BORDER CROSSING IN UGANDA, RWANDA AND CONGO

Border crossing in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo : While planning a combined East Africa safari to Uganda Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, it is always necessary to know about different border point and how to go about it in regarding to opening hours and the necessary documents to enable you cross over from one country to another.

Crossing from one country to another may be a hectic experience to several tourists but obviously one has to endure the hustle to achieve the set goals.

For instance, crossing the Congo border might be the most tiring thing since the country has faced a lot of challenges ranging from political insecurities to pandemic threats like Ebola and many more which all make the entire process of border crossing more stressing. However, am not scaring you away but only to let you know that at some border points, the systems used in clearances are not efficient thus expect to spend some time in the process of border crossing.

Cyangugu border
Cyangugu border

Rwanda Congo border crossing

Goma border point: Goma border is the most common used for tourist heading to and from Kigali Rwanda to Virunga national park and Kahuzi Beiga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo to either participate in Gorilla trekking or mount Nyiragongo hike. Goma border point is the main entrance to the eastern part of Congo where most of the tourist activities are conducted connecting Goma city to Gisenyi town.

The key to crossing over from Rwanda into Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is a Congo Visa. One must acquire a Congo tourist visa to be allowed to cross into this country. This visa should be acquired in advance either online which is abit implicated unlike obtaining a Rwanda or Uganda visa. However, you can as well obtain your Congo Visa through trusted tour operators like Achieve Global Safaris, Focus East Africa Tours and Explore Rwanda Tours. We have always helped our clients to enjoy their adventures in Democratic Republic of Congo hustle-free by helping them to acquire the visa and plan the entire safari.

Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Trekking

A Congo visa goes for $105 per person and the moment on crosses over into Congo, they will require a Rwanda visa to return to Rwanda. Another requirement for Goma border crossing is the certificate of Yellow fever vaccination thus no one is allowed to cross into Congo via Goma Border point without proof that they have been vaccinated against Yellow fever. So a Congo visa and a yellow fever card are the key documents for Goma border crossing.

It is very easy to get to Goma border crossing point by road. Upon landing at Kigali international airport in Rwanda, one may choose to take a private mean or public means to Gisenyi which is the nearest town to Goma. Using a tour operator is always the best option. Border crossing at Goma border post closes at 10:00pm.

Cyangugu border : This is yet another border used by tourist who wish to combine a Rwanda and Congo adventure. This border is less used unlike Goma border. This border is used by tourists who intend to explore the south western part of Democratic Republic of Congo since it is situated along the southern side of Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is the best place for relaxation thus those who use Cyangugu border is always used by such travelers on a leisure safari.

Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Trekking

Rwanda Uganda border crossing points

Uganda the pearl of Africa can as well be easily accessed from Rwanda the land of a thousand hills especially by road drive. In most cases, tourists who wish to explore the south western part of Uganda usually fly into Kigali Rwanda and connect on a road transport to the habitat of endangered mountain gorillas either to Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park. Other destinations accessed from Kigali Rwanda include Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda, Queen Elizabeth national park and many more. Border crossing between Uganda and Rwanda is kind of easier than that of Congo border crossing.

All you need is a valid passport, visa and a certificate of Yellow fever vaccination for international tourists. However for East Africans, you need to display your national identity card and that’s all.

There are 2 majorly used Uganda Rwanda border crossing points and these include Cyanika border and Katuna border.

Cyanika border point: This is the mostly used border point for tourists who wish to connect Rwanda to southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park or any other destination in Kisoro district. Cyanika border is situated in Kisoro in the part of Uganda and Burera for the Rwanda side where the twin lakes of Burela and Ruhondo are found. Being the closet border to the southern part of Bwindi and as well closer to Mgahinga gorilla national park, Cyanika border point is the most used border point for tourists who wish to enjoy gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali.

Cyanika border
Cyanika border

Cyanika border point is as well closer to Volcanoes national park thus combining a gorilla trekking safari in both Uganda and Rwanda is very easy. Being in East Africa community member states, it is very easy to explore both Uganda and Rwanda using an East Africa tourist visa other than obtaining 2 different visas for both Uganda and Rwanda. Cyanika border point is open on a daily starting from 5:00am for Rwandan side and 6:00am in Uganda since Uganda is one hour ahead of Rwanda.

Katuna border point: This is as well known as Gatuna border by the Rwandese so while in Uganda, you will hear Katuna and as long as you cross over into Rwanda you hear of Gatuna but worry not whichever name, the border still remains one.  Katuna/ Gatuna border is a very busy entry point that connects Uganda and Rwanda. It is used by both tourists and the goods crossing between the 2 countries. While in Uganda, Katuna border thrills in Kabale district and in Rwanda it is in Gichumbi.

Unlike Cyanika border which has opening and closing hours, Katuna/ Gatuna border points is always open 24 hours. You as well need to present valid and clear travel documents as required by the immigration office except for Ugandans and Rwandese who only need to show their national Identity cards to cross through Katuna/ Gatuna border point.