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Gitega — travel, stays & events guide
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Gitega, BurundiOpen-Meteo forecast.
Gitega city overview
Gitega, formerly Kitega, is the political capital of Burundi. Located in the centre of the country, in the Burundian central plateau roughly 62 kilometres (39 mi) east of Bujumbura, the largest city and former political capital, Gitega is the country's fourth largest city and former royal capital of the Kingdom of Burundi until its abolition in 1966.
City facts
Known forGitega, Capital city of Burundi, Gitega planning base 3, Gitega planning base 4
RegionBurundiBurundi
Time zoneAfrica/Bujumburalocal time
Founded1912historical origin
City history
The Germans laid out the plan for the modern town of Gitega in 1912 when Burundi was part of German East Africa.
Gitega was at one time the seat of the Kingdom of Burundi and remained as capital of the kings of Burundi (mwami) until 1966.
In March 2007, President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza announced that Burundi was planning to bring back its capital city to Gitega, saying that it is in a better location for a capital than Bujumbura.
On 24 December 2018, it was announced by Nkurunziza that Gitega was to become the capital city of Burundi, pending only Parliament approval.
The expected parliamentary assent (given the President's CNDD-FFD party comfortable majority in both chambers) arrived through a vote on 16 January 2019, with some ministries already starting the move two days later.
On 7 December 2021, a fire broke out in an overcrowded prison in Gitega, killing at least 38 and injuring more than 69.
Worth seeing
Gitega
Gitega is a practical Gitega planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital city of Burundi
Capital city of Burundi is a practical Gitega planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Gitega planning base 3
Gitega planning base 3 is a practical Gitega planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Gitega planning base 4
Gitega planning base 4 is a practical Gitega planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Gitega planning base 5
Gitega planning base 5 is a practical Gitega planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Gitega planning base 6
Gitega planning base 6 is a practical Gitega planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Gitega before booking Gitega hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Gitega by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Gitega, BurundiFlights & airports
Main airport TBC arrival plan
- Gitega airport accessMain gateway TBC.
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Rental cars
Gitega day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
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Transport notes
Choose a base around the trips you will repeat most: airport, station, old town, waterfront, venue district or day-trip route.
Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
No upcoming Gitega events in the shared event index yet.