How easy is crossing Rwanda Boarder?
Crossing Uganda-Rwanda Boarder
If you have the right paperwork and know the protocols, crossing the Uganda-Rwanda border is not too difficult. Katuna and Cyanika are the most often used crossing places. The process is made easier with the East African Tourist Visa. Residents with special work permits and citizens of East Africa can enter with only their national identification.
A closer view is provided here:
Records: You must have a valid passport. The East African Tourist Visa simplifies the procedure of obtaining a visa, which is usually required for tourists.
Crossing Points: Cyanika is a well-liked destination for travelers going to Kisoro's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Another popular border crossing is Katuna.
East African Citizens: A national identity card is adequate for East Africans.
Visa: You will need to get a visa for Rwanda or Uganda if you are not an East African national. At the border, you can typically obtain a visa upon arrival.
Time: If you have the proper paperwork and are traveling during off-peak hours, crossing the border can be completed quickly.
Yellow Fever: Visitors from other countries should possess a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Crossing borders for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda
You must be ready to cross borders at some time if you intend to go on safari in more than one African nation. This can be a stressful affair, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the various nations' immigration laws. Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda are still in the process of developing. The technology and existing structures make it impossible to handle border crossings efficiently.
In Congo, border crossings are made more difficult and time-consuming by insecurity and even the fear of Ebola. This is not to imply that it is not pleasant to cross the borders in these nations. Simply put, the methods and procedures may be the most effective on a certain day.
Rwanda and Congo Border crossing: Goma's border opening hours
The border post in Goma
Tourists traveling to Virunga and Kahuzi Biega National Park to summit Mount Nyiragongo or go gorilla trekking use the Goma border crossing. Additionally, this border station serves as a vital commerce route between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Goma border station is located in the towns of Gisenyi and Goma in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Travelers who intend to visit Congo's game parks must arrange to obtain a Congo VISA beforehand and provide their tour operator with information about their itinerary. Travelers find it more difficult to obtain a Congolese visa than those for Rwanda or Uganda. To get things done first, a tour operator can assist with the Congo VISA processing. The tourist must submit their passport information and trip dates in order for the VISA to be processed. The tour operator can then work with the park and Congolese authorities to expedite the processing of the documents. It is crucial to remember that travelers must present their yellow fever vaccination card in addition to their VISA. Crossing the border is simple after all the paperwork is in order and your VISA has been approved. Keep your yellow immunization certificate with you at all times. If you do not have the card, the border officials will not let you cross. There aren't many locations outside of Africa where you can get the shots. In order to schedule an appointment in advance, you must first identify one.
You will not be permitted to cross the Congo-Rwanda border without these documents.
You can process the VISA online yourself or have your tour operator do it for you if you intend to board a chartered flight from Kigali, Rwanda, or Kampala, Uganda. You might be asked for additional papers, such as your airline schedules, hotel reservations, and safari-related arrangements, if you want to apply for the Congo VISA on your own. The Congo VISA can be obtained by downloading the application forms from the website of the Congo Embassy. You can email the relevant Congolese Embassy if you have trouble finding the forms. The cost of a Congo VISA is $105.
Reaching the border crossing at Goma
You must take a taxi or public bus from Kigali to Gisenyi if you are already in Rwanda. The town closest to the Congo Border post is Gisenyi. The majority of tourists are picked up by their tour operator at the airport or at a hotel in Kigali.
Note: At 10:00 p.m., the Goma border post shuts.
Cyangugu border
Another point of entry into Rwanda is located in the southwest region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in addition to the Goma border crossing. The southern portion of Lake Kivu is where the Cyangugu border is located. The administrative center of the Rusizi district is Cyangugu. Tourists who have come to unwind on the stunning shores of Lake Kivu before continuing on to other activities in Congo use the Cyangugu border crossing, which is less crowded than the Goma border station. A bridge across the River Rusizi must be crossed in order to cross this boundary.
Hours of operation for the Cyanika border post
The Cyanika border crossing receives more tourists and individual travelers than the Gatuna border station, although being less crowded. This is because it links two of Africa's most important tourist destinations. This border crossing is situated in the Rwandan district of Burera and the Ugandan district of Kisoro. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located in Kisoro. The Cyanika border checkpoint is the most dependable for those who have reservations for gorilla trekking in Bwindi. It is nearer the Rushaga area, which is Bwindi National Park's most frequented area.
Mgahinga National Park, which is Cyanika Border Postfamous for its three stunning volcanoes, mountain gorillas, and golden monkey trekking, is also very close to Kisoro. Like Kisoro, Burera town in Rwanda is a popular tourist destination. It boasts two stunning twin lakes, Lake Burera and Ruhondo. The village is near the Volcanoes National Park, which is well-known for its hiking mountains like Karisimbi, the Musanze caves, and gorilla trekking. If you have the necessary paperwork, crossing this border is not too difficult. If you are a tourist, you should have an East African tourist visa. If not, you might be required to obtain a Rwandan or Ugandan VISA.
Everything appears so clear-cut and easy with the East African VISA. In Rwanda or Uganda, you can be requested for your address or the contact details of the person you are visiting in addition to the visa. You will receive a stamp on your passport and cross the border once all paperwork and information has been confirmed. Stricter regulations apply on the Rwandan side of the border, where you may be asked to turn in your bags for inspection.
The Cyanika border opens at 6:00 am Uganda time and 5:00 am Rwanda time, so please take note of this. Thus, unlike the Katuna border, Cyanika is not open twenty-four hours a day.