Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort
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About
4.5
#1 of 1 hotels in RumongeLocation
4.6
Rooms
4.5
Value
3.9
Cleanliness
4.4
Service
4.3
Sleep Quality
4.4
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Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Trendy
Languages Spoken
English, French
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Beach
Snorkeling
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Meeting rooms
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Tennis court
Fishing
Shuttle bus service
Car hire
Spa
Massage
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Shared lounge / TV area
Room features
Private beach
Desk
Room service
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Bath / shower
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Location
Avenue Du Rumonge, Rumonge Burundi
Getting there
Bujumbura Intl Airport
38 mi•
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Traveler rating
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Detailed Reviews
Had a wonderful 4 night stay here with my husband and 3 teenage children. The food was fantastic (better than most restaurants in the capital Bujumbura), service was great - staff were helpful and always available to attend to our needs, and the manager Joseph was brilliant.
Even though the appalling road from Buja to Blue Bay has led to a drop in clients, the standards have remained high. To see staff sweeping the beach at 6am, even though there were only 2 families present, shows what a fantastic job the manager is doing.
We swam in the lake, sunbathed, had a bonfire on the beach and generally relaxed and switched off from normal life. The lack of televisions in the room meant that we all were happy to go out to the beach, rather than sit in the room watching movies. This was a definite plus! The WiFi was great and we got coverage on the beach as well as in our rooms.
The beds were sooooo comfy, which was fantastic. Our only suggestion would be if the owners would consider running a boat service from Buja to Blue Bay, so visitors didn't have to face all the potholes in order to get to the resort.
Even though the appalling road from Buja to Blue Bay has led to a drop in clients, the standards have remained high. To see staff sweeping the beach at 6am, even though there were only 2 families present, shows what a fantastic job the manager is doing.
We swam in the lake, sunbathed, had a bonfire on the beach and generally relaxed and switched off from normal life. The lack of televisions in the room meant that we all were happy to go out to the beach, rather than sit in the room watching movies. This was a definite plus! The WiFi was great and we got coverage on the beach as well as in our rooms.
The beds were sooooo comfy, which was fantastic. Our only suggestion would be if the owners would consider running a boat service from Buja to Blue Bay, so visitors didn't have to face all the potholes in order to get to the resort.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you're looking for a peaceful place to stay get a break, this is the place! It's a lovely resort right on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It's really quiet and nicely set out so it doesn't feel crowded and is well looked after and maintained. The rooms are very comfortable, really clean and the beds are great too. The WiFi in the rooms was really good. The bathrooms are the best I have come across in Burundi. The staff couldn't do enough to help and the customer service was without a doubt, the best I have come across - anywhere! The food was excellent too. We went out on the lake in one of the resort's boats and it was really beautiful to see along the shore from the lake. It felt very safe. I really couldn't fault anything and would thoroughly recommend it. As long as you're looking for peace and quiet it's perfect! I just wish we could have stayed for longer.
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Date of stay: January 2021
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Upper rooms offer beautiful views across the lake.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A few days out of town with family. We were very happy to stay at Tanganyika Bluebay Resort. Welcoming staff and very helpful manager Mr Gilbert. Nice location, clean beach. Although a pool is missing and may be some more activities for kids.
Wishing you the best for years to come. We will meet again soon.
Wishing you the best for years to come. We will meet again soon.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were the only guests during our midweek stay! We had an afternoon and a morning lake swim. The beach has disappeared as the lake is higher now. The WiFi quite flaky. The service was top notch. Setting up dinner on the small beach was no problem.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Book mid-week to avoid the swanky crowd from Bujumbura. You may be lucky and have the hotel to...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beautiful hotel with plenty of beach for swimming. Views are spectacular all around and food is delicious with many options. Staff are very welcoming and supportive at all times and provide excellent and expedient service. I would highly recommend this hotel!
