What the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada tell their own citizens about travelling to Burundi, in their own words, plus practical help with packing.
Travel advice levels
Each government rates the risks for its own citizens, on its own scale. The levels are shown exactly as published; they are not equivalent to each other and are not combined here.
UK
United KingdomForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
No numbered levels
Updated 21 May 2026
Latest change, in the source's words:Addition of information about a declaration of an Ebola outbreak in DRC on 15 May (‘Health page’).
The official source shows no update to this advice in over 12 months. Check the official page for the current version.
Trip Rulebook could not refresh this source since 30 September 2026. The official website may have newer advice.
Emergency numbers
From the section “Emergency services in Burundi” of the UK government's travel advice for Burundi, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.
Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)
You can also request help from the Red Cross by calling 109.
Local laws and customs
From the section “Laws and cultural differences” of the UK government's travel advice for Burundi, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.
Illegal drugs
Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties.
You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
Airports in Burundi have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual acts are illegal. Punishment includes a prison sentence of between 3 months and 2 years and a fine. Burundi is a socially conservative society and LGBT+ people are not accepted. Showing affection in public may receive unwanted and negative attention.
Burundi is largely a cash-based society. Take US dollars dated post-2006. Most businesses will not accept or exchange older currency and US dollars with small tears will also be rejected. You can usually exchange euros and British pounds.
There’s a shortage of foreign exchange currencies in Burundi and an unofficial FX exchange rate exists. The unofficial rate can be substantially different from the official exchange rate.
Outside Bujumbura credit and debit cards are rarely accepted, and there are not many ATMs. Do not rely on cash withdrawals. You can often use mobile money in tourist hotels.
Travelling with medicines
From the section “Medication” of the UK government's travel advice for Burundi, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
From the section “Extreme weather and natural disasters” of the UK government's travel advice for Burundi, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.
Practical suggestions from Trip Rulebook, based on open data and fixed rules. They are not safety or legal advice: rules on clothing, medicines and restricted items are covered only by the official text on this page.
Chargers and plugs
Plug typesCE
Voltage220/380 V
Frequency50 Hz
Plug and voltage data: Wikipedia, “Mains electricity by country”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence), retrieved 2026-09-29. Sockets in hotels can differ; the label on your charger (for example “INPUT 100–240V”) tells you which voltages it accepts.
Clothes for the weather
Rainfall Average temperature
January
Average
20 °C (69 °F)
Lows
15 °C (59 °F)
Highs
26 °C (79 °F)
Rain
165 mm (6.5 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
February
Average
21 °C (69 °F)
Lows
15 °C (59 °F)
Highs
27 °C (80 °F)
Rain
121 mm (4.8 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
March
Average
21 °C (69 °F)
Lows
15 °C (59 °F)
Highs
26 °C (80 °F)
Rain
169 mm (6.6 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
April
Average
21 °C (69 °F)
Lows
15 °C (59 °F)
Highs
26 °C (79 °F)
Rain
147 mm (5.8 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
May
Average
20 °C (69 °F)
Lows
15 °C (58 °F)
Highs
26 °C (79 °F)
Rain
93 mm (3.7 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
June
Average
20 °C (68 °F)
Lows
13 °C (56 °F)
Highs
26 °C (80 °F)
Rain
14 mm (0.5 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Usually dry.
July
Average
20 °C (67 °F)
Lows
12 °C (54 °F)
Highs
27 °C (80 °F)
Rain
5 mm (0.2 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Usually dry.
August
Average
21 °C (70 °F)
Lows
14 °C (56 °F)
Highs
28 °C (83 °F)
Rain
15 mm (0.6 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Usually dry.
September
Average
21 °C (71 °F)
Lows
14 °C (58 °F)
Highs
28 °C (83 °F)
Rain
61 mm (2.4 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
October
Average
21 °C (70 °F)
Lows
15 °C (59 °F)
Highs
28 °C (82 °F)
Rain
105 mm (4.1 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
November
Average
21 °C (69 °F)
Lows
15 °C (58 °F)
Highs
27 °C (80 °F)
Rain
167 mm (6.6 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
December
Average
20 °C (69 °F)
Lows
15 °C (59 °F)
Highs
26 °C (78 °F)
Rain
156 mm (6.2 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
National averages for 1991-2020. Coasts, mountains and regions can be very different, and any given year can be warmer, colder or wetter. Suggestions come from fixed rules based on these averages. Climate data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, observed climate data (CRU TS), CRU TS (cru_ts4.09), Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, CC BY 4.0 (licence).
Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality and change often, so Trip Rulebook does not summarise them. Each government explains the rules for its own citizens. If you travel on another passport, check with the embassy or the official immigration website of Burundi.
This page is guidance, not legal advice. Laws and advice change without notice and are written for each government's own citizens, so they may apply to you differently. Confirm everything with the official source before you travel. Terms of use.