Travel Documents, Visas, Vehicle Crossing in East Africa Countries - Frequently asked questions

Questions about Visa and Travel Document Requirements when travelling between Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi. do I need a visa when crossing from one country to another? How do I cross borders with my own vehicle?

a) Do I need a visa to travel from one EAC country to the next?If you are a citizen of any one of the five EAC Partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, you won't need a visa to travel to any of the countries within the EAC bloc. For visitors from without East Africa, please check individual EAC Partner State Immigration/Home Affairs websites for visa information. Otherwise the basic rule is a visa acquired from one country does not apply to another and once you exit one country, you shall need to apply for another visa when re-entering it.
b) Which documents do I need to carry along with me when travelling to any EAC state?
Standard travel documents such as national passports apply for East Africans and non-East Africans alike, although East Africans may use the East African Passport or temporary travel documents in place of either national or East African passports.
c) I would like to use my vehicle in another EAC country; what should I do?East Africans are allowed to drive private cars across borders and across the entire EAC region, free of charge, for visits no longer than seven (7) days.  All you have to do is fill a form, obtainable at border crossing points, which grants you the free access. Generally speaking, you need to have a COMESA Insurance which can be purchased from any major insurance companies or even at most border crossing points, your original driver’s license, and original copies of your vehicles owner’s logbook.
d) Do I need to acquire a local driver's license to drive my car in another EAC state?Citizens of EAC states need not acquire a new license to drive in another EAC country. Driver’s licenses from any of the Partner States apply anywhere in the EAC region. Suffice it to say that your license must be valid.
e) As a resident of East Africa, can I use my current mobile phone number when I travel through the region?Yes. Thanks to a series of inter-operator roaming agreements, East African residents may continue to use their local mobile phone numbers, sometimes without incurring roaming charges. *Please check the availability of this service with your operator.
f) What should I do if I lose my travel documents while visiting another country?
If you lose your travel documents, report to the nearest police station as soon as possible. With the Police's help you should be able to access temporary travel documents from your country's diplomatic mission.
g) I am a citizen of Tanzania living in the United Kingdom, I have UK  right of abode in my United Republic of Tanzania passport, do I need a visa to visit Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi or Uganda? - Carlos Montana
A citizen of any of the East African Community Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) does not require a visa to travel to or through East Africa. Also note that East African citizens pay the same rates as locals in a given EAC country to access any tourist or accommodation facilities.

Related posts

Common Tourist Visa A Top Priority for East Africa Community for 2013

Indifference among States Puts Single East Africa Community Tourist visa Plans in Balance

Who Needs and How to Apply for Rwanda Visa– Tourist Visa Entry Requirements

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j) My question is not addressed here; what should I do?If your query is not addressed on this page, please send us an email on info@gorillasandwildlifesafaris.com . We will be happy to provide an answer, and your question shall then be added to this page as well.

Rwanda working on cable car to Mt.Karisimbi

The government of Rwanda is planning to put a cable car on Mt. Karisimbi to promote Eco-tourism in that part of the country. The cable car system will facilitate hikes to the highest mountain in the country, the Karisimbi volcano, the Rwanda Development Board has said.
The cable will be used as a mode of transport for tourists at the Karisimbi mountain and is expected to improve tourism in the country.

At 4705m the summit of Mt Karisimbi is the highest peak in the Virunga Range, the highest point in Rwanda and one of the highest summits in Africa. Climbing Mt Karisimbi is a fantastic experience but at the moment can only be attempted by experienced and fit hikers. The normal climb does not involve any mountaineering skills and will typically take two days.
The final ascent of Mt Karisimbi is physically very demanding given the very high altitudes. Temperatures can be well below freezing at the summit in the early hours of the day.

The $38 million (Rwf25billion) project involves installing a cable car to facilitate people especially tourists to access the summit. The cable car ride will provide a unique tourist product for the region, and help make Rwanda a tourist destination of choice.
The project will involve establishing a 260sq kilometer area to promote ecotourism and make Rwanda the premier ecotourism destination in Central and East Africa.
The Karisimbi cable car projects will be the second of its kind on the continent, the other being the one in Cape Town, South Africa. It is expected to offer crater surfing via zip lines, according to RDB.

Currently Karisimbi hikers climb from the edge of Volcanoes National Park to the ridge of the huge caldera that extends at the base of the actual cone of Mt Karisimbi, crossing first the bamboo forests and then the Hagenia - Hypericum forests. The hike then continues through the caldera, across a bush of giant Lobelia. Another route begins at the foot of Mt Visoke, takes climbers across the saddle and up Mt Karisimbi.
At the end of the first day a very basic mountain camp is set up which will be climbers base for the night. Early the following morning the climb begins again for the summit, where climbers can enjoy beautiful morning light and astonishing scenery. On a clear day the view from the summit is spectacular both on the Rwandan and Congolese sides with views of the Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira active volcanoes in the distance. The return hike then takes the rest of the second day to complete.

Rwanda’s tourism sector is one of the leading foreign exchange earners in the country. Current fees for the hiking Mt. Karisimbi stand at USD$ 175 per person which includes the Park guide. The trek starts at 09:00am from the park headquarters at Kinigi from where visitors will have to drive to the entry point in the forest (this is usually reached by about 10:00 - 11:00am). The hike normally ends in the afternoon of the second day. Permits can be purchased from the park headquarters of the day of the trek but advanced warning is necessary to allow the park’s authorities time to prepare. Porters can be hired at a cost of USD$ 30 for the trek.

Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris to showcase Uganda and Rwanda at ITB Berlin 2017

Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris is set to showcase Uganda’s tourism and heritage during the 51st Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin (ITB) exhibition in Germany from March 8 – 12, 2017.
ITB - Berlin is known to be the world’s leading travel trade show attracting over 50,000 people.

Together with Uganda Tourism Board, Gorillas will be exhibiting in Hall 21.a Booth 121, sharing the stand with Kenya and Rwanda.

Uganda will market its diverse natural endowments including; birds, wildlife, culture, history, tradition, food and weather among others.

This 5th time Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris is exhibiting at ITB in addition to several other International travel exhibitions and expos.