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanganyika Blue Bay is about 1h15mn away from Bujumbura, which makes it an easy get-away at the week-end. The beach is nice and clean and you are given a mat on arrival. Do inquire about hippos or crocodiles, but usually staff are pretty good at monitoring the beach and keeping it out of bounds if there's any danger. The rooms are beautiful but way overpriced for the region (about 110-150 USD for a double). Worth calling beforehand and negotiating a rate before you get there.
Saying that, I have a big problem with the management. The manager is very friendly and will regularly come to greet you but is somehow lacking the imagination to improve his hotel. Service is a big let down. Sundays can get crowded and you may wait over 2 hours for your food (simple grilled fish) to arrive. Staff is poorly trained and is not given sufficient responsibility to make decisions in order to offer good service. Everything you ask for is "difficult".
Once we spent the night there, and while they usually can serve dinner on the pier (nice romantic touch), they refused to give us a table saying the manager had reserved the whole pier for his personal use. He only turned up 1h30 later, after we'd finished our dinner. Turns out he would have happily let us eat on the pier, but his staff was too scared to ask him.
Tanganyika Blue Bay has great potential but they should aim to do better. Until then it will remain a day get-away, but we won't be overnighting there anymore. It's just not worth the money they charge.
Saying that, I have a big problem with the management. The manager is very friendly and will regularly come to greet you but is somehow lacking the imagination to improve his hotel. Service is a big let down. Sundays can get crowded and you may wait over 2 hours for your food (simple grilled fish) to arrive. Staff is poorly trained and is not given sufficient responsibility to make decisions in order to offer good service. Everything you ask for is "difficult".
Once we spent the night there, and while they usually can serve dinner on the pier (nice romantic touch), they refused to give us a table saying the manager had reserved the whole pier for his personal use. He only turned up 1h30 later, after we'd finished our dinner. Turns out he would have happily let us eat on the pier, but his staff was too scared to ask him.
Tanganyika Blue Bay has great potential but they should aim to do better. Until then it will remain a day get-away, but we won't be overnighting there anymore. It's just not worth the money they charge.
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Date of stay: March 2012Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good hotels are few and far between in Burundi, especially out of Bujumbura. Blue Bay has tried to fill the gap, with a stunning location on Lake Tanganyika and well-spaced thatched buildings.
Unfortunately, it suffers from the lack of competition. Rooms are OK rustic-style, but under-furnished, with some good fittings mixed in with some obviously cheap work. The pricing is well above what you would pay in neighbouring countries for a similar quality. And sadly the management is currently awful. It can regularly take up to 4 hours to get food on a busy day, and the cooking (and breakfast) is average.
Electricity comes and goes, making minibars and AC redundant (and only some rooms are equipped with this anyway). Though waiters are generally friendly, training has not been thorough. A recent New Year's Eve stay with a promised barbecue (complete with $50 surcharge), had no barbecue, with no explanation. When challenged, the manager said that it was cancelled due to rain. As there had been no rain, he then said that it had been done in the kitchen instead, which was untrue. The hotel then tried to charge for the meals taken off the menu in the absence of the BBQ, only refunding the surcharge after a long argument.
This could be a great place, but the management needs to be quickly replaced by someone with an idea of the levels of quality provided in the region for the prices charged. Until then, stick to coming for the day with your own picnic.
Unfortunately, it suffers from the lack of competition. Rooms are OK rustic-style, but under-furnished, with some good fittings mixed in with some obviously cheap work. The pricing is well above what you would pay in neighbouring countries for a similar quality. And sadly the management is currently awful. It can regularly take up to 4 hours to get food on a busy day, and the cooking (and breakfast) is average.
Electricity comes and goes, making minibars and AC redundant (and only some rooms are equipped with this anyway). Though waiters are generally friendly, training has not been thorough. A recent New Year's Eve stay with a promised barbecue (complete with $50 surcharge), had no barbecue, with no explanation. When challenged, the manager said that it was cancelled due to rain. As there had been no rain, he then said that it had been done in the kitchen instead, which was untrue. The hotel then tried to charge for the meals taken off the menu in the absence of the BBQ, only refunding the surcharge after a long argument.
