8 Days Burundi Wildlife and Lake Tanganyika Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Bujumbura and Lake Tanganyika Experience

Your Burundi safari begins with arrival at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura, where you will be welcomed by your Verdant Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel. After checking in and taking some time to refresh, you will begin your introduction to Bujumbura, Burundi’s lakeside economic capital. You will explore selected city landmarks and enjoy views of the surrounding hills and Lake Tanganyika. Later, you will head towards the lakeshore for a relaxing experience beside one of Africa’s great lakes. Depending on your arrival time, you can enjoy a gentle walk along the waterfront, take photographs or simply relax as you take in the scenery. Lake Tanganyika supports a variety of recreational activities including swimming, sailing and boating, making it an excellent setting for the beginning of your safari. In the evening, you will return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options:

• Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika
• Kiriri Garden Hotel
• Hotel Martha
• Hotel Safari Gate

Meals: (Dinner)

Day 2: Rusizi National Park Wildlife and Birdwatching Safari

After breakfast, you will travel to Rusizi National Park, located close to Bujumbura and known for its wetlands, riverine habitats and wildlife. The park is particularly notable for its hippopotamus population and rich birdlife, with Burundi’s tourism authority recording 19 mammal species in the reserve. You will begin your exploration with a guided wildlife drive and nature walk through selected areas of the park, keeping watch for hippos, antelopes, monkeys and water-associated wildlife. Birdwatching will form an important part of the experience as you observe colourful species moving through the wetlands and palm habitats. Your guide will explain the relationship between the Rusizi River ecosystem, the wetlands and nearby Lake Tanganyika. After lunch, you will continue exploring the reserve before returning to Bujumbura in the late afternoon. The evening will be free for relaxation at your hotel after an exciting day surrounded by Burundi’s wildlife.

Accommodation Options:

• Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika
• Kiriri Garden Hotel
• Hotel Safari Gate
• Hotel Martha

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Bujumbura to Gitega and Gishora Cultural Experience

After breakfast, you will leave Bujumbura and travel towards Gitega through Burundi’s scenic countryside. The journey introduces you to rolling hills, cultivated farmland and rural communities as you move into the country’s central highlands. On arrival in Gitega, you will visit the National Museum to gain insight into Burundi’s history, traditions, traditional lifestyles and cultural heritage. After lunch, you will proceed to Gishora, situated approximately 7 kilometres from Gitega’s urban centre. Gishora is one of Burundi’s most famous traditional percussion sites and features a cultural complex associated with the country’s royal heritage. You will have the opportunity to watch a traditional drumming performance and appreciate the rhythms, dancing and cultural symbolism associated with this important tradition. Later, you will return to Gitega for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.

Accommodation Options:

• Helena Hotel
• Accolade Hotel
• Bethel Hotel
• Jerusalem Hotel Gitega

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Gitega to Kibira National Park via Teza Tea Plantations

After breakfast, you will leave Gitega and begin your journey towards Kibira National Park, travelling through the scenic highlands of Burundi. The route provides beautiful views of green hills, agricultural communities and changing mountain landscapes. As you approach Kibira, you will visit or pass through the impressive tea-growing landscapes around Teza, one of the country’s recognised tourism attractions. You will learn about the importance of tea cultivation to local communities while enjoying opportunities for photography among the neatly arranged plantations. After lunch, you will continue towards the Kibira area and check into your accommodation. The remainder of the afternoon will be dedicated to relaxation or, depending on local conditions and guide availability, a short nature walk around the surrounding highlands. Kibira lies along the Congo-Nile range, creating a cooler and markedly different environment from the lowlands around Lake Tanganyika.

