GDP PPP statistics for Burundi
GDP & PPP estimates for Burundi In 2021 according to the IMF, 261 $ GDP / capita and 779 $ PPP / capita per year. Absolute poorest country on the list. Even Somalia does better. Figures that stick in your face. Got to be a walhalla for African enthusiasts. Didn't know about the visa problems. Was preoccupied with security concerns. Had a look at the EU embassy's of the country. Very difficult requirements. What is the security situation for foreigners in the country? Better not mention politics during small talk LOL.
New: Visa on arrival - 30 Days - $ 90.
[QUOTE=Neddy69;2538887]The problem mate is. To get a visa. You can only get it in Kigali and it takes a week. There's is talk that Burundi applied to join the EAC which might lead to Visa on arrival. But nothing official yet. And I hope your French is up to scratch. They only speak French. But stay in Rwanda. Same Tribe Bahutu and Watutsi. No difference. And you get burundian refugees in Kigali too....[/QUOTE]All nationalities can now obtain visa on arrival on arrival in Burundi without any prior application.
[URL]https://www.rwandair.com/blog/2021/04/21/burundi/[/URL]
Bus Bujumbura to Kigali and vice versa
After years of interruption, a bus operator has restarted plying the route between Kigali and Bujumbura. Tickets are 13 $. You can book tickets online through the Modern Coast Express website. Designated seats.
[URL]https://www.modern.co.ke/[/URL]#.
From their FB page:
SERVICE UPDATE.
Dear esteemed customers;.
We interrupt our today's programming to announce resumption of direct bus services from KAMPALA to BUJUMBURA and from KIGALI to BUJUMBURA and vice versa effective tomorrow. Below is the schedule:
KAMPALA ➡65039; BUJUMBURA daily departures for 109000/* UGX.
KIGALI ➡65039; BUJUMBURA daily departures for 14500/* Rwandan Francs.
We'll keep you posted on any other developments.
We look forward to taking you to the beautiful cities in East Africa full of fragrant nature and surrounding environment.
An eventful night in Bwiza
Bwiza is a grid of streets and alleyways with large communities from The Congo, Mali and Senegal. Swahili is the dominant language here. The Malians and Senegalese adopted the language from the Congolese who came before them. It's about a km from the city center. Perfectly walkable during the day but you have to be able to stomach it. This is a working class area in what arguably could be the poorest nation on earth. The epicentre of nightlife is the crossroads at the Escottise Dance Club in the 4th Avenue, Bwiza, Bujumbura. You can find it on google maps. By night you will see taxi's parked on all sides and girls standing on all 4 corners. You can find streetwalkers from nightfall onwards but the real club action starts after midnight.
I asked some guys that work in the area what the going rate is. One said 20 000 BIF, the other 30 000 to 40 000 BIF. The both agreed it should be around 10 USD. I suspect you can get away with 20 000 and that you are on the safe side with 30 000 BIF.
If you do decide to venture here please do take a taxi after 23:00.
Wrong decision. As the clubs start to fill up after midnight I decide to come back later. On my way back up towards the club I decide to follow a couple of guys that where walking in that direction. Thinking that way I wouldn't be isolated. Unfortunately I decided to follow the wrong guys. Instead of staying out of harms way as my intention was I put myself into harms way. A demand of 2000 francs was made for the 'youngsters of the hood' (jeunes du quartier) and that I needed 'security'. I took that as a veiled threat and that was exactly what it was. A taxi driver who drove past and smelled the situation was fishy looked me into the eyes and asked in a hushed voice if I needed a taxi. Amazingly I declined thinking that as I was a 'big man' I could handle the situation myself. The taxi driver drove on but then decided to stay driving slowly on the pace we where walking at. He was doing exactly the right thing. One of the guys tried to intimidate him by running towards his door. When we arrived in the 4th avenue there was a lot of movement and they took a turn. I gave the driver a good tip. Bless him.
Why did I decline? The truth is the best protection you have as a muzungu is exactly being one. However uncomfortable I may feel I will never ever show fear and I will always try to project confidence. I think I declined taking that taxi because I felt that I would be 'giving in' and 'losing face'. Now I stood my ground and didn't give them a penny but I should have taken that taxi. Point. Sheer stupidity.
The club was indeed buzzing after midnight. To my surprise I see a couple of whites of dark complexion. I think they where Mauritanians.
I decide to go outside to have a look at the SW's on the crossroads. A guy is jumping up and down asking in broken French for money. I decline. He goes on. Then I decipher the word 'danger'. I was getting angry and it showed. Told him to piss off. He backed down. Finished dancing as a warrior. I've never received veiled threats earlier in Africa. Now twice the same night. I'm going to have to have to change areas and Bwiza is surely not the worst area in Buja. Kamenge, Buterere and others are far worse.
I went home by taxi (LOL) with a girl who had the word pro written all over her. The way she dressed, talked, smiled, the package. Big firm tits and big nipples. But she wasn't fat on the contrary. I hadn't negotiated. Was wondering in the taxi how that was going to go down in the morning. Some pro's master the art of sex with techniques equal to exquisite craftsmanship but she didn't. To top it up she was an 'ooh and aah girl'. I don't understand experienced hookers do that. It's such a give away.
Gave her some extra holy water in the morning. Bless her. More pleasurable having sex when you are sober and I never have a hangover while I'm fucking.
I give her 30 k. She has money problems she says. I give her another 10 k. She politely asks for more. I tell her she has had enough. She says she's hungry. I say I'm not. She asks for my phone number. Seems my donation wasn't that bad then ey?