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BurundiFrom £2,345

Burundi Tours & Holidays

Burundi holidays take you somewhere most travellers never reach. This small Central African nation rewards the curious with rhythm, warmth, and a welcome far from the usual safari circuit.

  • Best timeJul & Jan
  • Time zoneUTC+2
  • CurrencyBurundian Franc (BIF)
  • LanguageKirundi & French (official)
Overview

An introduction to Burundi

Burundi tours take you somewhere most travellers never think to go. Wedged between Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this small Central African nation has stayed largely its own — choral churches, lakeside markets, and drumming traditions centuries deep. The wealth here is in the people and their energy, encountered as readily on a Bujumbura street as on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.


Our small group Burundi tours follow a route that balances wildlife, culture and landscape — from boat safaris on the Rusizi River and walks in Kibira National Park to the iconic royal drumming performance at Gishora and a sunrise canoe on Lake Rwihinda. Whether you join one of our scheduled Burundi travel packages or prefer a tailor-made Burundi holiday, each journey is designed to be unhurried, immersive and genuinely off the beaten track.

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Explore

Burundi

Why visit

What makes Burundi worth the journey

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A place apart

One of Africa's Least-Visited Countries

Burundi sees very few international visitors, which means the experiences here are entirely unscripted. Markets, villages, drumming sites and national parks feel genuinely your own.

01

Drumming Culture Found Nowhere Else

The royal Burundian drummers are listed among the world's great cultural traditions. Witnessing a live performance at Gishora — the sacred hilltop site where the tradition has been kept alive for centuries.

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02

Wildlife Without the Safari Crowds

Rusizi National Park and Lake Tanganyika offer genuine wildlife encounters — hippos, crocodiles, sitatunga and exceptional birdlife — without the vehicle convoys and competition for sightings that define more famous safari destinations.

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03

Remarkable Landscape Variety

In eight days you move from lakeside wetlands to highland tea plantations, deep rainforest and the shores of one of the world's deepest lakes. For its size, Burundi packs an extraordinary range of natural scenery into a single journey.

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Highlights

The highlights of Burundi

Boat Safari on the Rusizi River

Explore the wetlands of Rusizi National Park by boat, searching for hippos, sitatunga antelope and a rich variety of birdlife along the Congo border.

Royal Drummers at Gishora

Witness one of Africa's most iconic cultural traditions — Burundi's royal drummers performing at the sacred hilltop site of Gishora, a spectacle passed down through generations.

Cruise on Lake Tanganyika

Take to the waters of one of the world's deepest lakes, stretching across four countries and home to extraordinary freshwater biodiversity along Burundi's western shore.

Teza Tea Plantations & Kibira Walk

Visit scenic highland tea fields at Teza before heading into Kibira National Park — Burundi's largest rainforest — for a guided nature walk beneath the canopy.

Livingstone–Stanley Meeting Site

Stand at the historic Rumonge-area location where two legendary explorers reportedly met in 1871 — one of the most intriguing footnotes in the story of African exploration.

Sunrise Canoe on Lake Rwihinda

Glide across the calm waters of Lake Rwihinda at dawn, known as Burundi's "Bird Lake" for the remarkable variety of species that gather in this peaceful northern reserve.

Intore Warrior Dances, Kirundo

In the far north of the country, experience traditional Intore warrior dances — a vivid expression of Burundian identity and cultural heritage rarely seen by outside visitors.

Karera Waterfalls

Visit the impressive Karera waterfalls, located near the debated source of the Nile — a dramatic natural landmark in the green interior of southern Burundi.

Burundi rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.

From the field

When to go

Picking the right season for your trip

Our Burundi tours depart in July and January — both reliable windows for travel across the country. July falls in Burundi's dry season, when roads are more accessible, wildlife concentrates around water sources in Rusizi National Park, and conditions for boat safaris and walking are at their best. January sits between the two rainy seasons — temperatures are warm, the landscape is lush and green, and the cultural sites remain fully accessible.

Looking to travel outside the typical windows? Our Burundi tailor-made team can advise on the best time for you.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.

