Burundi Drummers

Burundi, Gishora

If you visit this small African country and can visit only one place or one event , then as to my experience – I will recommend to watch the show of Burundi Drummers in Gishora.

While arriving at Burundi in the evening the first place that the ethnic drums were heard, was the beach of Saga and it lasted probably less than 10 minutes. As I reached there by the time that most of the show was over already. And as the reason I was at that beach was looking for an overnight place so , of course , the cameras were in the car and no pictures.

The next day, having spoken about drummers in BurundiTour tourist company, their suggestion was to visit the drum-players in Gishora, those drummers were said to be the most original and the most true ones. And having the best show. The local players and imitators were said to be met at every town.

Burundi, Source of Nile

Historic sites in Burundi - first - Livingstone-Stanley Monument, located in Mugere, 12 km south from the capital. It is a large stone with these two names and the date 25-XI-1871.

But this is not that place where the historic phrase was said „Dr. Livingstone, I presume?“ The first meeting of the two great explorers was actually two weeks earlier in Tanzania, Ujiji, in November 10, 1871. Here in Mugere they spent together two days and then moved on to the northen tip of Lake Taganjika.

As they were the first Europeans around here their arrival was such a memorable event that this place was considered to be their first meeting point.

Burundi, Bujumbura

Burundi is left behind. A few hundred meters further is a next African small state. This time it is Burundi. Burundi is situated southwards from Rwanda. The area of Burundi is 27.834.km2, ( the area is the 145-th in the world), the estimated number of population - 10 million. The neighbouring countries are Rwanda, DR Congo, Tanzania. Burundi has also been called the „Switzerland of Africa „ because of its mountainous nature.

Burundi is like a small dot in the map of Africa. Located in the heart of Africa and shaped like a heart.



For clearity – here is the map of Burundi.

Rwanda, Nyanza and Butare

Street Pictures. Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.



Unlike in Uganda and Kenya, the motocycle and moped drivers wore helmets here. And the traffic red lights were accepted as well.

The salesmen of phone cards were rather obtrusive, although you say – thank you, no, - five minutes later, while passing the same spot, they make their offers again and again.

Rwanda, Gorillas

Mountain gorillas.



Those wonderful animals can be met only in three countries – Uganda, Rwanda and Democratlic Republic of Congo. By now there are less than 800 of them left in the world.
The impuls to visit Mountain Gorillas came from the film „Gorillas in the Mist“ (watched a long time ago), in the leading role starring Signourney Weaver.