GitegaCapital
Burundi · Country profile
Gitega is the historic and political capital of Burundi, a highland town of the green, densely farmed hills of the central plateau that became the seat of the government of the republic in the modern era, restoring the ancient primacy of the royal city. It is the cultural heart of the country, the home of the royal drummers of the court, the national museum and the sacred sites of the old kingdom, and its hillsides of coffee and bananas look over the deep valleys of the interior. The town mixes the colonial-era buildings of the Belgian years, the churches and the government offices with the drum sanctuaries and the panoramic viewpoints over the whole highland world. Long revered, modest and profoundly Burundian, it is the soul of its small proud nation.
About Gitega
Gitega is the capital of Burundi. The city's documented population is around 135,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Burundian Franc (BIF) and Kirundi and French are spoken; the dialling code is +257.
The Royal Capital and the Drums of the Gishora
Gitega is a quiet, green capital of the highlands where the museum of the country, the drum sanctuary of the nearby hills and the viewpoints of the town make the essential day of the visit. The daily scene of the market mornings and the coffee fields of the slopes colours the town, and the trekking of the valleys and the lakes of the countryside sets the reward of the region. The capital is the strategic base for the round trip of the whole interior of the country, from the rainforest of the west to the great lake of the south. It is a working, rural city rather than a polished tourist centre, but its drums, its history and its genuine calm give it a deep authenticity.
The Highlands Climate and the Hill Trails of the Interior
The highland altitude gives the town a mild climate with the long rainy season from the autumn to the spring and the drier, cooler months of the southern winter and the summer. The Burundian franc is the currency, the Kirundi and the French the languages, with the Swahili spoken in the towns, and the taxis and the hired drivers cover the hilly city and its district. The national museum, the drum ceremonies of the Gishora and the viewpoints of the region anchor the stay, and the treks to the surrounding hills and the tea country complete the days. The modest dress, the cash and the good walking shoes form the sensible practical list of the visit.
The Palace Museum, the Drum Sanctuaries and the Green Hills
The national museum of the town, housed in the buildings of the Belgian colonial era, preserves the royal drums, the regalia, the weapons and the domestic objects of the cultures of the nation, one of the great ethnographic museums of the region. The drum sanctuary of the Gishora, the sacred ensemble of the royal drummers of the country, holds the living ceremonial culture of the court, with its enormous drums played at the festivals and the rituals. The presidential and the government quarter of the modern capital, the cathedral of the town and the viewpoints of the surrounding hills complete the picture of the ancient royal seat of the green plateau of Burundi.
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- Country
- Burundi
- Population
- 135,000
- Capital
- Gitega
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Burundian Franc (BIF)
- Languages
- Kirundi, French
- Calling code
- +257
- Country code
- BI
Entry requirements for Burundi
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Burundi for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gitega the capital of Burundi?
Yes — Gitega is the capital of Burundi.
What currency do I need in Gitega?
The local currency is the Burundian Franc (BIF). Languages spoken in Burundi include Kirundi and French.
What is the dialling code for Burundi?
The international dialling code for Burundi is +257.
Do I need a visa to visit Burundi?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (e-visa), Canada (e-visa), France (e-visa), Germany (e-visa) and India (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Gitega? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.