Steps To Take To Book A Safari In Burundi  

When booking a Burundi safari, you need to know the safari activities that Burundi offers. Most Burundi safari destinations are still virgin with less information but are currently picking momentum, especially with those seeking authentic African safari experiences. Because of the poor road network, getting to most Burundi destinations is also challenging.

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At Encounter Africa Safaris, we rate safaris to Burundi, an African destination with potential for wilderness safari activities and less competition from many tourists.

During the Burundi safari booking, some activities you may engage in include primates watching, game drives, birding, scenic viewing, Bujumbura city tour, and others.

Note that Burundi's official language is French, but if you wish to have an English speaking or another language, you need to point this out in advance so that all necessary arrangements can be made. 

Step 1: Select What To Do On Safari In Burundi?

Game safaris

Ruvubu National park

On a game drive in Ruvubu National Park, you can see animals like leopards, herds of elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, and Uganda Kobs. While on a nature walk in the forested area in Ruvubu National Park, you may spot primates like black and white colobus, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, Dent mona monkeys, and others.

Ruvubu National Park is one of the best Birding destinations in Burundi, giving you chances to spot even Albertine rift endemic.

Kabira National Park

Being a forested National Park, Kabira National Park is an excellent botanist destination with some untouched flora. During a walk in the Kabira forest, chances of spotting a wide range of primates are high, with primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, and other park residents.

Birding in Burundi can be possible during a safari in Kabira National Park. The park hosts a long list of birds, inclusive of Shelley's crimsonwing, Rwenzori turaco, and Handsome Francolin, to mention but a few. 

Rusizi National Park

Rusizi National Park in Burundi is the closest getaway destination from the noisy city. It is about 15 kilometers from Bujumbura, the capital. This park acquires its name from River Rusizi, which is its lifeblood. While on a safari, you may see waterbucks, bushbucks, elands, sitatunga, cape buffaloes, and elephants, to mention a few.

Kigwena National Park

The primate haven of Burundi is Kigwena National Park, located at the border of Burundi and Tanzania. During a walk in this natural rain forest, you may spot black and white colobus, olive baboons, red-tailed mangabey, and blue monkeys, to mention but a few. This park hosts a plethora of birds, including Albertine rift endemics. You need a professional and well-experienced birding guide to collect the best photos of Kigwena National Park bird species.

Different plant species can be spotted in Kigwena National Park by botanists. Chances of encountering other wild animals are open, like forest elephants, giant forest hogs, waterbucks, duikers, wild pigs, and others.

Burundi Cultural experience 

The local people of Burundi treasure their culture. Still, with a home visit, you may get a glimpse into their culture, from preparing regional cuisines to how they grow their food to the cultural performances, but this is based on prior arrangements made. 

You may get the opportunity to fit in the traditional wear as this makes Burundians unique.

Bujumbura city tour

Bujumbura city is where the heart of Burundi beats, as it is the country's leading commercial and administrative city. Although the country is still recovering from the rambles of political unrest, there is much to learn from while on a city tour in Burundi.

Step 2: Book accommodation for your safari in Burundi

Securing accommodation closer to the Burundi National Park creates a different feeling while on safari. You get to soak in the rare life of the jungle amidst the sounds of the wild tales. Although most Burundi National Parks are limited with choices of accommodations to book, you have to make your reservation in advance to secure those available.

Enquire from us about accommodation to book on the Burundi safari

Step 3: Secure Transport To Use During Burundi Safari

You need a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle to get into the countryside of Burundi. The roads are still in poor condition, so do not expect a smooth ride. Hire a drive guide with good knowledge of the routes leading to your destinations on your Burundi safari itinerary to avoid spending much time on the road.

Ensure your vehicle has a full tank because refilling while in the wilderness may be challenging as there are no fuel stations upcountry.

Step4: Secure Burundi Tourist Visa 

If you must have a visa before traveling to Burundi, apply for one in advance to avoid inconveniences while at immigration. You need to apply for a Burundi visa through the Burundi consular in your country or via the online platform.

Although you can secure a Burundi Visa on arrival, the process may be lengthy and tiring, especially if you disembark from a long flight with jet lag.

Step5: Park the right Burundi Safari Gears

Note that most Burundi safari activities include walking in the jungle, so you must pack right. There is no need to over-pack, but carry what is necessary for your safaris in Burundi. Burundi is a cold country because of the several mountains and dense forests that surround it, so do not forget some warmers.

What to pack for a safari in Burundi?

