What You Need To Know For Your Kigali To Bujumbura Road Trip

East Africa is renowned for its breathtaking scenery, extensive cultural legacy, and varied wildlife. Whether you are a backpacker or wanting to take a road trip from Kigali to Bujumbura, this is one of the greatest ways to appreciate this area’s magnificence because it gives you the chance to get to know the locals, experience their culture firsthand and take in the breath-taking nature.

We’ll walk you through the route from Kigali to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, in this blog article. Along the trip, you’ll pass beautiful scenery, paved roads, and interesting landmarks. We show you the good, the bad and the ugly on this road trip from Kigali to Bujumbura.

Kigali To Bujumbura

It doesn’t matter what time of day you travel in Kigali because of the city’s organization, well-maintained public transportation system, well-paved roads and well-lit streets. In Kigali, the posted limit is 60 km/h. During my week-long stay there, I seldom witnessed any incidents. The majority of Rwandans commute to work on public motorcycles, or “motos,” which they refer to as “my Moto” when they are in Kigali. So expect the road trip from Kigali to Bujumbura to be a smooth one.

One of my acquaintances, a cab driver, used to take me around anytime I needed to travel comfortably. If I ever decided to hire him for the job, he said, he would be ready to drive me anyplace, even a road trip from Kigali to Bujumbura. I am dropped off to the bus stop by my motorcycle driver, where I wait for the taxi driver to arrive so that we may negotiate over the fare. I haven’t stated that I want to travel to another country. He is a very nice man and speaks Lingala Swahili, which is a little different from the Swahili I’m used to.

It’s important to note that older Rwandans are fluent in French. While the younger generation speaks English and Kinyarwanda, some people speak Swahili. The majority of the general population speak Kinyarwanda, therefore the language barrier is something to take into account. The Moto guy couldn’t comprehend a word we said, which caused us to get lost a number of occasions; nevertheless, because they are polite, they will nod as if they did.

We are already anxious because we don’t want to take a bus to Burundi (we still hadn’t recovered from the fact that a bus we took from Kampala to Kigali was involved in a fatal accident and people lost their lives). We are anxious now because we don’t know how much it will cost us to hire the taxi, but it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

The taxi driver finally shows up. When we tell him we’re going to Burundi, he says he’ll charge $120 for the two of us. We haggle and settle on $100 on the condition that he pick up more people at the border. We ultimately agree to meet him later in the afternoon, so we go to this restaurant for lunch and take a stroll through Kigali City as we investigate.

At 4:00 pm, we leave Kigali. The journey to the border is very smooth, and you will never be dissatisfied with the quality of the pavement. The speed limit is 60 km/h, and there are cameras that are mounted but are hidden after about 100 meters. As we converse briefly and doze off, the driver is playing Congolese African music. From Kigali to the border crossing at Bugasera, it takes about two hours.

Border Crossing

It’s vital to remember that taking a COVID 19 test, which costs US dollars, is required at the Burundian border. The fact that they wouldn’t accept any other kind of payment struck me as odd. Therefore, because the Covid test is required, be sure to bring $15. Customs and boarding are completed, and we bid Rwanda farewell. The custom clearance on both sides is why taking a taxi is preferable to using large buses. We got through pretty quickly because there were only the three of us, as opposed to a bus load of nearly 30 passengers.

Burundi

The police roadblocks right after Bugesera’s border with Rwanda are really ludicrous. Every few kilometers, we had to stop so that our baggage and passports could be examined. All of a sudden, there are no more well-paved roads, no streetlights, and actually no lights at all. Children were playing by the side of the road, and they waved as we passed.

I began to question whether traveling to this country was a wise choice deep down. The evening was sweltering and muggy. We bid farewell to the melancholy mood that had overtaken us in Rwanda. This location was different, and I loved the aroma of the pure air. Despite the difficulties at the border, I was eager to discover what Burundi might offer.

The City Of Bujumbura, Burundi

The capital of Burundi, a tiny landlocked nation in East Africa, is Bujumbura. Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital and largest city, is situated on the country’s northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It is also the nation’s commercial, political, and cultural hub. Bujumbura is renowned for its breathtakingly beautiful surroundings, which include attractive vistas, tranquil lakes, and lush green hills. The city enjoys a tropical savanna climate with moderate temperatures all year long, making it an inviting travel destination.

The two primary languages in Bujumbura are French and Kirundi, while some people also speak Swahili and English. The second-deepest lake in the world, Lake Tanganyika, which covers four nations, including Burundi, is one of the main attractions in Bujumbura. The lake’s sandy beaches are a favorite with both locals and visitors, and it provides chances for boating, swimming, and fishing.

The Rusizi National Park, which is situated on the beaches of Lake Tanganyika, is another must-see location in Bujumbura. Hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, and several bird species are among the animals that call the park home. To explore the park and get up close to the interesting species, visitors can go on boat safaris.