Kyanika Border
Kyanika border is one of the busiest borders in Uganda with Rwanda that has developed over time because of the business activities that are carried out in the area. Kyanika border is a linking point between Uganda and Rwanda in terms of interrelations and businesses carried out between the two countries.
Kyanika border is located in the south western part of Uganda in Kisoro district, Kigezi sub-region and northeastern part of Rwanda. Kyanika border has led to the development of the tourism sector by boosting tourism activities because of its location within the vicinity of the different national parks and nature sites such as Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Forest National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and Lake Bunyonyi among others. Many of the tourists that use this border are on gorilla safaris as it is the biggest tourism activity done in the area. This can either be a Uganda gorilla safari or Rwanda gorilla safari done by the tourists.
Travelers use the Kyanika border including buses and tourist cars which transport tourists across the border either from Uganda to Rwanda or Rwanda to Uganda. Crossing the kyanika border to Rwanda can take few minutes if at all you have the needed documents to cross such as a National Identification Card from Uganda and tourists mainly need a Tourist Visa which makes it easy and a faster process at the immigration office.
Interesting places near Kyanika Border
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, widely known as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the Kisoro district in the south western part of Uganda. Mgahinga National Park is among the three parks in the Virunga conservation area and it is the smallest national park in Uganda. Visitors from Rwanda can use the Kyanika border to connect to Mgahinga National Park for gorilla trekking, monkey trekking, and bird watching among others can be some of the tourism activities done in Mgahinga National Park.
Volcanoes National Park: Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda in a small town known as Musanze. Volcanoes National Park has an area of 160 km2 covered with green vegetation and rainforests and consists of five volcanoes in the Virunga Massif which include Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Karisimbi. Volcanoes National Park is a home for a good number of wildlife such as the endangered mountain gorillas, the golden monkeys and a variety of bird species that live in the Volcanoes National Park.
Lake Bunyonyi: Lake Bunyonyi is one of the smallest lakes in Uganda and it is found the south western part of Uganda between Kibale district and Kisoro district near the border of Rwanda and Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi stretches about 25km in length and 7km in width while the depth is anticipated to be around 44m. Lake Bunyonyi is among the most beloved destinations to visit in the pearl of Africa. This is due to Lake Bunyonyi’s natural setup such as the green terraced height that reaches a height of about 2,478m, the most spectacular scenery of Lake Bunyonyi is the presence of the 29 islands of various area sizes that are scattered all over the waters of Lake Bunyonyi. In the morning, the atmosphere is filled with cotton-like streams of mist and in the afternoon get to have a warm glow of the sun.
Kyanika Central Market: Like any other border town, the Kyanika border has a central market that has boosted trade in the area. People usually travel from different towns to trade their goods at the border. Mainly the visitors and other travelers make stopovers to the place so that they can purchase what they need such as refreshments and other supplies.
How to get to Kyanika border
A traveler in Uganda will need up to 9-10 hours of the drive-by road from Kampala the capital city of Uganda to reach the Kyanika border. For those using public transport, Gateway and Horizon bus companies operate 4 to 5 buses a day from Kampala to Kisoro and vice versa. A bus leaves Kampala at 7 am and by 4 pm it is already in Kisoro while those from Kisoro set off as early as 6 am and those in Rwanda, it takes about 5-6 hours drive from Kigali city to the border of Kyanika(cyanika) border. Those that prefer using air transport, there is an airstrip in Kisoro that you can use from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjasi airstrip.
Accommodation around the Border
Most of the accommodation facilities are located near the Kyanika border that is in the Kisoro district in Uganda. For visitors that need to rest and relax in the area, Kisoro has a great number of accommodation facilities that you can choose from and the ones that satisfy your needs. These range from upmarket, mid-range and basic or budget facilities.
Muhabura Motel: Located in Kisoro on Kisoro-Kyanika road, Muhabura motel features a 24-hour front desk and this place a barbecue grills and free self-parking, wireless internet access is provided. The rooms’ amenities include TVs with cable channels, microwaves, separate bathtubs, and showers. The place has four rooms.
Golden Monkey Guesthouse: Golden Monkey Guesthouse is located in Kisoro and it is about 22 minutes’ drive to Mgahinga National Park. This natural beauty features a restaurant that serves continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. All 16 rooms have free wireless internet access, a bar, and free parking. There is a front desk and daily housekeeping.
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge: Located in Kisoro, this lodge provides luxurious services such as a fireplace for relaxation and consists of 8 cottages with great interiors and the meals are well served at the lodge. Visitors are able to access Mgahinga National Park anytime to and from the lodge.
Kisoro Tourist Hotel: Kisoro Tourist Hotel features self-contained rooms, good guest services, breakfast is offered and continental dishes plus local meals are served at the hotel. The place also offers secure parking space to the guest that are driving their own cars. It also has pretty good gardens for relaxation by the guests during their stay at the hotel.
Nkuringo Safari Lodge: Nkuringo Safari Lodge is located just 14 km from Kisoro town near Lake Mutanda and features tented camp with en-suite bathrooms and toilets plus a bar and restaurant that offers continental dishes and local dishes to the guests at the accommodation facility.
Conclusion
In general, Kyanika border is one of the safest borders in East Africa that enables you connect to Rwanda from Uganda during your safari in the great lakes region. The region has kept businesses running in the two countries particularly the tourism sector where visitors only need the East African tourism VISA to connect to different destinations.
