I used the MOVE ride share app to get a taxi to the Kigali airport. The Move cars are only Volkswagen’s in much better condition than the regular taxis and the trip cost RWF18,000 or US$14. The hotel will call a regular taxi and it will cost you at least RWF25,000 or US$20. Well before you enter the airport there is a checkpoint where your luggage is scanned and sniffed by a dog and you are searched, I was the only car there, can’t imagine what it would be like if there was a crowd. After that it was plain sailing, Immigration only took a minute and Security had a whole body scanner, the first one I have seen in Africa, did not have to remove my laptop from my backpack or drink the water in my water bottle. There is also a currency exchange that has US$ where I changed the last of my Franc’s. Rwanda was a surprise, clean, organised, civilised with modern facilities. Short flight 28 minutes to Bujumburra.
Before you arrive in Burundi you must go online and fill in a form and print the Entry document, it is only valid for 30 days starting from the date of application. I had to do this twice because the first time was earlier than 30 days and it only tells you this on the Entry document after you have completed the application and it is in French. Anyway it is not a big problem because the whole process only takes a few minutes and Entry is granted with no fuss and no charge at this point. When you arrive at the airport you must go to a counter and show your Entry document, next to another counter and pay US$90 cash for the visa and get a receipt, then to a third counter where a full page Visa is stuck in your passport and a stamp on another page. Finally to a fourth counter where you have to connect to the Airport Wifi and go to a webpage where you fill in all your details again and you download an Entry permit and now you are free to enter Burundi hahaha. Next you baggage will be scanned and out of the airport, a ride into town costs US$20.
“One of the smallest countries in Africa, Burundi’s land is used mostly for subsistence agriculture and grazing. Deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat loss are major ecological concerns. As of 2005, the country was almost completely deforested. Less than 6% of its land was covered by trees, and over half of that being for commercial plantations.Burundi is the poorest country in the world by nominal GDP per capita, and is one of the least developed countries. It faces widespread poverty, corruption, instability, authoritarianism, and illiteracy.” – Wikipedia
Bujumburra on the shores of Lake Tanganika was flooded in parts due to a 2.5 meter rise in the water level of the Lake. Population 1.2 million, roads in poor condition, buildings dilapidated, no fridge magnets hahaha and nobody had heard of a Souvenir Shop. There were many UN Agencies and NGO’s, I had never heard of most of them, charity is big business here. Hotel prices are high because they are booked out by the UN and NGO’s. A restaurant will have 100 items on the menu but the only ones availabe will be Chicken and chips, Omelette, Pasta and Pizza hahaha.
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Chris's space 
Another very interesting read, pics and experience Chris. It’s fabulous. Thank you for sharing wonderful moments and memories to hold dear. The pics are a great catalogue of reminders, love it all.
H x
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Thank you Helen
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