.png "English"){kind=small}
Tiny
Burundi is an incongruous mix of soaring mountains, languid lakeside
communities and a tragic past blighted by ethnic conflict. Despite
troubles Burundians have an irrepressible joie de vivre, and their smiles are as infectious as a rhythm laid down by a Les Tambourinaires drummer.
When
civil war broke out in 1993, the economy was destroyed and the tourist
industry succumbed to a quick death. The war tragically lasted until
2005, and after it ended the country eventually began to receive a
trickle of travellers, particularly the steamy capital. Bujumbura has a
lovely location on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, and just outside the
city are some of the finest inland beaches on the continent. Many of
the upcountry attractions, however, have continued to be off limits,
including the southernmost source of the Nile and the ancient forest of
Parc National de la Kibira.
The
new peace came to a shattering end in 2015 when President Nkurunziza
decided to run for what many Burundians believed to be a
constitution-breaking third term in office. Violence broke out before
the election, and has escalated since. In November 2015 the UN –
fearing a Rwandan-style genocide – adopted a resolution condemning the
situation, which paves the way for international peacekeepers. The
entire country is now considered a no-go area for travellers. It's
hoped the situation calms and peace prevails.
Beautiful
Burundi has been blighted by a generation of ethnic conflict, but with
the advent of peace, this charming country may at long last be able to
put its dark past to rest. A tiny little nation of soaring mountains
and languid lakeside communities, Burundi is sandwiched between the
African giants of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Tanzania.
The scenery is stunning and the welcome warm, and it may once again
begin to receive a trickle of travellers as the word gets out that the
war is over.The steamy capital Bujumbura has a lovely location on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and just outside the city are some of the finest inland beaches on the continent. Ask the old Africa hands about Burundi before the war, and it is the sort of place they go misty-eyed about and hark back to the life of the lotus-eaters. Sadly there has been no lotus-eating for most Burundians during more than a decade of violence.
Many of the upcountry attractions have been off limits for years, but the stunning scenery and warmth of the Burundians more than compensates. Choose from the southernmost source of the Nile, the ancient forest of Parc National de la Kibira or the spot where Stanley was reputed to have uttered those timeless words ‘Dr Livingstone I presume?’.
Intertribal tensions have devastated the country since independence in 1962 and there is always a chance things could kick off again. It is a young peace, so make sure you do your homework before embarking on an adventure in Burundi.
Show in Lonely Planet
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий