Bujumbura

Bujumbura

Bujumbura is Burundi's economic capital, largest city and main port. It ships much of the country's main export, coffee, along with cotton and tin ore. Bujumbura has grown from a small village after it was established as a military post in German East Africa in 1889. Bujumbura lies on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, which is the second deepest lake in the world behind Lake Baikal. The city also sits at the mouth of the Ruzizi River and two other smaller rivers. Bujumbura's climate is on the border between tropical savannah and hot semi-arid climate. There are wet and dry seasons, with the rainy season lasting from October to April and the dry season covering the remaining five months. Although Bujumbura is close to the equator, its altitude means it is not as hot as you might expect. Bujumbura's highlights include its many museums, parks and monuments. The city's museums include the Burundi Museum of Life and the Burundi Geological Museum. Other attractions close by include the Rusizi National Park, the Livingstone-Stanley Monument in Mugere, the presidential palace and the source of the Nile's southernmost tributary, known locally as the source of the Nile.