Isebania Border, also known as the Isebania border, is located between Migori County of Kenya and Isebania town of Tanzania. It is situated just a few kilometers from Lake Victoria, which is shared between Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Isebania Border is the preferred route for tourists who want to travel from Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya to the western part of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
While using Isebania Border, you will need the following documents listed below:
Passport Foreign non-residents and foreign residents will require a passport valid for up to 6 months to cross the border. East African citizens can use alternative travel documents instead of a passport.
Visa
Travelers will also need a visa to cross Isebania Border, although East African residents and some visa-exempt countries will not need a visa. The visa fee for non-exempt countries is $50 and can only be paid in cash at the border. Tanzanian or Kenyan shillings are also accepted but exchanging money at the border is not advised due to the presence of conmen and potentially unfavorable exchange rates.
Travelers coming from Tanzania to Kenya should be aware that Kenya does not allow visa-on-arrival payments. All travelers are required to apply for e-visas online through the Kenyan visa website. The price for an e-visa is $51 for a single entry.
Travelers coming from Kenya to Tanzania have the option of applying for e-visas online or obtaining them at the border upon arrival, and the process is straightforward.
National Identity Card
East African citizens without passports will need to present their national identity card of their respective countries.
Interstate Pass
An Interstate Pass is issued to East African citizens at the point of exit at the border and is free of charge. You don’t need a visa to obtain an Interstate Pass, but you will be required to fill out a form and show a valid national identity card.
East African citizens who want to drive across borders must have a valid driving license, and there are forms to fill out at the border granting a seven-day free period. These forms can also be obtained from a local revenue authority.
East African citizens have the privilege of driving free of charge across borders for a period not exceeding 7 days. After the seven free days expire, you will still have a maximum period of 6 months to drive a car not registered in that country, but you will be required to pay a fee of $20 per month as a temporary road license.
Carry a copy of your car’s log book, and it’s also advisable to ensure that your car is insured before traveling and that the insurance sticker is displayed on the vehicle.
While traveling from Kenya to Tanzania, you will stop at the border to get an exit stamp from the Kenyan side.
The border is located 34 kilometers by road south of Migori town in Kenya and within Isebania town in Tanzania. It is frequently used by travelers from Mwanza to Kisumu or vice versa.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Isebania Border connects Maasai Mara National Reserve and the western part of Serengeti National Park. Maasai Mara is the most visited conservation area in Kenya, and Serengeti National Park is also one of the most visited in Tanzania. Both national parks are famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, which is unique in the world and attracts tourists from all over to witness this incredible wildlife event. Although there is no direct road connecting these national parks, you can use Isebania Border crossing point to visit both.
The Wildebeest Migration occurs annually, starting from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya and then back to Serengeti National Park. From January to March, the wildebeest graze around the southern part of Serengeti National Park, which is also the calving season with over 8,000 wildebeest born and many falling prey to predators. The herds move through the central part of Serengeti from April to May and cross the Grumeti River in June before preparing to cross the great Mara River. They cross into Maasai Mara from July to October, with the best time for viewing river crossings being late July to early August. The wildebeest start returning to Tanzania in November through to December and begin their cycle anew.
It is said that wildebeest migrate in search of fresh pastures and water.
Tourists who want to explore freshwater Lake Victoria can also use the Isebania Border from Kisumu town in Kenya to Mwanza town in Tanzania.
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