Area: 27,834 sq km (10,747 sq miles).

Population: 6,602,000 (2002).

Population Density: 237.2 per sq km (2002).

Capital: Bujumbura.

Population: 235,440 (1990).

GEOGRAPHY: Burundi is a land-locked country in the heart of Africa, a little south of the equator, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and by Tanzania to the south and east. The interior is a broken plateau sloping east to Tanzania and the valley of the River Malagarasi. The southern tributary of the Nile system rises in the south of the country. The landscape is characterised by hills and valleys covered with eucalyptus trees, banana groves, cultivated fields and pasture. In the east, the fertile area gives way to savannah grassland, and tea and coffee are now grown on mountainsides.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from Belgium in 1966. Head of State and Government: President Domitien Ndayizeye since 2003. A transitional government currently presides over Burundi: Burundi is in a state of civil war.

Language: The official languages are French and Kirundi, a Bantu language. Swahili and English are also spoken.

Religion: More than 65 per cent of the population are Christian, the majority of which are Roman Catholic; there are Anglican and Pentecostalist minorities. 40 per cent adhere to animist beliefs. There is also a small (1 per cent) Muslim community.

Time: GMT + 2.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Currency: Burundi Franc - Currently 1 BIF = 0.0009 USD $

Climate: Burundi has an equatorial climate with wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons that run from June to August and December to January, and temperatures that range based on the altitude between the warmer lowlands and the higher and more comfortable plateaus. - Currently 74º, Partly Cloudy. Back to top

BURUNDI COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 257. Outgoing international code: 00. Outgoing international calls must be made through the international operator (16).

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 networks are operated by Telcel Burundi (website: www.telecel.com), SAFARIS and Spacetel. Coverage is mainly over the west of the country.

Internet: ISPs include the Government-run CBI Net. New Internet providers are currently being set up in Bujumbura. There are a few Internet cafes in Bujumbura.

Telegram: Facilities are available from Direction des Télécommunications in Bujumbura.

Post: The main post office in Bujumbura is open Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1400-1730, Sat 0830-1200.

Press: No English-language newspapers are published. Most publications are in French (such as Le Renouveau du Burundi) or local languages (such as Ubumwe in Kirundi). The two main newspapers are government-controlled.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. Back to top

BURUNDI DESTINATIONS

Bujumbura: Although the area is unstable, the capital is one of the safest places in the country to visit. Among the sites to see are the Parc des Reptiles, a large park and zoo with the nearby Geological Museum displaying fossils, the Musee Vivant, a reconstructed open-air village displaying the culture of Burundi, and a market selling handicrafts and local art. Back to top

BURUNDI TIPS

Local Customs: Although casual dress is accepted, restaurants and officials look better on more conservative dress, especially in business situations. Ask for permission before taking pictures of locals, and show respect for local customs, especially in rural areas where visitors are even less frequent.

Banking Hours: You will get familiar with local banking hours, which are open weekday mornings only, as credit cards and traveler’s checks have limited acceptance outside the larger hotels in the capital.

Food: Burundi cuisine is based on crops like beans, cassava, sorghum and corn. Fish is more common than beef and milk as the fishing industry is more productive.

Tipping: Follow standard tipping rules for 10% of the bill for good service.

Security and Travel: Conflicts between the Tutsi government and Hutu majority remain and the region as a whole is still volatile. If you must travel, expect curfews, avoid any demonstration, and communicate quickly and clearly if approached by police or local authorities. Keep currency on hand to a minimum and avoid walking around at night. Back to top