Packing list for Burundi, travel insurance for Burundi and taking your belongings

What to take with you to Burundi: brief

To pack and check:

• Documents and money: a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon arrival and a visa or eVisa (depending on the current options and rules). Bring several paper and digital copies of important documents and your vaccination record. The local currency is the Burundian franc (BIF). Debit card payments are only possible to a limited extent, especially outside the capital Bujumbura. Bring enough recently issued US dollars to exchange.
• Clothing: airy and covering clothing, such as cotton or linen, is pleasant because of the tropical climate. Are you going on safari? Then bring clothes in neutral colors and avoid dark blue, black, brightly colored, or white clothing. Camouflage print is prohibited. The higher areas (such as in Kibira National Park) can cool down considerably in the evening, so a warm sweater or fleece is also useful. A light raincoat is useful during the rainy seasons (approximately February-May and September-November). Burundi is conservative, and covering clothing is important outside the larger resorts.
• Shoes: comfortable shoes for cities and sturdy walking shoes when you visit nature reserves or mountainous regions. Sandals or slippers are always practical in the warm weather.
• Care and hygiene: sunscreen, lip balm, hand gel, and wet wipes are useful in the warm climate.
• Pack and protect: a rain cover for your backpack is useful during the rainy seasons, as are waterproof bags that protect electronics from tropical rain.
• Insects and animals: a good mosquito repellent with DEET or picaridin is essential.
• Lying down and sleeping: a sheet liner can be useful for simple accommodations, and an impregnated mosquito net is highly recommended if you do not sleep in larger hotels.
• Medications and travel pharmacy: A comprehensive first aid kit including ORS, anti-diarrheal medications, plasters, blister plasters, painkillers, hand sanitizer, and personal medications. Consult a travel clinic about malaria prophylaxis (malaria pills).
• Outdoor and useful: reusable water bottle (with filter), sunglasses, cap, or hat.
• Technology and equipment: Burundi uses sockets of types C and E. A flashlight or headlamp and a power bank are important because of the power outages.
• Safety and theft: take a money belt or well-hidden neck bag with you and always check the current travel advice. Keep valuables out of sight and avoid traveling outside major cities after dark.

To consider:

• Quick-drying travel towel.
• Gaiters for the jungle.
• Binoculars for bird areas around Lake Tanganyika.
• Water purification tablets or a water filter.
• Learn a few words of French or Kirundi; little English is spoken outside tourist places.
• Knowledge of local customs and the current safety situation helps you plan your trip and prevent surprises.

Are there mosquitoes in Burundi?

• Yes, mosquitoes are found throughout Burundi all year round and are most numerous during the rainy seasons.
• Malaria also occurs in almost the entire country. In addition, mosquitoes can also transmit other diseases, such as dengue.
• Even more reasons to wear covering clothing and protect yourself with an anti-mosquito repellent and possibly a mosquito net.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sand flies in Burundi?

• Little is known about sand flies in Burundi, but leishmaniasis (the disease that can be transmitted by sand flies) is not a problem in the country.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Are DEET, or other mosquito repellents, available in Burundi?

• Yes, but options are limited. In the capital Bujumbura, anti-mosquito products are sometimes available at pharmacies and some larger stores, but you will not easily find them outside the capital...
• Therefore, take enough of your own trusted mosquito repellent with you.
• See also DEET mosquito repellents and the percentages.

Is it legal to buy a joint or weed in Burundi, or to take it with you to Burundi?

• No, cannabis is strictly illegal in Burundi. Possession, use, trade, and import carry very heavy penalties (including long prison sentences).