Because of the close proximity to each other, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have forged close ties. These close ties can be seen in their political, social and economic relations. One aspect they have worked on is allowing easy movement within their borders for tourism and business. A tourist can cross to any of the three countries and visit the different attractions without so much 
bureaucracy. All they need is to fill out some paper work at the immigration points after which they are left to enter a country.
Despite this flexibility and liberalization, there are differences in the way visas and other paper work is processed. This should be expected because each country is a sovereign state whose laws and policies may differ from that of others. Tour operators are expected to guide their clients on how to go about with processing visas and crossing borders. We have come out with some information that may help tourists intending to cross the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
Congo Rwanda Border crossing
The Goma border post
There are many border crossing points connecting Rwanda and Congo. The Goma border post is the busiest. It gets its name from Goma, a city in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tourists use this border when crossing to do mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park or lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park. It is also the same border crossing point where Virunga National Park receives tourists interested in climbing Mount Nyiragongo. A single entry visa costing $105 must be acquired for a tourist to cross to Goma from the Rwanda side. The Visa issued limits tourists to visiting the Virunga region and Kivu province. For an application to be successful, one must show that they are visiting the country for only tourism related reasons.
Tourists must apply for the visa two weeks before the trip through the Virunga Foundation. Moreover, an applicant must show proof of having booked a safari through the Virunga foundation. The Virunga Foundation is a Charity Organization responsible for managing Virunga National Park. The proof of 
booking must include payment of tourism related activities, gorilla permits and climbing Mount Nyiragongo. Once the application is successful, the Visa is issued at the Goma border crossing point.
This whole visa processing and border crossing procedures can be done by a tourist but it is recommended that they use a tour operator working closely with the Virunga Foundation. Visa applications and requirements are not very clear-cut when it comes to Congo because of the security situation in the Eastern Congo. The country is also wary of pet traders, mineral dealers or researchers pretending to be tourists in order to enter the country. A tour operator can help you do all the necessary paper work, follow all the procedures, deal with immigration officials and Virunga National Park.
Note: Travelers must not forget to travel with a valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least six months in order for one to get a Congo Visa. Tourists are also required to possess a yellow fever vaccination certificate to go through the Goma border.
Getting to the Goma border crossing
Once you are in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, there are different means of transport to take one to the border point in Goma. One can hire the services of a tour operator or use the public buses plying the Kigali to Gisenyi route. The distance from Kigali to the border town of Gisenyi is 154 kilometers and driving takes 4 hours. It is important to reach the border by 10:00pm because that is when the immigration offices are closed. Tourists going to Virunga for gorilla trekking or Nyiragongo hiking must know the time they are expected to be at the border crossing. Virunga arranges a convoy for all tourists visiting the park. These convoys leave the border crossing in Goma at a specific time of the day.
Cyangugu Border Post
This is an alternative border crossing point from Rwanda to Congo. It is found close to Lake Kivu in the south. Cyangugu is a less known border crossing point. It is mostly used by traders who transport goods between Rwanda and Congo using lake Kivu. Cyangugu is also used by tourists who wish to explore Lake Kivu from the Congo side. Tourists heading to Kahuzi Biega National Park for gorilla trekking can also use the Cyangugu border. A bridge on river Ruzizi separates the two border crossing points.
Uganda Rwanda Border Crossing for Gorilla Trekking and other Tourism activities
There are two border points between Uganda and Rwanda – Katuna and Cyanika. The two countries officially belong to the East Africa community and are relatively safe. Travelers go through a few formalities before crossing. The requirements are only a passport, visa, yellow fever certificate and currently evidence of a recent COVID Test. Since the two countries officially belong to the East Africa community, a traveler with an East Africa tourist visa can cross the borders without the need for individual tourist visas. The East African Tourist visa allows for multiple entries to each country for 90 days. A normal Uganda or Rwanda Visa costs $50 while the East African Tourist visa costs $100.
Katuna Border Post
Also known as Gatuna depending on which side of the border you are in, Katuna is the busiest crossing point between Uganda and Rwanda. The border crossing is found in Kabale district, one of Uganda’s busiest border crossing points. Gatuna border crossing is a favorite for traders and track drivers. It is very busy and the line of trucks waiting to be cleared can seem endless on some days. Tourists are given priority when making clearances. Because of its busy schedule, the border operates 24 hours a day. A visa and passport is a must for international tourists. East African citizens – particularly Ugandans, Rwandans and Kenyans are not required to show their passports or acquire a visa. They only need to show their National Identity Card to cross.
Cyanika border post and opening hours
The Cyanika border point is located in Butera district which is found in the south-eastern part of Rwanda. It is very close to Kisoro Town in Uganda and Bwindi impenetrable National Park. This border post is not as busy as the Katuna border crossing but is very convenient for tourists. The border crossing process is faster than when using the Katuna border because less travelers use it. If you are planning to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga, this is the border crossing point to use. Tourists on the Uganda side of the border who are interested in visiting the Volcanoes National Park should also use Cyanika border point.
Note: Unlike Katuna, Cyanika does not operate 24hours a day. The Uganda side opens at 6:00am and closes at 9:00pm in the night. The Rwanda side opens at 5:00am and ends business at 8:00pm.
Border crossing for Gorilla Trekking – Kigali to Bwindi Uganda
Crossing from Rwanda to Uganda for gorilla trekking was not common in the past because Rwanda gorilla permits were not very expensive. When the government of Rwanda increased the price of gorilla permits from $750 to $1500, many potential tourists could no longer afford gorilla trekking in the country. 
However, they realized that they could simply cross to Uganda for a cheaper gorilla tour. Tour operators in both Rwanda and Uganda came up with 1, 2 and 3 Days gorilla tour packages that would allow tourists do gorilla trekking in Mgahinga or Bwindi National Park at a cheaper cost.
Apart from the issue of cost, the above gorilla trekking packages are popular because of the short distance from Kigali to Bwindi. It takes 4 hours of driving to get to Bwindi or Mgahinga from Kigali. On the other, it takes 8 hours of driving to get to Bwindi from Uganda’s capital Kampala. The possibility of gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Kigali in Rwanda is therefore a blessing not only because of price but also of the shorter driving distance. We recommend the 1 day gorilla tour starting from Kigali for those who don’t have enough spare time for longer tours. You can also check out our 2 days Uganda gorilla tour package and the 3 days gorilla trekking in Uganda package. If you go with the 1 day package, pickup in Kigali would be 3:00am in the morning while drop-off would be between 5 to 6pm.
