Bururi, Burundi

With a population of over 574,000, Bururi is no sleepy backwater. But this former provincial capital in southeastern Burundi has seen its fair share of political turmoil, producing three consecutive presidents since independence. The Bururi Forest Nature Reserve offers a glimpse of the country's natural beauty, while the Ruvyironza River, a source of the Nile, flows through the region. However, bureaucratic headaches are a persistent fact of life here, and the province's history of military leadership may give some would-be expats pause. Overall, Bururi is best suited for those seeking an authentic, if administratively challenging, taste of Burundi.