Burundi: holidays, events, climate
Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date, but are based on the time of Easter. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Lent, which lasts for 46 days, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. Corpus Christi is celebrated on the second Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the first Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
February 5 | Union day |
March 12 | Labor Day |
May | Ascension of Christ |
July 1 | Independence day |
15th of August | Assumption Day |
September 18 | Party day |
October 13 | Prince Rwagasore dies |
October 21 | Anniversary of President Ndadaye’s dea |
November 1 | All Saints Day |
25 December | Christmas |
Source: Countryaah – Burundi Holidays
Sports events
Football is the national sport of Burundi. The Burundis also particularly enjoy playing Mancala games and even achieve success on an international level. It is characteristic of Mancala games that game pieces that are in hollows are redistributed. In Burundi, these game pieces often consist of pebbles or shells. In Germany, Mancala games are traditionally referred to as bean games, but are only little known.
Burundi: climate
As in its neighboring country Rwanda, the climate in Burundi is moderate due to its proximity to the equator and the high altitude. The average daytime temperatures are 18 °C all year round in the highlands. In the rest of the area they rise to 24 °C during the day and drop to 18 °C at night. From September to May there is 60-180 mm of rainfall per month. During this time the air humidity is 70 – 80%.
Burundi: sightseeing
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that BI stands for the nation of Burundi as a two-letter acronym.
Cities
Bujumbura
With around 300,000 residents, the city of Bujumbura on Lake Tanganyika is the capital of Burundi and the economic center of the country. The city was colonized by Germany at the end of the 19th century. The buildings from this period still bear clear signs of German architecture, such as B. can be seen at the Postmaster’s House. Other attractions include the city’s three museums and the Islamic Cultural Center. Numerous cafes and restaurants line Lake Tanganyika, where water sports can be practiced, such as B. sailing, water skiing and fishing. There is also an excellent market in Bujumbura. In the open-air museum from Bujumbura there is a reconstructed Burundian village that shows insights into traditional craft culture.
Gitega
With around 23,000 residents, the centrally located city of Gitega is the second largest city in the country. Gitega is a former royal city. The recently renovated National Museum and an arts and crafts settlement are particularly worth seeing.
Rutana
Rutana, located at the source of the White Nile, has a pyramid monument that is worth the trip.
Special buildings and markets
Postmaster’s House in Bujumbura
In the capital Bujumbura, the postmaster’s house is a pretty example of German colonial architecture. The beautiful facade is particularly worth seeing.
Livingstone Stanley Monument near Mugere
In the town of Mugere, about 12 kilometers from Bujumbura, the Livingstone Stanley Monument rises, which overlooks Lake Tanganyika. In 1871 the legendary explorer and missionary Dr. David Livingstone was visited by journalist Henry Morton Stanley. The meeting took place in neighboring Tanzania.
Bujumbura market
The colorful and lively market in Bujumbura, which takes place every day, attracts with products from the region. But it is also most interesting to just let yourself drift and watch the Burundi in their everyday business.
Museums
Burundi Museum of Life in Gitega
Burundi’s Museum of Life can be visited in the former royal city of Gitega.
Burundi Geological Museum in Bujumbura
The Burundi Geological Museum is located in the capital Bujumbura and is well worth seeing.
Islamic Center in Bujumbura
The Islamic Center in the capital Bujumbura is a cultural institution that is one of the country’s most important tourist attractions.
National Museum of Burundi in Gitega
The National Museum of Burundi is located in the former royal city of Gitega, which is located in the central part of the country and only a few kilometers east of Bujumbura.
University of Burundi
With the University of Burundi, the only public university in the country is located in the capital Bujumbura. Unfortunately, most institutions have been badly affected by the ongoing civil war. The university was created in 1964 through the amalgamation of the Agricultural Institute of Rwanda-Urundi with the University Institute of Usumbura and the Faculty of Science of Usumbura, although it was only from 1973 that the university in its current form can be used. At that time there were further amalgamations with other higher educational institutions. Today the university is divided into eight different schools and five institutes.
Natural beauties
Muhweza
In Muhweza you can visit hot springs and experience the “German Waterfall” in the Mosso region.
Parc National de la Kibira
The Parc National de la Kibira is another natural beauty in Burundi. Above all, the numerous species of monkeys that live here are reason enough for an extended visit.
Rusizi National Park (French: Réserve Géréede la Ruzizi)
The Ruzizi National Park extends around the Rusizi River and about 15 kilometers north of the capital Bujumbura. In addition to antelopes, hippos, sitatungas and crocodiles can also be seen. A safari through this park is also worthwhile because it is the best way to get to know the wonderful flora.
Ruvubu National Park
Ruvubu National Park is most notable for the large herds of buffalo that inhabit it. Zebras, lions and other steppe animals also live in this natural area.
Lakes of Burundi
The picturesque lakes of Kacamirinda, Kanzigiri and Rwihinda are an absolute must, especially for (amateur) ornithologists, because the many different species of flying birds are best experienced here.
Lake Tanganyika
The lake is located in the south and southwest of Burundi. Lake Tanganyika, with a maximum depth of 1,470 m and an average depth of approx. 570 m, is the second deepest lake on earth and the deepest in all of Africa. It covers an area of around 32,000 km², making it the second largest lake in Africa. Its water volume is 18,900 km³. Its length is around 650 km and its width varies between and between around 40 and 75 km. The lake lies in the East African rift system – the tectonic fracture zone in East Africa. In addition to Burundi, the lake belongs to the following countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Tanzania. With 45% and 41%, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania take by far the largest part of the lake. The Ruzizi River, which is only around 105 km long, is the skin inflow of the lake and the only outflow of the East African Kiwu Lake. The lake is one of the most species-rich lakes in the world, with around 300 different fish species living here. Almost all of them (95%) are only found here, so they are called endemic.
Bird lakes
About 200 km from Bujumbura – in the north-east of the country there is a region with an extensive plain with many lakes and a large number of birds living there. The region is of great natural beauty and can be explored very well by boat, for example by canoe. The bird lakes of this region include Lake Cohoha, Lake Rwihinda, Lake Kacamirinda and Lake Kanzigiri.
White Saga Beach
Just six kilometers north of Bujumbura is one of the most beautiful lakes in Burundi. Especially in the dry season you can go swimming here very well. The popularity of the White Beach of Saga has also attracted many good hotels that have settled here and do not have to complain about the lack of visitors.