The lake and the city
Most trips begin in Bujumbura, the largest city, spread along the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika. It has the airport, most of the hotels and the beaches of Kinindo. A short drive west, Rusizi National Park protects the river delta where hippos and crocodiles gather.
The royal heartland
Two to three hours east by road, Gitega is the political capital and the old seat of the kings. The National Museum and the drum sanctuary at Gishora make it the cultural heart of any trip, and the source of the Nile at Rutovu is within reach.
The southern shore
South of the city, the coast road follows Lake Tanganyika past fishing villages to Rumonge and Nyanza-Lac, with quieter beaches and the Kigwena forest.
The mountain forest
Up on the Congo Nile ridge, Kibira National Park is a rainforest of tree ferns and monkeys, bordered by bright green tea estates at Teza and Rwegura.
How to combine them
A first week often runs Bujumbura and Rusizi, then Gitega and Gishora, then a day in the tea hills or at the Nile source, back to the lake for a final sunset. Check current travel advice for each area before you go, and use the free trip planner to shape a route that fits your dates.