12 Days Burundi Expedition – Wildlife, Culture & Traditions
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- 12 Days 11 Night
Trip Overview
This 12-day journey takes you through Burundi’s rich landscapes, diverse wildlife, and cultural heritage. From the pristine shores of Lake Tanganyika to safaris in Rusizi and Ruvubu National Parks, this itinerary blends wildlife, adventure, and authentic cultural experiences. Explore Burundi’s royal traditions at Gishora Drum Sanctuary, track chimpanzees in Kibira National Park, and immerse yourself in local community life at Busekera Village.
With luxurious accommodations and expert guides, this tour is perfect for travelers seeking a unique, off-the-beaten-path experience with a touch of comfort and exclusivity.
Great For
Highlights
- Bujumbura City Tour – Explore Burundi’s vibrant capital, with visits to historical landmarks, lakeside attractions, and bustling markets.
- Rusizi National Park Safari – Embark on a boat safari along the Rusizi River, spotting hippos, crocodiles, and exotic bird species.
- Kibira National Park Primate Trekking – Track chimpanzees and colobus monkeys in Burundi’s last remaining rainforest.
- Gishora Drum Sanctuary – Experience Burundi’s royal drumming tradition, a UNESCO-recognized cultural experience.
- Lake Tanganyika Retreat – Relax at a private lakeside lodge, with options for boat cruises, fishing, and fine dining by the water.
Tour Plan
Day 1: Arrival in Bujumbura – Welcome to Burundi
On arrival in Burundi, you will be picked up by our team at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport; to the hotel.
Day 2: Bujumbura city tour and Rusizi National Park
In the morning, a boat trip to the Rusizi national park until to Lake Tanganyika, visit the livingmuseum, the memorial stone of the meeting of explorers David Livingston and Henry M.Stanley, return downtown for lunch. Afternoon, visit the various monuments of the city includingthe Independence Square, the mausoleum of the hero of independence, Prince Louis Rwagasole, the place of unity” Ubumwe”,
Return to the hotel.
Day 3: Kigwena Forest Nature Reserve
After breakfast at 7:00 am and leave Bujumbura to Rumonge; located to the southwest on thewestern piedmont of the ridge, on flat land between the Lake Tanganyika and the road (800 ma bove sea level), Kigwena reserve is the only sample of Peru Guinea Mesophilic Forest in Burundi and it is a dense forest where the spreading treetops sway over 30m in height. It includes monkeys, especially baboons, but birds and butter flies are the greatest wealth of the reserve.
After finish to explore the reserve drive to Rumonge on the beautiful beach at Tanganyika Bluebay resort for lunch (swimming opportunity).
Day 4: Excursion to the Karera Falls and the southernmost source of Nile River
Leaving Nyanza lac we go through a spectacular road to the city of Makamba and we will start our visit by the southernmost source of the Nile River in Rutovu (White Nil), we stop for lunch and continue to the extraordinary Karera waterfalls.
Day 5: Gitega city tour, the former royal site and the sacred drum sanctuary in Gishora
Gitega is the current political capital of the country since 2019, a city located exactly in the middle of the country and the ideal city where one can get acquainted with the historical and cultural heritage of Burundi, in the national museum of Gitega.
After breakfast at the hotel, our visit begins at the National Museum of Gitega, then Boma the former residence of German governor before the first world war; then drive to Gishora to meet the famous drummers to attend a fascinating show combining the sound of the drumbeat todances, heroic poetry and traditional songs, and we go to Bugenyuzi to see the ”intores” in the province of Karuzi and drive to Muyinga.
Day 6: Explore Ruvubu National Park
After an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am and enter in to the park. We will explore the parkandtry tofind wildlifeforabout 2 to3 hours inthemorning. Later, return to the hotel for lunch and in the evening return to the park again for an hour.
Ruvubu National Park is the largest protected park and ecosystem in the country (more than50,000 ha), located in the lower valley of the Ruvubu River, which drains nearly a third of the area of Burundi and is the southernmost tributary oftheNilebasin.Thisparkisasavannahwith75%trees and shrubs, 15%wooded, 8%grassyand 2%forest galleries.
The buffalo (cobedefassa), the roan antelope, the cobe (Coberedunca) and the red colobus are found there. It’s also a site of bird species dependent on: large mammals; these birds include large vultures, some raptors and the oxpecker.
Day 7: Full day in Ruvubu National Park
Spend another day in the park, looking for animals not seen on the previous day.
Day 8: Visit bird lakes Cohoha and Rwihinda in Kirundo
After an early morning breakfast at 6:00, drive to the north of Burundi, on the border withRwanda, a series of eight small bird lakes offer an impressive natural spectacle: Cohoha, Gacamirindi, Gitamo, Kanzigiri, Mwungere, Narungazi, Rweru and Rwihinda, these lakes are part of the Nile River watershed, but we will visit only two of them Cohoha and Rwihinda lakes.
Rwihinda Lake, bird’s lake
Day 9: Hike to Kibira National Park, tea plantation and pygmy village, Batwa
Our trek in the park begins where we leave the car to go into the primary forest that will offerviews of his varied and subtle vegetation. (In this forest, possible to cross animals such as whiteand black Columbus monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees.) and the green velvet hills teaplantations spread to infinity, a beautiful landscape; we leave Kibira direction to Batwa village of Busekera where you attend a small demonstration of traditional dances,
Return to Bujumbura.
Day 11: Beach Day
After breakfast at the hotel, we go to the souvenir market, lunch at the hotel, afternoon direction to the beaches of Bujumbura to relax on the shores of LakeTanganyika.
Day 12: Departure
In accordance with the departure time, we will take you to the airport. End of service!
Package Included
- Pick-up or Drop-off service from and to Airport(in our own vehicle)
- Transportation to and from!!
- Food all along the trip(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a cup of coffee or tea) and accommodations during the trip in hotels with family environment
- Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
- Down jacket, all-season sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map(in case if you don’t have your own. Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag must be returned after completion of the trip)
- All the required permits and paperwork
Places You’ll See
