Burundi Highlights Tour
Rusizi Hippos, Karera Falls & the Sacred Drummers in Three Days
Overview
Short on time but not on curiosity? This three-day private tour distils Burundi's very best into a long weekend: a sunset boat safari through the hippos and papyrus of Rusizi National Park, the tumbling Karera Waterfalls in the southern highlands, and a private performance by the sacred Gishora royal drummers. It is the perfect first taste of a country most travellers never reach, run entirely privately with your own guide and vehicle.
You are based on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in Bujumbura and make comfortable day loops out into the wetlands and highlands, so you unpack once and travel light. The pace is relaxed and flexible — this is a small country, distances are short, and there is always time for a lakeside sundowner at the end of the day.
Who It's For
Made for travellers with a few days to spare — on a wider East-Africa trip, a work stopover, or simply the curious — who want the signature Burundi experiences of hippos, waterfalls and royal drums without a long commitment.
Package Highlights
Rusizi Boat Safari
Sunset boat safari among the hippo pods and waterbirds of Rusizi National Park
Gishora Royal Drummers
A private performance by the UNESCO-listed sacred drummers of Gishora
Karera Waterfalls
A walk between the forest-fringed cascades of the southern highlands
Lake Tanganyika Sunsets
Two nights on the shore of the world's second-deepest lake
Bujumbura City
Monuments, market and the Stanley-Livingstone memorial
Fully Private
Your own guide, driver and air-conditioned vehicle throughout
Day-by-Day Itinerary
You are met at Bujumbura airport and transferred to your lakeside hotel. After a short orientation of the capital — the independence monuments and lively market — you head to nearby Rusizi National Park for a late-afternoon boat safari, drifting among hippo pods, crocodiles and clouds of waterbirds as the sun drops over Lake Tanganyika. Return to the hotel for a lakeside dinner.
🏨 Accommodation: Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika
🍽️ Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Featured Lodges & Accommodation
Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika
📍 Bujumbura lakeshore
Burundi's best-known lakeside resort, on its own beach just outside Bujumbura, with pools, gardens and lake views — an easy, comfortable base for day trips to Rusizi and the highlands.
From $120 per person per night
Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort & Spa
📍 Bujumbura lakeshore
A relaxed beach resort and spa on the Tanganyika shore, an alternative capital base with a fine stretch of sand and sunset views over the lake.
From $140 per person per night
Pricing & Options
All prices per person sharing. Customize any tier to your preferences.
Classic
(~$360/night)
Comfortable lakeside hotel, private guide & air-conditioned vehicle, Rusizi boat safari, Gishora performance, breakfasts and listed meals
Get QuotePremium
(~$525/night)
Top rooms at the leading lakeside resort, private guide throughout, all meals and a private drum performance
Get QuoteBespoke Private
(~$775/night)
Fully tailored private departure, finest suites, dedicated guide-driver and add-on experiences
Get QuoteWhat's Included & Excluded
✓ Included
- ✓ Private, licensed English-speaking guide throughout
- ✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver and all fuel
- ✓ Airport meet-and-greet, pickup and drop-off
- ✓ 2 nights lakeside accommodation with breakfast
- ✓ Lunches and dinners as listed in the itinerary
- ✓ Rusizi National Park boat safari and all entrance fees
- ✓ Private Gishora royal drummers performance
- ✓ Bottled water in the vehicle
✗ Excluded
- ✗ International flights to/from Bujumbura
- ✗ Burundi visa and entry fees
- ✗ Travel and medical insurance
- ✗ Yellow-fever vaccination (required for entry)
- ✗ Drinks other than provided water, and personal expenses
- ✗ Tips and gratuities
- ✗ Anything not specifically listed as included
Photo Gallery
Best Time to Travel
June to September, the long dry season, gives the easiest highland driving and the most reliable conditions for the Rusizi boat safari and the Gishora performances. February and October shoulder months are also rewarding, while March–April are the wettest.
Why Choose This Package
The Best of Burundi in Three Days
Hippos, waterfalls and sacred royal drummers — the country's three signature experiences, packaged for travellers who are short on time.
Unpack Once
Two nights on the same lakeside base with easy day loops means less time in transit and more time enjoying each place.
Genuinely Private
Your own guide, driver and vehicle throughout — no group schedules, no crowds, complete flexibility.
An Easy First Taste
A perfect introduction to a rarely-visited country, and a natural add-on to a Rwanda or Tanzania itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Experience the Burundi Highlights Tour?
From $720 per person | 3 Days / 2 Nights
⚡ Limited availability for peak season 2026 — book early to secure your dates
