Gorilla Trekking Safaris Across Uganda, Rwanda and Congo Borders: If your plans are arranging a safari in more than one African country, you must be prepared to cross borders at some time. This journey might be difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with the immigration regulations of the various nations. Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo are all developing countries. Border crossing management is inefficient due to existing infrastructure and technologies.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, unrest and even Ebola concerns complicate and delay border crossings. This is not to say that crossing the border in these nations is a pleasant experience. It’s only that the systems and methods of accomplishing things may be the most efficient on a certain day.
Gorilla Trekking Safaris across Congo and Rwanda Borders.
Goma-Gisenyi Border to Virunga National Park.
Tourists utilize the Goma border crossing to explore Mount Nyiragongo or gorilla trekking in Virunga and Kahuzi Biega National Parks. This border crossing is also an important economic route linking the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The Goma border station is located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, between the cities of Goma and Gisenyi.
Tourists wishing to visit Congo’s wildlife parks should prepare ahead of time to obtain a Congo VISA and exchange travel details with their tour operator. Tourists have a more difficult time obtaining a Congo visa than they do for Rwanda or Uganda. A travel operator can assist with processing the Congo VISA so that everything is completed first. For the VISA to be processed, the tourist must give his or her passport information and travel dates.
Your tour operator may then work with Congolese officials and the park to have the paperwork finalized as quickly as feasible. It is crucial to note that, in addition to the VISA, travelers must present proof of yellow fever vaccine. Crossing the border is simple if you have all of the necessary documentation and your VISA granted. Do not lose or forget your yellow immunization certificate when traveling.
Without the card, the border officials will not allow you to cross. There are only a few locations where you may snap the photos in nations other than Africa. You must identify one ahead of time in order to schedule an appointment. Without these documents, you will be unable to cross the border between Congo and Rwanda.
If you want to take a chartered aircraft from Kigali, Rwanda, or Kampala, Uganda, you may either process the visa yourself online or have your tour operator handle it for you. If you decide to apply for the Congo tourist visa on your own, you may be requested for additional documentation such as travel itineraries, accommodations, and safari-related reservations.
The Congo tourist visa is obtained by downloading the application forms from the Congo Embassy’s website. If you have trouble finding the paperwork, you can write an email to the appropriate Congolese Embassy. The Congo tourist visa costs $105.
How to get to the Goma Border Crossing.
Assuming you are already in Rwanda, take a public bus or cab from Kigali to Gisenyi. Gisenyi is the closest town to the Congo Border Post. Most guests are picked up by their tour operator from a hotel in Kigali or the airport. The Goma border post shuts at 10:00 p.m.
Cyangugu/Rusizi-Bukavu Border to Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Aside from the Goma border crossing, there is another point of entrance into Rwanda in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s south-west region. The Cyangugu border sits in the southern section of Lake Kivu. Rusizi district’s principal town is Cyangugu.
The Cyangugu border crossing is less congested than the Goma border post and is frequented by visitors who have come to unwind on the lovely shores of Lake Kivu before continuing their journey in Congo. To cross this border, you must cross a bridge across the Rusizi River.
The Cyangugu-Bukavu border is frequently used by visitors looking to visit lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Once you have completed your gorilla trekking safari in Congo, you can cross back to Rwanda and also visit chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park in Rusizi province.
Gorilla Trekking Safaris across Rwanda- Uganda Border crossings.
A lot of visitors aim to arrive in Kigali and then drive to the Uganda-Rwanda border via road. Despite crossing the border between Uganda and Rwanda is easier than crossing the Congo border, all necessary paperwork must be in place.
International visitors will be required to present a visa, passport, and a yellow fever vaccination card. Uganda and Rwanda share two main border posts: the Cyanika border in the southern part of Bwindi (Kisoro District) and the Katuna border in the northern part of Bwindi (Kabale District).
Cyanika Border Crossing
Despite being less congested than the Gatuna border station, the Cyanika border crossing attracts more tourists and independent travelers. This is because it connects two of Africa’s largest tourism hotspots. This border crossing is located in the Ugandan district of Kisoro and the Rwandan district of Burera. Kisoro is where the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located.
Those that have booked gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will find the Cyanika border station the most dependable. It is closest to the Rushaga area, the most popular in Bwindi National Park.
Kisoro is also adjacent to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is well-known for its three gorgeous volcanoes, mountain gorilla trekking, and golden monkeys. Burera, Rwanda, is a tourist magnet similar to Kisoro, with two stunning twin lakes, Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo.
The town is near to Volcanoes National Park, which is known for gorilla trekking, the Musanze caves, and climbing mountains like as Karisimbi. Crossing this border is quite simple as long as you have all of the necessary documentation.
If you are a tourist, you must have a valid East African Tourist visa. If not, you may be required to get a visa for either Uganda or Rwanda. The East African tourist visa makes things seem so simple and straightforward. Aside from the visa, you may be asked for your address or the contact information for the person you are visiting in Uganda or Rwanda.
After all of your paperwork and information have been validated, you will receive a stamp in your passport and be able to cross the border. The Rwanda side of the border has stronger procedures, and you may be requested to give over your baggage to be checked. It is vital to know that the Cyanika border opens at 6:00am Uganda time and 5:00am Rwanda time. Cyanika, unlike the Katuna border, is not open 24 hours a day.
Gatuna Border Crossing.
The border post, known as Gatuna in Rwanda and Katuna in Uganda, serves as the entry point for travelers and commodities entering from Uganda into Rwanda and vice versa. The majority of products coming to Rwanda from Kenya transit through the Gatuna border. It handles more tourist and business traffic than the Cyanika border crossing. The border post in Uganda is located in Kabale (a region in the country’s south-west). On the Rwandan side, the boundary is located in the Gichumbi District.
Commercial vehicles dominate the Katuna border crossing. It is the busiest crossing point between Uganda and Rwanda. This border is open 24 hours a day. Although it was created for business uses, it is located in Kabale, one of Uganda’s major tourist destinations. Citizens of Uganda, Rwanda, the Gatuna Border, and certain other countries do not require a VISA to cross this border station, but they must have a National Identity Card.
International tourists can obtain a VISA at the border or utilize the new East African Tourist Visa. Aside from the tourist visa and passport, immigration officers will request contact information, address, and reason for entering the country. If everything is fine, your passport will be stamped, allowing you to continue your travel. Crossing the border is done on foot. You may need to change money at one of the numerous money exchange offices on both sides of the border.
Cost of Gorilla Permits in Rwanda and Uganda.
The recent increase in the price of gorilla permits has compelled many tourists to choose Uganda as the location to track mountain gorillas. A gorilla permits costs $1500 in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, but only $800 in Uganda. Uganda has two national parks where you may go gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks.
How long is the drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park boasts more mountain gorillas than any other country on the planet. Unfortunately, the journey between Entebbe and Kampala in Uganda is quite long. It takes 9 to 10 hours to go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from Entebbe. Tourists believe the travel between Kigali and Bwindi to be much shorter, taking between 3-5 hours.
In summary; It is crucial to highlight that, aside from the shorter trip, there are several additional reasons why tourists prefer Uganda over Rwanda. Uganda offers more distinctive activities and experiences than Rwanda.
Uganda has ten national parks and approximately thirteen reserves. Uganda offers a variety of unique tourism activities, including gorilla habitat visits, volcanic hikes, the Batwa culture experience, wildlife drives, whitewater rafting, golden monkey tracking, chimp tracking, and launch cruises. Uganda generally has more hotels and lodges.
