Tourism is a relatively small industry in Burundi, with it accounting for 3% of the country's GDP. Many of the tourist attractions in the country are in Bujumbura, which is the capital city. This includes the beach, which is popular with the tourists who visit the city. In addition to this, Lake Tanganyika is a popular tourist attraction.
Language
Climate
A hot equatorial climate is found near Lake Tanganyika and in the Ruzizi River plain. It is often windy on the lake. The rest of the country is mild and pleasant. Burundi has two rainy seasons - the major one from February to May, with a minor rainy season between September and November, and two dry seasons: the long dry season from June to August and the shorter dry season between December and January.
Cloth
Lightweight cottons and linens with waterproofs for the rainy season. Warm clothes are recommended for the evening.
Food and drink
The choice is limited. Most food is boiled, stewed or roasted over wood fire. Meals in Bujumbura's hotels are reasonable, but expensive and of fairly average quality. The French, Greek and Asian restaurants in the town are good. There are few restaurants outside the capital and Gitega.
Specialities:
• Staple ingredients include plantains, sweet potatoes, cassava, peas and maize.
• Popular snacks are fruit, cane sugar and groundnuts.
• Spicy carrots are a side dish of carrots mixed with mustard seeds and chilli peppers.
Currency
The franc became the currency of Burundi in 1916, when Belgium occupied the former Germany colony and replaced the German East African rupie with the Belgian Congo franc. Burundi used the currency of Belgian Congo until 1960, when the Rwanda and Burundi franc was introduced. Burundi began issuing its own francs in 1964.
There are plans to introduce a common currency, a new East African shilling, for the five member states of the East African Community by the end of 2015.
