Gitega is one of Burundi's oldest and most important cities. It sits about 1,600 metres above sea level in the central highlands, so the air is fresh and cool. From the hilltops you can see rolling green ridges stretching in every direction — Burundi is sometimes called the 'country of a thousand hills', and Gitega sits right among them.
The National Museum of Gitega holds a wonderful collection of traditional objects: drums, baskets, costumes, and tools that show how people in Burundi have lived for hundreds of years. School groups visit to learn about the royal drums of Burundi, ancient crafts, and the stories behind everyday objects.
Gitega is also a centre for artisans — people who make things by hand. Craftspeople here weave beautiful baskets with intricate geometric patterns using local grasses and fibres. These baskets are so fine and elegant that they are given as gifts at important ceremonies and are sold to visitors from all over the world.