How Safe And Easy Is Boarder Crossing Between Rwanda And Burundi For Safari

At the moment, the border between Rwanda and Burundi is fully functioning, although in the past, the borders were closed for at least six years but re-opened in 2022. Rwanda's main border crossing point is at Kanyaru, which is the most convenient point. Other border crossing points from Rwanda into Burundi include Bugasera and Rukana.

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The borders between Rwanda and Burundi are safe, but you may need a visa as a travel document before crossing into either country. Rwanda and Burundi are in the East African community, where a single visa can be used to cross into either country without having to re-apply for a visa. The East Africa visa allows visitors to cross into at least two East African countries without purchasing a new visa if you go to a member state.

While in Burundi, one can engage in activities like game viewing in Ruvubu National Park, where you may sport a wide range of wild animals like lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks, several primates, and others.

Other Burundi safari destinations include Kibira National Park, an exciting wildlife habitat with open grass, bog and bamboo, forest vegetation, and others. 

Rusizi National Park lies close to River Rusizi, where you may spot hippos, Statunga, waterbucks, Nile crocodiles, birds, and so much more.

The Kigwena National Reserve, located close to Lake Tanganyika, is a biosphere reserve with various vegetation zones, including Elaies guineensis, Terminalia superba, and forest. The Kigwena forest in this park hosts several primates, hippos, crocodiles, snakes, and an array of birds, including Albertine rift endemics. The various natural trek species are unique to identify.

While in Burundi, you may also have a chance to experience its unique culture. A visit to Gishora Drum Sanctuary gives you a slit of the rich cultural experience of Burundians. You may engage in some traditional drum beating and folk songs. A visit to the Gitega Museum in Burundi to experience the demonstration of the original Burundi culture while on a safari is rewarding. Look out for the long drums, Ibwami, the royal court, and others.

A City tour in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, exposes you to the commercial life of the people in this country. Visit the meeting point of David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanly, the great explorers of the past. 

Doing all these Burundi safari activities is not a one-day event. Still, you can use the assistance of our experienced safari consultants to tailor and customize your itinerary according to your needs and interests. This, however, depends on the time available on your Burundi safari.

When Is The Best Time To Do Burundi Safari From Rwanda?

Burundi is open for a safari any time, but its peak tourism influx is usually in the dry season: June, July, August, September, December, and January. Burundi is one of the countries recovering from a bad political atmosphere, so some of its infrastructure is still growing. 

The topography of Burundi was affected by Volcanic action in this area, so most of the roads are winding. They also get messy sometimes when severe rains fall, so you must hire at least a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition.

Demand for logistics accompanying safaris in Burundi is at its peak during the peak season, so you need to secure some of them in advance, like accommodations and vehicle hire. As the high Burundi Tourism season opens, options for service professionals and quality service providers for the Burundi safaris run low.

Visiting Burundi for a safari in the wet season in March, April, May, and November offers you the chance to get exclusive attention during the safaris in the Burundi National Parks and other destinations. There is less competition for service providers, and opportunities for getting discounts are high. The safari service providers, like accommodation and drive guides, may charge less to break even.

Is Burundi Safe For A Safari from Rwanda?

As mentioned above, the borders between Rwanda and Burundi, which were closed for over six years, re-opened in 2022. There is no bad blood between Rwanda and Burundi; they are both in the East African community.

The Park ranger guides are in place to protect the National Parks of Burundi, their inhabitants, and visitors, so ensure you respect the guidelines they give to enjoy a successful tour. Also, in most Burundi safari destinations, other security agencies help maintain law and order with the park rangers.

As an individual, do not walk in the Burundi National Park without an, especially those that host wild animals like carnivores, vipers, and others. They may get violent towards you, and you make a meal for them.

Do not carry your precious items around during Burundi Safaris because you may attract the wrong company. You are not counting large sums of money in public, too.

How much is a Burundi Safari from Rwanda?

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our safaris according to Luxury, Mid-range, and Budget. The cost of Burundi safaris from Rwanda depends on the activities you wish to engage in. You must know that for every safari to any Burundi National Park, you must pay park entrance fees that last 24 hours from when you enter the park. The park fees help with park maintenance and conserving wildlife and habitats.

When costing Burundi safaris, we also consider the number of days on safari, number of people traveling with, activities to engage in during the safari, time of booking the Burundi safari, and others.

Can I do Burundi Safari with children?

Most of the Burundi safari activities are open to all ages, but children must be in the company of a guardian or a parent. You need to book your Burundi safari in advance to avoid disappointment at the last minute. When you book the safari in time, you get all the necessary clearances and do not panic at the last minute. You also get to know inclusions in the logistics costs, like accommodation costs, so you can plan accordingly.