• Warm wear to put on early morning and late afternoon because it gets so cold you need to keep friendly as sometimes temperatures drop as low as 7 degrees centigrade.
• Insect repellant to keep away stinging insects that would harm you while walking to locate the mountain gorillas.
• Garden gloves protect your palms from stinging nettles and even rough surfaces you may land on when you trip and fall.
• Bug spray is in case your room is infected.
• Toiletries in case your skin is very sensitive or your lodge does not provide.
• Snacks to munch on in case you get hungry because breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time in the wilderness.
• Raincoat or poncho in case it rains while in the wilderness. This area receives rain at any time without warning.
• Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect your body from harsh conditions in the forest.
• A pair of stockings to tack in your trousers and protect your body from insects that would creep into your clothes.
• Safari boots can go through the soggy surfaces in the jungle as the wilderness is wet most of the time, and rivers overflow, especially in the severe rainy seasons.
• Safari hat to protect your hair from getting wet in case it rains or dew drips off the leaves.
• Pajamas to wear in the night when getting to bed.
• Duffel bag to carry with your belongings, as you may get no help offloading your bags.
• Flip flops to change into in case you come from walking in the jungle and are tired of wearing closed shoes.
• Some cash to exchange into local currency when purchasing anything locally.
• Clean Face masks to wear when standing before the Burundi primates. This was adopted after the Covid-19 period. The primates in the forests of Burundi can be victims of this virus since they are susceptible to human infections.
• A camera to take photos and protect memories of your experience during primate safari or game drives in Burundi National Park. 
• Bring a light, waterproof bag with your Burundi safari gear; if you hire a porter, they can collectively carry your bags. Even when you trip and fall, you lose none of your gears.

How safe is Burundi For a safari?

Burundi is recovering from political unrest but is safe as a safari destination. Great peace prevails in the country and is one of the best destinations for those looking for authentic natural destinations in Africa. Its National Parks still bear the fresh smell of nature and are suitable for researchers like botanists, primatologists, and many others. Most of the Burundi Parks are less visited, so expect less disturbance.

On the ground are well-trained ranger guides who work closely with other Burundi security agencies to keep law and order in and around these National Parks.

On a personal level, as a tourist, you must never go into the national parks without an escorting ranger guide, or you may face the hungry and angry forest inhabitants that may hurt you. Try to stay in your accommodation forest, especially if you are staying closer to the Burundi National Parks, as this is dangerous.

What Is The Cost Of Burundi Safari?

The cost of Burundi safaris varies with your package, but you must pay park entrance fees wherever necessary, no matter your travel plan. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our Burundi Safaris into High-end, mid-range, and basic. 

When costing a Burundi safari, some items we consider include the number of people traveling, the number of days on the safari, activities to do during the Burundi safari, accommodation to stay at during the safari, transport costs, and others.

It is best to book your Burundi safari in advance, especially if you hope to travel in the peak season of June to September and December to February. The demand for Burundi safaris is high, yet the supply of facilities is limited. It is best to book in advance to ensure you are satisfied when most Burundi logistics sell out.

Even during the peak season, most safari amenities prices are higher because of the high demand. 

When Is The Best Time To Book Burundi Safari?

Burundi is open for any tourism activity all year, but the dry season is exceptional. The precipitation in the wilderness is lower. Most animals, especially primates, feed closer to the ground because of food scarcity. Even the birds are full of life, so keen birders have plenty to see during a walk in the jungles of Burundi National Parks.

The trails in the national parks of Burundi are quicker to navigate during the dry season. The dry season is usually the peak tourism season in Burundi, too.

The wet season, which is March to May and mid-September to November, is the low tourism season in Burundi. Most of the primates spend their daytime up in the trees, and birds keep in their nests because of the cold environment around them. You can also book a Burundi safari in this period if you wish to have the parks to yourself and your undivided attention.

Guideline to follow during the Burundi safari

Most of the Burundi safari activities happen in the wilderness, where you may be required to walk. Some of the guidelines you must follow include:

• Never enter the forest in Burundi without an escorting ranger guide because you may encounter animals that may hurt you.
• While in the wilderness, do not make noise, as this scares the wild animals because they are keen on intruders in their vicinity.
• No dumping garbage in the wilderness because this alters the nature of the forest where these primates live.
• Provoking or mimicking the primates or animals may cause them to rampage, so try to avoid it.
• Try not to feed the wild animals because they must depend on their habitats rather than human supply. 
• While on game safari, drive at the advised speed limit to avoid knocking down the animals, as this is penalized.
• Off-track driving is not accepted during the game safari in Burundi unless authorized.
• Do not use flash photography while taking photos in the forest, as this scares these primates.

Contact us for more infromation.