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Burundi

 
Author elsslots
Admin
#1 | Posted: 14 Apr 2023 03:16 
Request from a traveller who wants to visit the TWHS of Burundi shortly: can someone provide the correct location for "La capitale royale de Mbuye"?

It's part of this TWHS: https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5143
The current spot doesn't seem to point to anything specific on Google Maps.

Author Solivagant
Partaker
#2 | Posted: 14 Apr 2023 06:14 | Edited by: Solivagant 
The best info I have been able to find is in this Petitfute page -
"In fact, four hills had this somewhat peculiar status of "capital", at least under King Mwezi Gisabo (19th century): Muramvya, Bukeye, Mbuye and Kiganda. On each of these hills lived a king's wife that he visited regularly, and he could also celebrate the feast of the muganuro.
Muramvya and Bukeye are the most accessible of these old "capitals" (paved roads, RN 2 or RN 1 from Bugarama). They are connected between them by an old track that makes a shortcut while avoiding Bugarama, but it is very bad. Mbuye and Kiganda are on both sides of the RN 2, taking the tracks in Gatabo. You can have a panoramic view of all these sites from a large flat of the RN 2, a few kilometers after Muramvya."


Quite why the T List description "majors" on Mbuye from among the 4 isn't clear when the site title refers to another of the 4 at Muramvya! The T List text also mentions all 4 - "Les principales capitales politiques se retrouvaient dans l'actuelle province de Muramvya notamment à Mbuye, à Muramvya, à Bukeye et à Kiganda"

Our current "dot" for Mbuye seems reasonably, if not exactly correctly, positioned but I can find nothing to help with identifying a more accurate location. The T List text states "le domaine est entouré des collines Kiziba au sud, Buyaga à l'est, Iteka au nord, Mbuye à l'ouest. The map on this site provides a bit more info on these hills - but still doesn't identify the actual Domaine of Mbuye! See (scroll down) - https://en.advisor.travel/city/Mbuye-159356

But we could have chosen the Palace at Muramvya which is specifically identified on Google Maps at -3.262979, 29.621087 !!!

Kiganda is also specifically identified as being the site of the Treaty of Kiganda - -3.346910, 29.686176 See here for info on Kiganda
I would have thought that the above would provide enough info to someone going to Burundi - going to Muramvya along RN2 will take one through Gatabo and locals could provide better info once there if reaching Mbuye was particularly important among the 4 locations??

Author elsslots
Admin
#3 | Posted: 14 Apr 2023 07:37 | Edited by: elsslots 
Thank you Solivagant. It indeed seems reasonable to add the locations of the Palace at Muramvya and the site in Kiganda.

Furthermore, I don't think the tentative site description should be read as a list of 4 locations. Burundi supplied only 1 set of coordinates, which covers a fairly large area. And as the site is labelled as a cultural landscape and following the narrative about the kings moving around, that's not strange. So if I wanted to visit this TWHS I'd zoom in on 1 or 2 more notable & tangible parts. The Palace at Muramvya could be one of them, another one could be one of the tombs (for which we don't have accurate locations either). Will scout around for the tombs a bit more and report back....

>> Petit futé has an entry on the necropolis of Mpotsa as well: https://www.petitfute.co.uk/v48519-mwaro/c1173-visites-points-d-interet/c933-cimetiere-memorial/c936-necropole-catacombes/696222-la-necropole-et-la-foret-sacree-de-mpotsa.html

Author elsslots
Admin
#4 | Posted: 14 Apr 2023 09:20 | Edited by: elsslots 

Author Solivagant
Partaker
#5 | Posted: 14 Apr 2023 15:12 | Edited by: Solivagant 
elsslots:
There's a photo available of what it looks now (better not expect a grand royal palace):

There is a replica apparently..... Reminds me very much of the art Deco "palace" In Butare Rwanda where there is also a traditional replica!
https://twitter.com/MagazineJimbere/status/1334405017349058561?lang=kn

Author Zoe
Partaker
#6 | Posted: 10 Jan 2024 16:39 
Interesting this was discussed before as I tried to visit but the palace is surely not what they wanted to inscribe by itself and the adjacent tomb doesn't add much either. I wrote an odd review for this odd tentative site. If anyone wants to visit this place they will need a guide who actually knows about it and I somehow doubt that exists.

Author Zoe
Partaker
#7 | Posted: 10 Jan 2024 17:10 
Some tips for traveling Burundi which was one the most surprising places to visit

* Change money at the forex in town. Like Iran and until recently Argentina (still somehow) the official rate is fixed and you get a lot more francs for your hard currency. The country is already dead cheap but this on top is just crazy.
* Taxis from the airport are pricey and fixed, not much you can do about it. You can ask the hotel to pick you up for slightly less. Buses from the airport road are possible but with luggage it's problematic
* $40 transit visa for 3 days (officially 72h but nobody will count and only care about the dates) is enough to see everything. $90 for 3 months is your alternative
* Yellow fever vaccine is required, checked on boarding but not in Burundi itself, but obviously you'll need it in other countries after Burundi if they check your stamps
* I highly recommend you are brave and bus around. It's cheap, easy and gets you everywhere. I left my large backpack at the hotel in town and just blended in as much as I can, supplying the bus with a bunch of bananas
* Renting a car is possible but pricey (quoted $80 without a driver and 4WD wouldn't be necessary in the end anyway), just a burden. Roads are surprisingly good and petrol isn't cheap but nothing compared to our Western prices. Police checkpoint are a problem as they tend to want money.
* SIM card must be bought in town at the headquarters but for 3 days I didn't bother
* Country is super friendly and safe (but for a small area northeast which you won't visit)
* Some people speak French well though hotels will know good English nowadays too and I got by easily. Rundi is the official language but most people still understand Swahili (not that I think you can?!)
* Get used to be called Mzungu everywhere and all the time, just smile and they will be happy to het attention
* Unlike e.g. Mozambique there are NO security guards needed at hotels and they leave the doors wide open. No concern, and the local kids will not follow you into the hotel area knowing their place. A simple "no" tells vendors you are not interested and they leave you alone for good.
* Areas outside of Bujumbura have no mosquitoes so you really only need deed/repellent in the capital

In 3 days I covered Ruzizi delta (+lake), Kibira NP ( best of the bunch), the odd royal sites and the Gishora Drum sanctuary intangible site. If you do spend more time then Bururi NP is supposed to be great.

Best part though: having some warm banana lunch at Cotebu bus stop with 5 MPs drinking beers next to me and chatting in a mix of English and French. Let's hope those MP4s aren't loaded guys! (It's safe, it's just funny to see that, wow)

Author christravelblog
Partaker
#8 | Posted: 13 Oct 2024 13:31 
Zoe:
Some tips for traveling Burundi which was one the most surprising places to visit

Thank you for the tips. I probably go 5 days and will try to visit a bit more. I'm thinking of selfdrive, but might also take a driver.

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