You have a great local person. Hypolite is a wonderful ambassador to his country. Knowledgeable, polite, punctual, safe and considerate driver. All accommodations were adequate and are probably the best in the area. Itinerary is well paced; not slow, but not exhaustive either and very well represent this less travelled African country. In general the tour excided my expectations. Hotels around Lake Tanganyika were above expectations as well as food during the whole tour. Well organized tour run by competent local tour agent.
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Traveller from Canada

The guide, Thierry, was really good.
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Traveller from Belgium

Great tour and local rep.
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Adel Zakaria, USA

Highly recommend this under visited gem of a country. Lovely trip and quite a surprise. Great guide and driver who couldn't do enough for us. Very flexible to meet our needs. Logistics, accommodation, food, scenery, friendly people all amazing. Didn't see another tourist the whole trip, so I must have been in the right place for my travel bug needs.
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Kaz Stanbridge, UK

I liked the destination and the partnership with the local guide in Burundi. That's Hypoline, and I think he did an excellent job.
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Tracey White, USA

The tour leader, Olaf Stals, did a sterling job. Charming, accessible, enthusiastic and a good communicator. Olaf has an in-depth knowledge of the mechanics of seamless travelling and managed the group very effectively. The tour was challenging but very good organisation and professional tour leadership made it a success.
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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

When asked by other travellers why I book with Undiscovered Destinations, it's because of the chance to visit places few, if any, other tour operators go to.
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Oliver Grumitt, UK

The tour leader, Olaf Stals, did a sterling job. Charming, accessible, enthusiastic and a good communicator. Olaf has an in-depth knowledge of the mechanics of seamless travelling and managed the group very effectively. The tour was challenging but very good organisation and professional tour leadership made it a success.
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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

Given the countries involved, I thought the accommodation was better than I expected. Our guide was knowledgeable. He was kind and provided snacks and stories to while away the very long driving days.
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Traveller from the UK

An excellent trip. We saw all that we expected to and more. Very good guide, helpful and considerate. Tour met and exceeded my expectations
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Martin Robathan, UK

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Burundi journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip
Tailor-made journeys

Didn’t find your perfect Burundi trip?

We’ll build one around you.

If you'd like to travel to Burundi outside our scheduled group departures - or prefer a private Burundi holiday designed around your own pace and interests - we can build a tailor-made itinerary for you. Whether you want to spend longer on Lake Tanganyika, add extra time exploring the wetlands of Rusizi National Park, combine a Burundi trip with neighbouring Rwanda, or focus on the cultural sites of Gitega and Gishora, we'll create a journey that fits. All our tailor made Burundi travel packages include the same expert local guides and carefully chosen accommodation as our group tours. Contact us to start planning your trip.

Your dates
Travel when it suits you
Private group
Just you, family or friends
Your pace
Linger longer, skip the rest
Bespoke extras
Private guides, rare access

Typical reply within 3 working days · No obligation · Trusted by travellers since 2004

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How it works
  1. 1Tell us what you have in mind
  2. 2We build an itinerary + quote
  3. 3Refine until it feels right
Est. 2004
20+ years of
bespoke travel
Questions, answered

Planning a trip to Burundi?

  • Our Burundi tours start from £2,345 per person. That price covers accommodation, overland transport, an English-speaking tour leader, and most meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner as listed). International flights, airport taxes, travel insurance, visas and drinks are not included and are arranged separately. Full pricing and departure dates are listed on the individual tour page.

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor travel advice issued by the FCDO and will always inform clients of any relevant warnings before departure. Travellers should check the latest guidance for Burundi before booking and again prior to travel, as advice can change at short notice. We operate only in areas we consider suitable for small-group travel and will contact you promptly if any changes affect your trip.

This information primarily applies to British nationals — travellers from other countries should consult their own government travel authority. For official updates, see FCDO Travel Advice – Burundi.

Ready when you are

Start planning your Burundi adventure

Join a small-group departure, or let our Burundi specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.

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