the map village street editors

Burundi, the 9th poorest African country, is certainly not overly rich in wealth and resources. And perhaps it is precisely for this reason the eco-resort Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika, in Bujumbura, has as its operational philosophy “mas con menos” or “the most with the least”. To put “the least” into context, as per information from the CIA World Fact Book: 68% of its 8.7 million people live below the “poverty line”; 6% of the 6.4 children born per every female, die at birth; and a further 6% of the population has HIV. Only one in two children go to school. The country continues to recover from an ethnic-based war that lasted for over a decade resulting in more than 200,000 deaths. In fact, current Travel Advice by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs states that “Since 17 April 2008, rebels and government soldiers have engaged in fighting just outside of Bujumbura. If you are in Burundi you should consider leaving unless you have compelling reasons to stay.” Suffice to say, Burundi may not likely be on the top of your list of potential tourist destinations. However, a voluntary drive led by a group of passionate returnees, in a project dubbed “Burundi, the beating heart of Africa,” is reviving what used to be the biggest travel destination in central Africa. Continue reading ‘“mas con menos”’