Kenya/ Rwanda/ Congo
 

Planning my visa's etc for an upcoming trip to Kenya and the Congo (via Rwanda). Does anyone have experience with the East Africa Tourist Visa? I fly ZRH-NBO on LX and on a separate ticket connect to KQ NBO-KGL. I then take a car to the Congo border and cross into the Congo for a Volcano trek and a Gorilla trek. I then cross back into Rwanda and head back to KGL to fly back to NBO on KQ from which i will head to the Masai Mara for 4 nights.

Do i need to clear customs at NBO or can I remain airside and just wait for my connection to KGL (land on a saturday at 7pm ish and then connect to a flight at 00:05 on the sunday morning)? if so then i guess i get my East Africa Tourist Visa for a Rwanda arrival and not a Kenya arrival. Will the East Africa Tourist Visa allow me to cross back into Rwanda after my Congo visit? and then allow me into Kenya for my Safari?

My Congo visa is handle by the park so that is easy. Also can I get the East Africa Tourist Visa on arrival in KGL?

Any other tips for this itinerary?

Thank you,

Yes you will need to clear customs as LX and KQ do not use the same terminals, but yes you can get the EATV upon disembarking your LX flight and will allow you to come back to Rwanda after your Volcano/gorilla treks!

Would be nice to read a TR, enjoy!

I live in Rwanda and there have been many reports of Rwanda not letting you back into the country after having visited DRC even if you have a valid EATV. The reasoning is that the multiple entries are within EAC countries. So if you leave for Congo you will need a new visa again.

If you could avoid having to go through immigration at NBO you could get a transit visa in Rwanda and use the EATV to get back into Rwanda and then head to Kenya for Masai Mara.

Enjoy Nyarogongo and the gorillas, truly amazing experiences!

I got the East Africa Visa on arrival in Kigali 1.5 years ago. It was a painless online application, bring the printout, get hand written visa on the spot, they even took credit cards for the $100.

But as the post above says, its meant for travel within the EAV countries.