Accommodation Options:

• Teza area guesthouse or lodge
• Rwegura area guesthouse
• Kayanza-area hotel
• Local eco-lodge or guesthouse, subject to availability

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Kibira National Park Primate and Rainforest Adventure

Today you will dedicate the full day to exploring Kibira National Park, one of Burundi’s most important rainforest ecosystems. The park stretches across approximately 40,000 hectares at elevations ranging from about 1,500 to 2,660 metres along the Congo-Nile range. It is home to numerous mammals, several primate species and approximately 200 recorded bird species. After an early breakfast, you will meet your ranger and begin a guided forest excursion through the dense vegetation. You will look for primates and forest birds while learning about the trees, plants, streams and ecological importance of this highland rainforest. Depending on the selected route and prevailing conditions, you may explore areas around Rwegura or another authorised access point. You will enjoy a packed or lodge-prepared lunch before continuing your forest adventure during the afternoon. Later, you will return to your accommodation to rest after a rewarding day immersed in Burundi’s rainforest environment.

Accommodation Options:

• Teza area guesthouse or lodge
• Rwegura area guesthouse
• Kayanza-area hotel
• Local eco-lodge or guesthouse, subject to availability

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Kibira to Bujumbura and Lake Tanganyika Leisure

After breakfast, you will leave the Kibira highlands and begin your journey back towards Bujumbura. The drive allows you to appreciate the dramatic contrast between Burundi’s cool mountainous interior and the warmer lowlands around Lake Tanganyika. You will make scenic stops along the route, including opportunities to photograph the hills, tea landscapes and countryside. Depending on time and local conditions, you can make a short stop near Rwegura or another suitable viewpoint before continuing towards Bujumbura. After lunch, you will arrive in the lakeside capital and check into your hotel. The afternoon will be reserved for a relaxed Lake Tanganyika experience, where you can enjoy the beach, take photographs, relax beside the water or participate in an optional boating activity where available. Lake Tanganyika is a major recreational attraction in Burundi, with activities including boating, sailing and swimming. You will enjoy dinner overlooking or near the lake before retiring for the evening.

Accommodation Options:

• Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika
• Kiriri Garden Hotel
• Hotel Safari Gate
• Hotel Martha

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Bujumbura to Rumonge, Kigwena Forest and Lake Tanganyika

After breakfast, you will travel southwards along the scenic Lake Tanganyika corridor towards Rumonge. The journey provides excellent views of the lake, beaches, fishing communities and surrounding hills. Along the way, you will stop at the Livingstone and Stanley memorial site, associated with the historic meeting of explorers David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley. You will then continue towards Kigwena Forest Reserve, a protected forest area extending across the western foothills of the Congo-Nile range towards the Lake Tanganyika plain. The reserve also contains the Mugara hot springs, adding another natural attraction to the day’s programme. You will enjoy a guided forest experience, looking for birds, vegetation and other signs of wildlife before continuing to Rumonge. In the afternoon, you will relax beside Lake Tanganyika and enjoy the peaceful lakeside surroundings. You will spend your final night of the safari in the Rumonge area, enjoying dinner and reflecting on the wildlife, nature and cultural experiences of the journey.

Accommodation Options:

• Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort
• Tanganyika Lodge Urisanze
• Fair Amount Hotel
• Ku Kirimba Hotel

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8: Rumonge to Bujumbura and Departure

After breakfast, you will begin your final journey back towards Bujumbura, following the scenic route along Lake Tanganyika. Depending on your flight schedule, you may make a short stop beside the lake for final photographs and enjoy some last views of the beautiful shoreline. You will then continue towards Bujumbura, where you can have lunch before proceeding to the airport. If your departure time allows, you may have a brief opportunity to purchase locally made crafts or souvenirs representing Burundi’s rich cultural heritage. Your Verdant Safaris guide will assist you with your airport transfer and departure arrangements. You will be dropped off at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in time for your onward flight. This marks the end of your 8 Days Burundi Wildlife and Lake Tanganyika Safari with Verdant Safaris, bringing together wildlife, rainforest, culture, highland scenery and the remarkable shores of Lake Tanganyika.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch)