.diplo.de

Representations of Burundi in Germany

Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in Berlin

Berliner Straße 36

10715 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 234 5670

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 2345 6720

Email: info@burundi-embassy-berlin.com

www.burundi-embassy- berlin.com

Honorary Consulate of Burundi in Stuttgart

Gaisburgstrasse 7 -9

70182 Stuttgart

Tel: 0049 – (0) 711 – 236 1270

Fax: 0049 – (0) 711 – 236 1238

Responsible for: Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria

Representations of Austria in Burundi

The Federal Republic of Austria has no diplomatic representation in Burundi. The embassy is responsible for:

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Austria in Kenya

2nd floor, City House, Corner Wabera Street/Standard Street

Nairobi

:

POBox 30560

00100 Nairobi

Tel: 00254 – (0) 20 – 319 076

00254 – (0) 20 – 319 077

00254 – (0) 20 – 319 078

Fax: 00254 – (0) 20 – 342 290

Email: nairobi-ob@bmeia.gv. at

www.aussenministerium.at/nairobi

The Austrian embassy in Kenya is still responsible for:

  • Burundi
  • Comoros
  • Congo (Democratic Republic)
  • Rwanda
  • Seychelles
  • Somalia
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda

Representations of Burundi in Austria

The embassy of the Republic of Burundi in Berlin () is also responsible for Austria.

Representations of Switzerland in Burundi

Switzerland does not have an embassy in Burundi, but is represented by a consulate general. The embassy is responsible for:

Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya

International House, 7th floor, Mama Ngina Street

00100 Nairobi

Kenya

:

Embassy of Switzerland

POBox 30752

00100 Nairobi GPO

Kenya

Tel: 00254 – (0) 20 – 222 8735

Fax: 00254 – (0) 20 – 221 7388

Email: nai.vertretung@eda.admin.ch

www.eda.admin.ch/nairobi

The Swiss embassy in Kenya is still responsible for:

  • Burundi
  • Rwanda
  • Seychelles
  • Somalia
  • Uganda

Consulate General of the Swiss Confederation in Bujumbura

Rue du Commerce 11

Bujumbura

Burundi

Tel: 00257 – 2225 3347

Email: bujumbura@honorarvertretung.ch

Representations of Burundi in Switzerland

Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in Geneva

Rue de Lausanne 44

1201 Geneva

Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 732 7705

Fax: 0041 – (0) 22 – 732 7734

Email: mission.burundi@bluewin.ch

Tourist office

Bureau d’Information Touristiques

7, Avenue de l’Uprona

Boite Postale 902

Bujumbura

Tel: 00 257 – 225 084

Burundi: entry and exit regulations

Travelers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland need a visa and a return or onward ticket to enter Burundi. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months.

Visa department of the Embassy of Burundi

Berliner Straße 36

10715 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 86 39 90 28

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 86 39 10 85

Email: ambabual@yahoo.com

www.burundi-embassy -berlin.com

Issuing visas in Austria and Switzerland

See under Representations of Burundi in Austria and Representations of Burundi in Switzerland.

Import and export of foreign currency

The import and export of the local currency is limited to 2,000 BuFr. There is no limit to the import and export of foreign currencies, but a declaration is required.

Goods import and export

The following articles can be imported into Burundi duty-free:

  • 1,000 cigarettes or
  • 1 kg of tobacco as well
  • 1 liter of alcoholic beverages

Gifts up to a value of 300 BuFr can be exported duty-free.

Travel to Burundi