Kyanika border is famously known as a high ranking border for both countries Rwanda and Uganda that has eased road transport through border crossing which connects between the two important touristic areas the Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park which sits in north-western part of the Country and Uganda’s Mgahiga gorilla national park

Kyanika Border

Kyanika border is located in Kisoro district a few kilometres away from Kisoro town in kigezi sub-region. Moreover, Kisoro town lies closer to kyanika which settles chanika  but both words turn to be one name ‘’Kyanika’  a border that cross-connects Uganda with Rwanda.

Kyanika border is estimated only 10kilometers in the south east of the prominent town of Kisoro close to the district headquarters that sounds like a tourist destination where mountain gorillas inhabit known as Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Rwanda’s top visited national park a home of mountain gorillas famously known as Volcanoes national park.

However, the kyanika border crossing is an important link point between the two countries Uganda and Rwanda.  The two main roads crossing are known as Katuna/Gatuna and Kagitumba/Mirama hills. These are also useful in means of transport and another additional point of interest sits within the town of kyanika near to the edge of kyanika Town council [a], Kyanika central market [b] and [c] Kibale Kisoro Bunagana.  Ideally the southern part of Kyanika that crosses to Rwanda border and kyanika town it takes 10 kilometres away in the south extension of the road probably from Kisoro to kyanika.

The driving distance from Uganda’s largest capital city is approximately 488 kilometers by road in the southwest direction of Kampala City and of which the town is positioned at the average elevation of about 1,953 meters above the sea level.

Travelers from Rwanda connecting to Kyanika border travelling to Mgahinga gorilla national park in the south western part of Uganda take a 30minutes’ drive and from Mgahiga gorilla national park in Uganda to Volcanoes national park is about an hour to reach there through the border crossing. 

Kyanika is on the side of Uganda of about 10 kilometers to Kisoro district Uganda’s touristic destination which harbors with mountain gorilla homes.

Kyanika border is a normally busy border crossing from Uganda to Rwanda which has eased the transportation of goods in both two countries. More especially the Rwanda economy some time runs out food shortage and yet the Ugandan businessmen and women are the ones who supply food to them such as potatoes, matooke, fruits to Rwanda through using kyanika border crossing as the simple way of means of transport.

The Rwandan businessmen end up crossing to Uganda where they had reportedly come in searching for food. Unfortunately, in March 2019 Uganda’s trucks which takes goods to Rwanda were seen  denied to enter Rwanda for certain reasons unknown which were stopped at some border posts and to those who had enough income with them had to save their goods by trying to use another route to cross via Mirama Hills and many went empty-handed because they could not save their goods which were being spoiled for long stay at the border but the two presidents His Excellent Yoweri Museveni and President Paul Kagame had to sit down to discuss about the issue and the problem was ended up being solved thus the border being re-opened for Ugandans business women and men.

The feature prospect about the kyanika border is to re-built it into a modernized way by Rwanda Ministry of infrastructure. And the reason to re-build is because of being the easiest border for both travelers and the nationals  cross from Uganda to Rwanda or Rwanda to Uganda without any disturbance but it requires you to carry your personal documents such as passport, VISA, and yellow card fever to verify and ease your access to passing through the kyanika border. 

Which body is responsible for the Kyanika border? 

The body which is responsible for the Kyanika border is called The Uganda border and migration management Assessment since the largest part of it is in Uganda.

Cargo Trucks crossing the Kyanika Border
Cargo Trucks crossing the Kyanika Border

Interesting places to visit near Kyanika border?

  • Volcanoes national park: Volcanoes national park is the most visited park among Rwanda’s touristic destination where thousands of visitors visit the park at annual basis to engage in the best done and enjoy activity worldwide famously known as gorilla trekking which involves in a limited number of 8 people per group per trek led by experience guide who accompanies you to one of the gorilla family in Volcanoes national park and you will be given one hour of observation to the lifestyle once gorillas are being located. The park is located in the north-western part of Rwanda approximately an hour drive to border crossing from Uganda as the starting point to Kisoro district, covering 160 square kilometers of its land. Volcanoes national park besides being a boosting park which harbors mountain gorillas but is also home to five of the Virunga volcanoes such as Mt. Gahinga, Mt. Karasimbi, Mt. Muhabura, Mt. Sabyinyo and Mt. Bisoke which acts as a touristic volcano to those who enjoy hiking. To participate in such a unique activity of gorilla trekking travelers should be holding a gorilla permit at a fee of USD1500 per person per trek.
  • Mgahinga gorilla national park: Mgahinga gorilla national park sounds with mountain gorillas that habituate in one gorilla family where gorilla trekking takes place. The park sits in south western part of Uganda close to Rwanda’s famously visited Volcanoes national park and it is also inhabitant of three Virunga massif volcanoes that is Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga and Mount Muhabura of which mount sabyinyo rewards with great spectacular view of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda’s highest Margarita peak. Uganda’s gorilla trekking costs USD600 per person and by 1 July 2019, the permit will be increased from USD600 to USD700 per person per trek, children below 15 years are not allowed to participate in gorilla trek.
  • Lake Mutanda: Lake Mutanda lies just north of Kisoro near kyanika border, tourists visit this lake purposely for breath taking air and also to make a good relaxing base from which to explore the area. Travelers may decide to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi after you can visit the lake for great relaxation.

How to get to the Kyanika border?

Travelers traveling from Kigali City Rwanda’s capital city take within 5 to 6 hours drive to the border. And takes 8 to 9 hours starting your trip or journey from Uganda’s largest city Kampala to the Kyanika border. However, there is another optional of flying because the border is near to Kisoro Airstrip on Uganda’s part with a regular schedule flight to Entebbe Airport which is Uganda biggest international Airport.

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Kyanika Border

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