Check with the embassy or the official channel responsible for your country before you buy tickets, because the requirements vary by nationality and can change. Ask specifically about how to apply, the supporting documents, passport validity, and any vaccination certificate you must present on entry. Keep the paperwork both as a file and as a printout, because you may be asked for it at the border at a moment when you have no signal.

The distance is short but the road climbs onto the plateau in tight bends, so allow around two to three hours depending on road and weather conditions, and longer in heavy rain. Leave in the morning so you are not driving after dark. Signal drops in and out through the valleys along the way, so download the map beforehand and let the place you are staying know roughly when to expect you.

Burundian franc cash still runs daily life. Some larger hotels in Bujumbura accept cards, but ordinary shops, markets and short local journeys are cash. ATMs are concentrated in the bigger towns, so withdraw and break the money into smaller notes before heading out to the provinces, and keep a reserve for days when the banking system or the power supply has a problem.

Outages happen and usually take the accommodation's Wi-Fi with them, while the mobile network often comes back first, so having data on the phone keeps you contactable. Carry at least one power bank, charge everything whenever the power is on, and keep documents, tickets and maps saved on the device so you are not depending on a connection during the hours when the electricity has not yet returned.

Most plans here start when the phone first connects to a network at the destination, so you can install in advance at home and switch it on after landing. Each plan page states its own rule.

No. The eSIM is a second line, so you keep your home number for SMS OTP. Turn off roaming data on the home line and set the eSIM as the data line.