BURUNDI BUJUMBURA DAY 33 22-11-22 239 km.

KIGOMA, TANZANIA TO BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI. 

The border is only 66km away up in the mountains, so you wind your way up and the temperature really drops at the top. Took a few minutes to get stamped out of Tanzania and then maybe ten minutes to get Carnet done.

When you enter BURUNDI you have to have a Covid test which they do for you on the spot. I was at the back of the fifteen person queue for a minute when I was ushered in front of everyone to go get my test, don't know why. Took ten minutes for the result and then got my Visa and entry stamp in five minutes.

Covid Test $15

VISA $40

No vehicle TIP or road tax paid.









Now I have to drive on the right side of the road ! Tar road was excellent to the lake and the road north along the lakeshore absolutely terrible, was first and second gear for hours for the 130km to Bujumbura.

No camping here, so stopped off at The Swedish Mission to check ot out . They asked what I needed, then the invited me in for lunch and the one chap brought me a cold Coke, kept on telling them I needed to go to the ATM and they said not to worry, no need to pay. The one guy who could speak English sat with me and gave me the whole scoop and then suggested I stay there but turned out they were full. It is a huge complex and they help the community, one project is building motorcycle ambulances, whereby they tow a cart behind where you sit in, is mainly for pregnant women to get to the clinic. 

Continued on to San Filippo Foundation Hotel which is out of town but had to drive through Bujumbura which is chaotic and found the place in the middle of where all the poor locals live, was a little blown away.

With tall security walls and gate stood the two story building, someone opened the gate and in I went. They showed me the tiny room and it is really nice, clean sheets and towel and nice hot shower and well maintained, pleasantly surprised. Some Italian priests founded it and they have a huge public restaurant where I went to eat and watch the World Cup.

While watching the Australians getting thrashed the guy from the Swedish Mission and his wife appear and has came to see if I arrived safely.