This could be a great place, but the management needs to be quickly replaced by someone with an idea of the levels of quality provided in the region for the prices charged. Until then, stick to coming for the day with your own picnic.
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Date of stay: December 2011Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very good service and nice people. Easy access from the city and enough to "feel away". A mix of modern and classic environment...
Prices are good and and there is flexibility and a good range of choices...
Prices are good and and there is flexibility and a good range of choices...
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Date of stay: September 2017Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The manager Joseph was highly excellent at his job. When we first arrived, it was around 7pm, and we didn't think we would get a room in such short notice. But Joseph got us a room that we can all stay in (triple room). The room we stayed in accommodated me and my two friends. Joseph also made sure that the following day, we could get a free room after checkout time, as we wanted to stay longer at Blue Bay (to swim in the lake) before our return to the city.
The service was extremely outstanding, whether we were at the restaurant or in our rooms, the staff was super friendly and ensured that all of our requests were answered promptly.
The food was fantastic, from the breakfast menu, lunch and dinner, all of our meals were the best I've had in the region so far. Tips: a must try: Mukeke as well as their chicken brochette!
The service was extremely outstanding, whether we were at the restaurant or in our rooms, the staff was super friendly and ensured that all of our requests were answered promptly.
The food was fantastic, from the breakfast menu, lunch and dinner, all of our meals were the best I've had in the region so far. Tips: a must try: Mukeke as well as their chicken brochette!
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Date of stay: July 2017Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Choose a room that is in close proximity to the restaurant:)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed here in June 2013. The location is wonderful; rooms are nice and food was great. Property is quiet and relaxing.
Management is VERY poor!!! I had a reservation but we arrived very late by local standards - 8PM. The reception area was dark and left unattended. It took us about 20 minutes to locate anyone who was working at the hotel. It also took forever to check into my room. I ended up switching rooms which added another hour to the process - the room I finally got was allegedly ready - however, several items were left from previous guests on the floor - an empty bottle of beer and some clothing. The waiter/person showing me my room was intoxicated - I could smell the alcohol on him as well as seeing him sway from side to side while he was walking - to his credit, he was very accommodating and nice though.
The next morning I requested to eat breakfast at 7AM as I had to leave early. The staff members did not arrive until 7:20AM which was too late for me - I had to leave without eating at the hotel.
I am not sure I would return - only if management made some major changes! For the price one should expect a lot more even in a developing country! Otherwise, lower the rates and I wouldn't have complained about the service.
Management is VERY poor!!! I had a reservation but we arrived very late by local standards - 8PM. The reception area was dark and left unattended. It took us about 20 minutes to locate anyone who was working at the hotel. It also took forever to check into my room. I ended up switching rooms which added another hour to the process - the room I finally got was allegedly ready - however, several items were left from previous guests on the floor - an empty bottle of beer and some clothing. The waiter/person showing me my room was intoxicated - I could smell the alcohol on him as well as seeing him sway from side to side while he was walking - to his credit, he was very accommodating and nice though.
The next morning I requested to eat breakfast at 7AM as I had to leave early. The staff members did not arrive until 7:20AM which was too late for me - I had to leave without eating at the hotel.
I am not sure I would return - only if management made some major changes! For the price one should expect a lot more even in a developing country! Otherwise, lower the rates and I wouldn't have complained about the service.
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Date of stay: June 2013Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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"Book mid-week to avoid the swanky crowd from Bujumbura. You may be lucky and have the hotel to yourself, as we did."Read full review
"ASK FOR ONE AT THE TOP FLOOR VIEWING THE LAKE, The view is out of this world especially at sunset"Read full review
LOCATION
BurundiBururi ProvinceRumonge
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort
What are some of the property amenities at Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Does Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort have airport transportation?
Yes, Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are pets allowed at Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and French.
Does Tanganyika Blue Bay Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the lake view available here.