Last Updated on July 17, 2026 by Augustine Tours
From the moment you land in Bujumbura, Burundi offers a remarkable range of things to do for travelers who love variety in a single trip. You can swim and hike along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, track wild chimpanzees through rainforest reserves, stand at the storied Livingstone and Stanley monument, and watch royal drummers perform centuries-old rhythms in Gishora. Add in waterfall hikes, tea plantation visits, sunrise canoe rides on the Birds’ Lake, and traditional Intore warrior dances, and it’s clear Burundi packs nature, history, and culture into every day of travel.
Why Burundi Should Be Your Next African Travel Destination + Best Things to Do in Burundi
Tucked between Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi is one of Africa’s most overlooked travel destinations — and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding. While its neighbors draw the crowds, Burundi offers pristine shores on Lake Tanganyika, living royal traditions, rainforest trails, and a warmth from locals that’s increasingly hard to find in more heavily touristed corners of East Africa. For travelers searching for an authentic, off-the-beaten-path African experience, here’s why Burundi deserves a spot on your travel bucket list.
1. Lake Tanganyika: One of the World’s Great Lakes, Without the Crowds
Lake Tanganyika is the second-deepest and second-largest freshwater lake by volume on Earth, and Burundi’s stretch of shoreline is one of the least crowded ways to experience it. Whether you’re relaxing on the sandy beaches near Bujumbura, hiking the hills overlooking the lake at sunset from Resha, or simply watching fishermen cast their nets at dawn, Lake Tanganyika delivers the kind of unspoiled lakeside scenery that’s become rare elsewhere in Africa. It’s an essential stop on any Burundi tour, and a highlight for travelers chasing quiet, scenic destinations far from the usual tourist trail.
2. Walk in the Footsteps of Livingstone and Stanley
History buffs will find something special in Rumonge, home to the famous “Pierre de Livingstone et Stanley” — a stone monument believed to mark the spot where explorer Dr. David Livingstone met journalist Henry Morton Stanley on 25 November 1871, shortly after Stanley’s legendary search across Africa. Standing at this historic meeting point along the shores of Lake Tanganyika connects travelers to one of the most storied chapters of African exploration history, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in colonial-era history and adventure travel landmarks.
3. Experience the World-Famous Gishora Drummers
No trip to Burundi is complete without witnessing the country’s most iconic cultural tradition: the royal drummers of Gishora. Performed on the historic royal field near Gitega, this celebrated drumming tradition dates back centuries and was once reserved exclusively for the Burundian monarchy. The thunderous rhythms, synchronized choreography, and ceremonial energy make it one of the most powerful cultural performances in East Africa. Travelers short on time can even join a dedicated day tour to see the Gishora Drummers from Bujumbura, making it an accessible cultural immersion even on a tight schedule.
4. Track Chimpanzees and Explore Untouched Rainforest
Burundi punches well above its weight when it comes to biodiversity. In Kibira National Park, dense montane rainforest shelters primates, forest birds, and rare plant species along quiet nature trails largely untouched by mass tourism. Further south, Kigwena National Reserve offers the chance to track chimpanzees and baboons in one of the last remnants of lowland rainforest in the region. For eco-tourists and wildlife travelers looking for a genuine rainforest experience without the crowds of more famous primate-trekking destinations, Burundi’s parks are a hidden gem.
5. Discover the Southernmost Source of the Nile
Most travelers associate the source of the Nile with Uganda, but few know that Burundi is home to what’s considered the river’s southernmost source, discovered near Rutovu in 1937. Visiting this remote, symbolically significant site is a bucket-list moment for geography enthusiasts and adventurous travelers who want to see one of the world’s most storied rivers from an entirely different — and far less visited — angle.
6. Chase Waterfalls with a Local Legend
The Karera Waterfalls, or “Chutes de la Karera,” are a striking series of cascades in southeastern Burundi, believed locally to hold healing powers. Surrounded by lush greenery, the falls make for a refreshing, photogenic stop and a great introduction to Burundi’s little-known network of natural landmarks — perfect for travelers who love combining scenic nature stops with cultural storytelling.
7. Step Into Royal History in Gitega
Once the political capital during colonial rule and reinstated as Burundi’s official capital in 2019, Gitega is the cultural heart of the country. The Gitega National Museum houses the country’s largest ethnographic and historical collection, offering context on Burundian royal history, traditional customs, and colonial-era events, including the Kiganda Treaty Site, where the treaty between Germany and King Mwezi Gisabo was signed. For culturally curious travelers, Gitega is where Burundi’s past comes alive.
8. Witness the Intore Warrior Dancers
In Kirundo, travelers can watch the mesmerizing Intore Warrior Dance — a performance rooted in Burundi’s royal military history. Traditionally performed by warriors returning victorious to the king, the dance features leopard-skin costumes, elaborate headdresses, ankle bells, and ivory necklaces. It’s a visually stunning and historically rich cultural experience that few travelers to East Africa ever get the chance to witness firsthand.
9. Sunrise Canoe Trips on the “Lake of Birds”
Lake Rwihinda National Reserve, known locally as “Le Lac aux Oiseaux” (the Birds’ Lake), offers one of Burundi’s most peaceful travel experiences: a sunrise dugout canoe trip across calm waters surrounded by birdlife. It’s an ideal activity for birdwatchers, photographers, and anyone seeking a slow, meditative travel moment away from crowded itineraries.
10. Taste the Culture Through Burundi’s Tea and Palm Oil Traditions
Agriculture is central to Burundian daily life, and travelers can see it firsthand at the Teza Tea Plantations, where lush hillside tea estates produce one of the country’s key exports, and in Rumonge, where communities still practice traditional, artisanal palm oil production. These stops offer a grounded, authentic look at how local economies and traditions intersect — a highlight for slow travelers and anyone interested in sustainable, community-based tourism.
11. A Genuinely Uncrowded, Authentic African Destination
Perhaps the biggest reason to visit Burundi right now is simple: it hasn’t been commodified. There are no long queues, no overrun landmarks, and no cookie-cutter tourist infrastructure — just genuine encounters with history, nature, and culture on a scale that feels personal. For travelers who want to experience East Africa the way it was before mass tourism, Burundi offers a rare, still-authentic alternative.
How to Experience Burundi
The easiest way to take in all of these highlights — from Lake Tanganyika and the Gishora Drummers to chimpanzee tracking and the source of the Nile — is with a guided, private itinerary that handles logistics while you focus on the experience. Travelers wanting to go deeper can also combine Burundi with its neighbors on the 7-Day Uganda, Rwanda & Burundi Overland Tour, pairing Burundi’s untouched landscapes and culture with East Africa’s more established gorilla-trekking and safari circuits.
Whether you have a week to spare or just a day to spend with the Gishora Drummers, Burundi rewards curious travelers with something increasingly rare: a destination that still feels genuinely undiscovered.