My recent visit to Burundi took me from Bujumbura to Kobero, the border between the country and Tanzania.

The drive there took about four hours. Burundi is a hilly country and the narrow roads wind up the slopes.

Unlike the other East African countries, Burundians drive on the right, which left me thinking that the driver was constantly overtaking.

The country has a lot of green vegetation and plenty of food. There were women and men selling bananas, avocados, cooked cassava, maize, and sweet potatoes by the roadside. Our driver informed us that it rains every week and I questioned reports that rank Burundi poorly in terms of hunger and malnutrition.

It seems that without outside markets, the food they produce does not generate any revenue for the country.

We stopped to buy some ripe bananas: Ten of them cost us just $0.2.

Burundians are warm and hospitable people. As we drove to the border, the driver filled us in on the country all the way to the hotel. Burundians mostly speak Kirundi and Kiswahili.

Many of the women keep their hair short, slightly longer at the front, similar to the hairstyles of the Rwandan and Ugandan First Ladies.

When I asked the driver why their ladies prefer the short hair style, he said it is cheaper to maintain and their men don’t have to give them money for the salon!

Burundi high schools do not allow girls to plait or keep their hair long, and many prefer to leave it that way even after finishing school.

The hotel at the border was a moderate lodging and very clean. The rooms were spacious with large wardrobes, tables and chairs.

The reception was good and I enjoyed the two days I spent there.