How Safe is the border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda?

How Safe is the border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda? If you are planning to do a safari in more than one African country, you have to prepare to cross borders at some point for example tourists interested in gorilla trekking in Uganda starting and ending their trips in Rwanda have to cross one of the land border to get from Rwanda to Uganda. This experience can be hectic especially if you are not familiar with immigration policies in the different countries. Uganda, Rwanda and Congo are still developing countries. The structures in place and technology used do not allow for efficiency in the handling of border crossings.

Land border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda is very safe and smooth, you just need to have an East African Visa or a single separate entry visa for each country and the yellow fever vaccination certificate for crossing from Rwanda to Uganda and vice versa.

The three official border crossings between Rwanda and Uganda include: 1) Kyanika (Uganda) – Cyanika (Rwanda); 2) Katuna (Uganda) – Gatuna (Rwanda); and 3) Mirama Hills (Uganda) – Kagitumba (Rwanda) are surrounded by relatively small municipalities on both sides of the border, each with combined populations in the hundreds or low thousands.

Many tourists plan their trip to land in Kigali and then drive to the Uganda-Rwanda border by road which is easier because of the short drive of just 4-5 hours compared to when you start from Entebbe which is 8-9 hours drive. Although crossing the border between Uganda and Rwanda is much easier than the Congo border crossing, one still needs to have all the relevant paperwork. A Visa, passport and yellow fever vaccination card will be asked for international travelers.

Why choose a tour to Uganda from Kigali

How Safe is the border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda? Our gorilla tours from Kigali are meant for those who would like to start and end their safaris in Kigali and have a budget plan to spend on their tour for a memorable Uganda safari experience. Trekking gorillas in Rwanda costs USD1500 per person for the gorilla permit so the option of visiting Bwindi for gorilla trekking at USD700 s better and will help you save. You will cross the land border from Rwanda to Uganda and back. Uganda gorilla trekking tour from Rwanda is best to cut down the drive times that is 4-5 hours if you start in Kigali compared to 8-9 hours from Entebbe, Uganda.

You have all reasons to book your Bwindi gorilla trekking starting from Kigali Rwanda with Eco Adventure Safaris anytime you feel like visiting Uganda but you want to start and end your tour in Kigali. Eco Adventure Safaris is one of the leading tour operators for Uganda and Rwanda and we are highly recommended on TripAdvisor. We employ well-trained and professional Safari designers who sit in our head office in Entebbe ready to provide you with relevant and timely advice and information to help you in your safari planning. Once in Uganda, we will assign you one of our professional English-speaking driver guides who will be with you in the field to show you the beauty of Uganda. As well this tour will help you cut down the initial drive time you would have from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park to 4-5 hours from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park.

Where best is Gorilla Trekking done in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest is done in 4 sectors which include Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Buhoma sector is located in the northern part of Bwindi and Ruhija sector in the North Eastern part of Bwindi both sectors are located close to Queen Elizabeth National Park making it easy to combine gorilla trekking with game viewing if you are trekking at these sectors. In the southern Part of Bwindi it is where Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors are located close to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking and Golden monkey tracking. Each sector has different habituated mountain gorilla families open for gorilla trekking with Rushaga sector having many families compared to other sectors.

Gorilla tracking in Uganda is done in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These are one of the only 2 national parks home to the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda, other national parks include Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. Bwindi Forest National Park is one of Africa’s oldest forests with a diverse biodiversity with various species which include 350 birds, 310 butterflies, 200 trees, 51 reptiles, 88 moths and 120 mammals, the park is also home to several primates including chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey and the major one the Mountain Gorillas. The global population of mountain gorillas is 1064 individuals and half of these can be found in Bwindi forest, the park has over 15 habituated gorilla family groups open for gorilla tracking with 8 gorilla permits allocated to each group per day.

How much is a tour to Uganda from Kigali

A Gorilla Permit costs USD700 per person per trek for Foreign Non-Residents, USD600 for East African Residents and USD70 for East African Citizens. This Gorilla permit gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with mountain gorillas in Bwindi forest once you find them on your trek. A 3 Day Uganda gorilla trekking from Rwanda costs USD1290 per person all inclusive.

How to book a tour to Uganda from Kigali

You will need to secure your gorilla permit in advance to confirm you have booked Uganda gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking permits are purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority, this can be done at their headquarters in Kampala or Kisoro for tourists arriving in Uganda through Entebbe it is recommended to purchase their gorilla permits from Kampala and for tourists arriving in Uganda through Kigali they can purchase their permits at the branch headquarter of Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kisoro town which is 1-2 hours drive to Bwindi. Eco Adventure Safaris is one of the best gorilla safari companies which can purchase for you your gorilla permit in advance and on short notice, once you confirm your dates and share them with us via email or WhatsApp we will first tentatively reserve the gorilla permits for you online and then send you an invoice for you to make payment and once money comes through on our account we will purchase your gorilla permits immediately and send you scan copies of your permits for your records and perusal and this will confirm you have purchase your gorilla permits for your gorilla

What is the best time to go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?

The best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this is makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown

What to wear during a tour to Uganda from Kigali

You might be probably wondering what to wear for your trek, below is a compiled list on what to wear;

• A long armed sweater since the park gets cold
• 2 pairs of long trousers
• Water proof hiking boots
• A hat and sun glasses depending on the weather though this is optional
• Cameras and long lasting batteries since photography are very important to keep your memories alive. Always remember to keep our flash off.
• A pair of Binoculars. This will help you to see the vast birds Bwindi impenetrable forest has among other primates
• Gardening Gloves; these will help you when you a holding onto trees are branches through the trek.
• A rain coat; Since Bwindi impenetrable forest is rainforest, the rain is unpredictable so to be on a safer side, you will be required to carry along  a coat.
• A mosquito Repellent; since it is a forest, it has different dangerous insects so its advisable to carry it along or wear it
• A sun screen; Well this is optional but depending on the season, it might get too hot and you end up getting sun burns on your skin so to avoid that, you will need a sun screen.
• You should not wear very bright colors since this will charge or scare away the gorillas.
• Black and Blue colors are also not recommended since they attract Tsetse flies So I would recommend neutral colors.

Where to stay during Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park is done in the northern part that is Buhoma and Ruhija and in southern part that is Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. In Rushaga lodges, you can stay at Rushaga Gorilla camp, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Icumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge and Karungi Camp. In Nkuringo lodges you can stay at Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge or Lake Mutanda Resort, all these lodges are close to the start point of Gorilla Habituation and Gorilla trekking.

In the northern part, in Buhoma sector you can stay at Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Ride 4 a Woman among others, In Ruhija you can stay at Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Agandi Eco Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Broadbill Tented Camp among others.

Why book your tour to Uganda from Kigali with Eco Adventure Safaris?

Eco Adventure Safaris is a local tour operator in Uganda, we take pride in customizing tailor made Bwindi gorilla trekking safaris starting from Kigali. Including Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali Rwanda. We have a very diligent and trust worthy team. Your queries are answered within 20minutes by our team of professional tour consultants. These consultants will make you a travel plan for you, answer to all your questions and make sure all your services are booked in advance for you to avoid inconveniences. We also have very knowledgeable safari guides depending on your language preferences. Feel free to contact us here for more information about How Safe is the border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda?