From Bujumbura, the economic capital of Burundi, to Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, on the Doucement Express Bus.
After getting my Burundi Visa Extension, I was good to go. I had 10 more days.
The trailblazing continues. Burundi has almost zero information online beyond Bujumbura.
With its history of civil wars, unstable governments, and classified as the poorest country in Africa, it’s unsurprising that it’s not a country on many people’s radar, except perhaps for NGOs and die-hard backpackers.
And for me, a chance to become an authority on Backpacking in Burundi.
Because travellers who do make it here are focused on writing about what there is to see and do, and not on how to get there.
You cannot have nice destinations without a way of getting there. And Nomadic Backpacker is happy to fill that gap.
Minivans bound for many destinations in Burundi, crammed with hot, sticky, smelly bodies, leave from Cotebu Bus Park in Bujumbura:
I wanted to take the Volcano Express bus to Gitega. I’d already checked it out the day before. Arriving at 7:45, I was told that the first departure wasn’t until 11 am. They directed me to the Doucement Express office, a few doors down. I bought a ticket for the 8:30 +/- (they go when full) at 9,000 BFr.
I was led to the correct bus in the parking lot behind the office. There, squashed in like unfriendly sardines, my fellow passengers waited.
At least the bus was almost full. The saving grace!
Departure was at 8:35.
But it was a great ride. The bus climbed into the hills. The temperature cooled.
Next to me was a nice chap who had worked with NGOs, who was soon off to Paris for a year.
The journey passed quickly.
Arrival in Gitega was at 11 am at the Parking de Gitega-Bujumbura in the centre of town. The main bus terminal is 2.5km from town.