Travelling makes people refreshing their mind; some people go further and make it a matter of life.
Allyssa Ramos is part of a huge community of travelers from outside of Burundi, who made travelling a matter of life, and has joined Gisabo Tours a local tourism company, pioneer of domestic tourism development in Burundi which has served hundreds of tourists from in and out of Burundi, to fulfill their discovery dreams.
That 25th of June in the afternoon, the whole team was alerted. “An important social Media Influencer from the United States is about to come.”
Face lit and delighted to have a new guest, one among the representatives announced.
The team got ready to go to the International Airport of Bujumbura (NDADAYE Melchior of the name) to welcome her. Actually in Gisabo Tours we are always thrilled to receive people, take them to strategic points and historic landmarks. As an experienced tour company, caring and valuing clients is part of our DNA.
You could be amazed to see how we were all rushing, smiling, chatting cheerfully preparing ourselves to meet the new encounter.
The real dazzling point in this entire story was not to receive a new guest and make her visit Burundi, but the rank. That position she was in, that category of people who have travelled many countries around the globe she was classified in.
“She possesses a good agenda, she made it in 118 countries” the same representative notified.
One among us, the best tourists guide sighed. She maybe thought how best Allyssa Ramos was to judge the “not good” or “good” hospitality, but, no worries we were ready and confident as usual to do our best.
Gisabo Tours owns the best tourist guides who have sound knowledge from culture to history and natural aspects about Burundi and its different regions. Gisabo Tours with its guide has visited numerous places in Burundi to find different strategic points that may please the tourists and win their hearts, the thing that leads Gisabo Tours to be the best company in Burundi at guiding tourists.
We shortly made it to the airport with our best driver; a cool wind from the globally known Lake Tanganyika blew on our face with our eyes craving to see our guest. The emotion grew larger rapidly; a storm of people covered the whole airport. We had to hold our sign on which we had written her name so that she could easily spot us.
Our photographer was ready, sneaking in the crowd to get closer to the exit door so that he could take first impression pictures of Allyssa Ramos. There was no chance he could miss this tremendous globetrotter, he was holding tight his camera and jostling with people to not miss that golden occasion.
Gisabo Tours sets everything in place ahead of time to ensure comfort of the visitors. Besides the best guides, it has the best photographers to immortalize the magic moments through their peculiar touches.
She finally showed up by 6PM, we got closer and warmly greeted her, she is super adorable woman, kind and confident. We took some pictures with her as a long journey with Gisabo Tours was about to take up.
It was then time to escort her to the hotel, we went to one established beside the road from the airport (Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika). That was one of her choice among a bunch of hotels on the lake shores despite its high prices. She later drove to Bora Bora beach which was her favorite beach that she never regretted of her experience in Burundi. For your information, Bora Bora beach has been a famous beach in Burundi for a couple of years ago.
We were early the next morning, we rushed to our office and pick all the needed things for special tours. The driver was ready to set off and promised to offer the best driving experience in the gorgeous landscapes and green vegetation.
The urban tourism in Burundi represents a minor influence on people coming from abroad, but the rural one is the backbone in tourism industry in Burundi and impresses tourists, as countless Burundi historic landmarks prevail over the rural zones.
As Burundi has important historical sites and good landscapes, Gisabo Tours had taken an opportunity to make a list of different touristic sites to suggest to tourists the best ones according to their choices. We hold the best and impressing places for tourists.
How far we went in up country’s area?
It was really amazing, the weather outside of Bujumbura and there are some of the experiences recorded so far with the guest.
We first drove up to Rutana Povince precisely to Karera waterfalls crossing Jenda, Mwaro, Matana and Rutovu and all these places have both cultural and historical resonance. Karera waterfalls is among the best places that our tourists linger in to enjoy.
Ramos was as well pleased by the entertaining scene of those streams flowing on rocks downwards, watching the natural falls, the sound of water and different animals. Green vegetation and landscapes create a home experience and relief, no matter how long the drive between Bujumbura and the destination is.
The five waterfalls attract all the tourists whether the natives or the foreigners. They have good greenery on all sides and an amazing long bridge that helps to watch some of the falls from up, the landscapes and the perfect view on the bridge.
The massive rocks paint the nature and allow people walk on them as they move to different falls but requires to be more careful. We strolled the place and took some pictures for memory and therefore moved on, after a delicious meal at Perroquet Hotel.
Our next stop was Gishora, and what can we know about Gishora?
First of all, let’s talk how people from there are so polite when it comes to receiving guests. Meanwhile, you better have to know that Burundians are very welcoming and this is inherited from generations far away and from their culture.
They were ready to take us through “The Drum Sanctuary”. Gishora is considered to be the Drum Sanctuary whereby tourists can learn and fully dive in Burundian tradition around Royal Drum and its history in addition to a breathtaking performance. They are well-mannered, beating the drums, smiling to us, yearning to show the best of themselves through a cocktail of drumbeats and dances.
Gishora is located in Gitega province (center of the country) exactly in Giheta commune and this is the most common stop for every tourist, as it holds the most incredible stories of what really Burundi is. It talks a lot about royal history in particular and Burundian culture in general. It’s less than 15minutes drive from Gitega, the political capital of Burundi.
We were able to drive to Teza where we enjoyed the breathtaking view of the massive tea farms, still Alyssa was enjoying the places and took images for souvenir and for content on her most visited social platforms.
She had also a special moment to participate with us in a Burundian dowry event where Burundian culture is also shown through the speeches and certain practices that take place there in a Burundian cultural way.
Weddings and dowries feast are among events that bring people together during week-ends as it is mainly on weekends that Burundians are celebrating.
By Yves Ruserukanineza