Travelling by bus from Kigali, Rwanda, to Bujumbura, Burundi

Travelling by bus from Kigali, Rwanda, to Bujumbura, Burundi, crossing the border at Kanyaru.

Note: The Rwanda-Burundi border is presently closed. This is from January 2024. The news as of 2025, is that it is still closed, so make sure you check with the authorities if you are planning on going.

Welcome to Burundi sign at the Rwanda-Burundi border at Kanyaru

I spent 4 nights in Kigali. I visited the Rwanda Genocide Memorial, but there will never be a blog post about it.

I took a photo of the sign in downtown Kigali, though:

I bought my Kigali to Bujumbura Volcano Express bus ticket the day before at the Kigali bus station (Nyabugogo Bus Park):

Volcano Express bus ticket from Kigali to Bujumbura

The kiosk you need is sandwiched between the Volcano Express sign and the Shalom sign:

Thankfully, the people in the photo below weren’t queuing for the Burundi bus:

Volcano Express office at the Nyabugogo Bus Park in Kigali

Ticket office for the Kigali Bujumbura bus:

Volcano Express ticket office at the Nyabugogo Bus Park in Kigali

The Volcano Express buses depart at 7 am, 8 am and 10 am. The ticket price @2023 is 17,000 RWF (14.50 USD +/-)

Leaving Kigali the next morning:

Volcano Express bus from Kigali to Bujumbura

Rookie error, changing all my Rwanda Francs, which I had taken out of one of two free ATMs in Rwanda, into Burundi Francs on the bus. The rate was good, but I had no change to buy food at the stop for lunch:

Arrival at the Kanyaru border. The road is narrow, twisty, and busy with trucks. It takes 5 hours.

The bus parks up, and you leave your stuff on the bus:

crossing the Rwanda-Kigali border at Kanyaru

Rwanda exit stamp. Another empty page used!

After immigration, you walk across the bridge:

crossing no man's land at the Rwanda Burundi border

Shock Horror! They are still checking temperatures upon arrival in Burundi:

getting temperatures checked on arrival in Burundi

Visa for Burundi

According to the UK Gov, 2025: You should apply for your Burundi visa online ahead of travelling. Visas are issued on arrival in Burundi. A one-month visa costs $90 which can be paid online or in cash on arrival and is valid for single and multiple entries.

Wikipedia is still stating that VOAs are still available.

I travelled to Burundi in 2023, and at that time, you could get, supposedly, 30 days at the airport and all land borders, but the info was incorrect. At land borders, they were only issuing 3-day visas.

The immigration officer had said,” Give me 40 USD”.

I paid my dues, thinking the cost of the visa had dropped, but my passport came back with a stamp and a receipt for the 40 USD for just 3 days. WTF.

I was informed that I would have to go to the immigration office in Bujumbura to get a visa extension.

Burundi entry stamp:

Receipt for the 40 USD:

Waiting is all part of the African experience.

Processing a bus full of people takes ages.

The bus arrives. You get your luggage, it’s given a cursory check. I was just waved through.

Then you wait. And wait a bit more. It’s super hot. There is little shade. You can change money. You can get drinks and brochettes. It’s a soulless place.

Almost 3 hours at the border!!

The ride to Bujumbura is slow. Arrived at 6 pm. Total time 10 hours.

Welcome to Bujumbura!