Bordered by Congo in the west, by Tanzania in the south and by Rwanda in the north, Burundi is a small African country in the center of the continent.
The capital city, Bujumbura, is located by the lake Tanganyika at the north end of the lake. Other major cities are Makamba and Rumonge. The areas close to the lake are lowlands with an equatorial hot climate. The highlands close to the border to Rwanda offer very beautiful views and enjoy a pleasant climate.
Several diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, hepatitis A, meningitis, typhoid fever, yellow fever (regional), and schistosomiasis may be caught in Burundi. Travelers should know that advance payment for medical assisstance may be required. Prescription medicines should remain in their original containers together with the prescription. Vaccinations should be obtained before entering Burundi and cholera vaccination certificates are required. Visitors travelling from countries where yellow fever is endemic are required to carry meningitis and yellow fever vaccination certficates. Drinking only bottled water is strongly advised.
Burundian people are mainly Roman Catholic and their official language is Kirundi. The country has wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and dry seasons (June to August and December to January). The country's currency is the Burundi franc.
