How to Cross from Burundi to Tanzania at Mugina-Manyovu

This is a road trip report from August 2023 detailing how I travelled from Makamba to Kigoma, crossing from Burundi to Tanzania at the Manyovu (also called Mugina) border.

I had enjoyed Burundi. Not many people make it there, and I am glad I went to the trouble of getting my Burundi visa extension. I drank a celebratory beer at the Source du Nil Hotel in Bujumbura, drank a beer overlooking Lake Tanganyika, and despite the lack of intel available, I managed to get to the Southernmost Source of the Nile.

After a good breakfast at the Nonara Park Hotel in Makamba, I walked into town merely because no motorbikes were passing. It’s just two and a half kilometres:

At the Makamba Shared Taxi Stand:

I got a ride to Mabanda, changed to another shared taxi to Mugina and by 9.50 am, I am at the border.

The formalities to leave Burundi took minutes.

Burundi exit stamp:

I had 70,000 BFr left. The rate was bad, so I didn’t change them, but that was a bad move as the rate in Kigoma was even worse. No one wants Burundi Francs! But I changed 20 USD for Tanzanian Shillings, which was a good move because across the border, there were no easy options for getting cash.

I paid 2,000 BFr for a motorbike taxi across no man’s land. It takes five minutes.

Halfway, we switch to driving on the left-hand side of the road.

In the first hut, you do a health check. You need to show your yellow fever certificate, and they take your temperature. Yes, just like when entering Burundi.

Next door is the immigration office.

I was in Tanzania back in 2016, so no new country hit. But it would be my first time in this region.

Do you need a visa for Tanzania?

The chances are, you will need a visa for Tanzania, although there are a few surprises, so best check the official website.

The Visa on Arrival is very easy to get.

Can you get a Visa on Arrival for Tanzania at land borders?

Yes. The Visa on Arrival is available at all land border crossings.

How much is the Tanzania Visa on Arrival?

The cost is 50 USD, payable in a crisp 50 or 100 USD note. I paid with a 100 and got a new 50 in change.

You no longer get a full-page sticker. Just an entry stamp and a receipt for the 50 USD:

By the time I had completed all the formalities, it was 10.30, which suddenly became 11.30 with the one-hour time zone change.

There is nowt in Manyovo other than the border post. There are no ATMs, no money changers or even a small store. Absolutely nothing.

Cash is still King here, and if you didn’t get any Shillings before you crossed the border, you’ll be fucked.

Surprisingly, there were no tuk-tuks at the border.

I had seen on Google Maps that the small town of Nyarabanda was 3 km down the road. So I started walking. No biggie.

After about five minutes, a taxi driver pulled alongside me and quoted 40,000 TSH (16 USD) to Kigoma.

Thanks, but no thanks. Then he said 10,000, which was much more like it: 4 USD for 60km. A fair price. That was for four people sharing.

We stopped to pick up a few people, then a few more, and it became a game of How many people can fit into a car?

At least I didn’t have to share my seat.

The ride ended at some seemingly random spot a long way from anywhere at 1.15 pm.

Then it was a very hot 45-minute walk to the Leaders Lodge Guest House, where I got a room for 20,000 TSH (8 USD)