Africa > 🇧🇮 Burundi
The city by city Car or no Car advice for Burundi can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Burundi; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Burundi?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Burundi?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🏙️ Main Cities in Burundi
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bujumbura | BJM |
🌆 When You Don’t Need a Car
If your visit stays mainly in Bujumbura, Burundi’s largest city, or within areas near Lake Tanganyika, you can get around easily with taxis or hotel transport.
✅ Suitable No-Car Scenarios
| Location | Why You Can Skip a Car | Best Transport |
|---|---|---|
| Bujumbura city | Compact with taxis available | Taxi or moto-taxi |
| Lake Tanganyika shore | Resorts offer transfers | Hotel shuttle |
| Short business or diplomatic visit | Security escort often provided | Pre-arranged transport |
| Guided tours | Transport included | 4×4 tour vehicles |
➡ Staying within the city or along the lakeshore doesn’t require a rental car.
🚗 When Renting a Car Becomes Helpful
If you want to explore the countryside, tea plantations, national parks, or small cultural towns, renting a car—or more commonly, hiring a car with a driver—offers far more flexibility and safety.
✅ Benefits of Renting (Usually with Driver)
| Advantage | What You Can Access |
|---|---|
| Independence | Rural villages and viewpoints |
| Nature access | Kibira National Park, Rusizi Reserve |
| Cultural depth | Gitega (cultural capital), drum sanctuaries |
| Time efficiency | Avoid slow shared transport |
🌿 Key Places Best Visited by Car
| Destination | Highlight | Distance from Bujumbura |
|---|---|---|
| Gitega | National Museum & royal drums | 2 hours |
| Rusizi National Park | Hippos, crocodiles | 30 minutes |
| Kibira National Park | Rainforest and hiking | 1.5 hours |
| Bururi Reserve | Wildlife and scenic views | 2 hours |
➡ Public transport does not often reach these places directly.
🚦 What Driving in Burundi Is Like
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You drive on the right-hand side
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Roads in cities are paved, while rural routes may be rough
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Security checkpoints are common, especially outside cities
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Hiring a local driver is strongly recommended due to road knowledge and safety awareness
🚕 Alternatives to Renting
| Transport Type | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | City travel | Affordable and available |
| Moto-taxi | Short trips | Quick, but not ideal for luggage |
| Private driver | Multi-day travel | Most comfortable and secure |
| Buses/minibuses | Budget option | Unreliable schedules |
🏁 Final Recommendation
| Traveller Type | Car Needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| City or lake visitor | ❌ No | Taxis are sufficient |
| Cultural explorer | ✅ Yes | Rural towns require flexible travel |
| National park visitor | ✅ Yes | Parks lie outside city transport routes |
| Budget backpacker | ❌ Optional | Shared taxis and minibuses available |
| Business traveler | ❌ No | Pre-arranged transport is standard |
🇧🇮 Is Burundi Safe to Visit Right Now?
Travel to Burundi requires extreme caution. Multiple international governments, including the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, advise against all but essential travel due to ongoing security risks.
⚠️ Current Safety Situation
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Political instability and civil unrest continue in some regions.
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Armed groups operate near borders and in rural areas.
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Crime levels are high, including armed robbery and kidnapping.
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Travel infrastructure is limited, and emergency services are not always available.
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Disease risk (including malaria and cholera) is present.
🌍 Official Travel Advisories
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UK Foreign Office: Advises against all travel to certain provinces and all but essential travel to the rest of the country.
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US State Department: Rates Burundi as Level 3 or Level 4 (“Reconsider travel” or “Do not travel”).
These alerts are not just formalities—they affect travel insurance, medical coverage, and evacuation options. In most cases, insurance becomes invalid if you travel against government advice.
✅ Is Any Part Safe?
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The capital Bujumbura has a security presence, and some diplomats and aid workers are based there.
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However, even Bujumbura requires caution, especially at night.
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Rural areas and border regions are significantly riskier.
✨ Final Takeaway
So, should you rent a car in Burundi?
👉 Yes, if you want to explore the countryside, national parks, and cultural regions at your own pace, especially with a local driver.
👉 No, if you plan to stay only in Bujumbura or along Lake Tanganyika, where taxis and hotel transport already meet your needs.
