Living Museum of Bujumbura, Zoo and cultural museum in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The Living Museum of Bujumbura is a zoo and museum occupying a 3-hectare park on rue du 13 Octobre in downtown Bujumbura. Its collection includes six crocodiles, a leopard, two chimpanzees, a monkey, three guinea fowls, a tortoise, an antelope, snakes and fish. The park holds several tree species and a reconstruction of a traditional Burundian house, the rugo, while Burundian craftsmen keep workshops on the premises.
Founded in 1977, the Living Museum of Bujumbura is one of Burundi's two public museums. Visitor numbers fell sharply after the 2015 Burundian unrest, which also reduced tourism nationwide. The museum occupies a 3-hectare park on rue du 13 Octobre in downtown Bujumbura.
Artisans work in workshops on the grounds, crafting traditional items that visitors can watch being made and purchase directly. This living craft tradition shows how local knowledge and skills remain active today.
The museum occupies a 3-hectare park on rue du 13 Octobre in downtown Bujumbura, so it can be reached on foot from the city centre. The grounds hold animal enclosures, a reconstructed rugo house and craftsmen's workshops, all visited on foot. Visitor numbers dropped sharply after the 2015 unrest, so some areas may be less maintained than expected.
The grounds feature a reconstructed traditional Burundian house called rugo, which demonstrates historical dwelling practices. Within this building and surrounding enclosures, visitors can observe leopards, chimpanzees, crocodiles, and regional snake species.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,626 contributors worldwide.