Along the Tanganyika Lake in Burundi

It was a very tiresome journey, the one between Bujumbura, in Burundi, and Kigoma, in Tanzania. Around 9 hours sitting in a Matatu (small bus) is a bit too much, when one considers covering less than 300 km

Nevertheless, the wonderful view of the of the Tanganyika Lake, the hills and the valleys along the track were worth being squeezed the whole day.

The Burundian capital, Bujumbura, is located on the very north extremity of the lake. Heading south from that point towards the Tanzanian border one would cross a number of small villages and markets at its side.

Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world and every now and then, the country is plagued by internal ethnically motivated conflicts.

Obviously, the subsistence of the communities located at along the lake is guaranteed through the fishery.

Quite a number of beaches at the shade of the typical palm trees look so inviting, specially for the tired ones, squeezed in a matatu in such a hot day. Yes! Im talking about me at the occasion!

Though the inviting environment there is no sign of any effort to improve, or maybe to create, a touristic structure in the region. A handful of small lodges can be spotted along the more than 100km shores in the country.

Towards south, approaching the border to Tanzania, we take distance from the Tanganyika and invade the mountainous part of the country. Predominantly inhabited by farmers.

The view of an abandoned refugee camp on the mountains close to the Tanzanian border. Reminiscence from the last local conflicts.

Burundi is, like most African countries, full of potentials but due to corruption, mismanagement and international influence very far of seeing some proper development.

Cheers everyone!