What are the Burundi safari Destinations?

Burundi National Parks

Kigwena National Reserve

This national park lies in southwestern Burundi, close to Lake Tanganyika. The forest hosts several primates like blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, and others.

Several other wild animals live in Kigwena National Park, like pythons, duikers, forest elephants, several bird species, and others. They love feasting on the freebies of the forest.

Ruvubu National Park

This national park covers about 508 square kilometers with various habitats that host several wild animals. Ruvubu National Park is the largest in Burundi, covering provinces like Ruyigi, Karuzi, Muyinga, and Karunzi.

While in this Burundi National Park, you may encounter animals like elephants, lions, leopards, duikers, waterbucks, bushbucks, and warthogs, to mention but a few. Within the forested area of this park, you may encounter various primates, including olive baboons, grey chegrey-cheekedy, blue monkeys, Senegal bush babies, black and white colobus, and several others.

Kibira National Park

In French, Kibira National Park is called Parc National De Kibira and is placed in the northern part of Burundi. This park is located along the Mountains of Congo-Nile to Muramvya, closer to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda.

Its varied habitats host several wild animals, more than 98 mammals, and various bird species, including some Albertine rift endemics. Botanists may have a chance of sporting more than 644 plant species.

 Rusizi National Park 

This is the closest National park to Bujumbura city, and one can cover approximately 15 kilometers. Rusizi National Park is near the Rusizi River near the Congo border. While in this park, you may spot warthogs, statugas, crocodiles, hippos, and much more.

Gitega National Museum

Most of the cultural demonstrations of Burundi culture are demonstrated in this Burundi Museum, the traditional attire of Burundians, musical instruments, traditional regalia, and much more. 

You can enjoy the Kalyenda royal drum sanctuaries and ihbamwei, the royal court in this area.

Burundi Religious places

While in Burundi, you can also visit the prominent religious places in this country like the Union of Baptised churches of Burundi, Gitega Roman catholic church, Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi, and others.

Bujumbura city tour

How do you leave Burundi without knowing where the heart beats Bujumbura's Capital city? This is the busiest town center of Burundi and its commercial center too. You can see the shopping centers, enjoy the aromas of Burundi coffees, check out the major education centers of Burundi, and so much more, depending on the check-in time of your flight or the amount of time on your African holiday. 

What to do on a Rwanda Visit?

If you are commencing your Burundi safari from Rwanda, you can also engage first or last in some Rwanda safari activities.

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park is the main adventure in Rwanda. You must secure a gorilla permit. Since Rwanda gorilla permits are limited to a maximum m of 8 per gorilla f, only 15 gorilla trekking families are open, so you need to secure it in advance.

During Rwanda's high tourism season, which is June to September and December to January, demand for gorilla permits is high, and most people secure their permits in advance. To be safe, book your Rwanda gorilla permits at least six months to a year in advance.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda is home to the chimpanzees and the Cyamudondo area at the park's periphery. You must book a chimpanzee permit from the Rwanda Development Board. Although the chimpanzees are semi-habituated, they are exciting to search and be with, but only one hour is allowed with them for conservation purposes. Two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen in Rwanda, that is, in the morning and afternoon.

Other than the chimpanzees, Nyungwe National Park is a host spot for Rwanda birding, where over 300 bird species have been recorded as residents of this park, including Albertine rift endemics.

Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda

The Volcanoes National Park is home to the most endangered golden monkeys in the world. This monkey species is special, with about 2,000 to 4,000 living worldwide. The charming nature of Golden monkeys attracts visitors to them. Physically, golden monkeys have larger bodies than other monkeys and possess golden brown hairs.

 Although the golden monkey community is first habituated to human presence, their restless nature keeps them hopping from one tree branch to another. They keep you active for the time you are with them. You can never be bored as you watch the golden monkeys because you may also have a chance to spot other monkey species like vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and so many others.

To access the golden monkeys, you must book a golden monkey permit from the Rwanda Development Board.

Canopy Walk in Nyungwe National Park

The canopy walk on the suspension bridge about 90 meters high over Nyungwe National Park is epic. The canopy walk in Rwanda is not for the faint-hearted but worth trying while on a Rwanda Visit.

From above the Nyungwe forest, you enjoy the view of the forest and the mesmerizing physical landforms dotted in this park. Enjoy the cool breeze from the tropical rain in the Nyungwe forest. 

To mark special moments of life, you can choose to do it from the canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda.

Kigali city tour

Kigali city is the heartbeat of Rwanda, and its beauty is worth enjoying, especially while visiting Rwanda. You may visit the Kandt house, Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, enjoy the city center, the main commercial spot in Rwanda, the genocide memorials like Blue Beret, St. Familie Church, and others.

If you are interested in planning a safari, contact us for more information.