Kigali City
Kigali City, Rwanda’s capital, is the quietest, safest, and cleanest city in the country, with a well-maintained infrastructure system. It is Africa’s most beautiful city, with trees lining all roads and streets, beautifully designed roads, and well-organized buildings, providing a stunning backdrop for any visitor. Kigali City is divided into three districts: Gasabo, Kicukiro, and Nyarugenge. Kigali was awarded the UN Habitat Scroll of Honour in 2008 for its innovative buildings, modern city with plastics, a significant decrease in crime, and improved garbage collection. Kigali, located in the heart of Rwanda, offers a variety of attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy.
Attractions in Kigali City
Kigali genocide memorial
Kigali genocide memorial is a memory center built in memory of the victims who were slaughtered during the 1994 genocide. The memorial center is home to approximately 250,000 of the million-plus Tutsis who were killed. It serves as a memorial and a learning center, with guides explaining how the genocide occurred, photos of victims, a room dedicated to children, images of children slaughtered, audio recordings, and video footage, among other things, where visitors learn about the tragedy, Rwanda’s history, and are reminded of the victims who died.
Presidential palace museum/ State House
This is an interesting place that used to house Rwanda’s former presidents, namely Juvenal Habyarimana and Pasteur Bizimungu, until the plane carrying President Juvenal and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira, both Hutus, was shot down in 1994 with surface-to-air missiles as it prepared to land on the palace grounds. You will be able to see the flight debris that is thought to be the result of the genocide while visiting the State House Museum. The museum also serves as a resource for learning about Rwandan history.
Kandt museum of natural history
This is one of Kigali’s best museums, built to document the beauty of Rwanda, including animals, birds, volcanoes, and mineral riches. The monument is divided into three sections, the first of which depicts Rwandan social, economic, and political life before the colonial period, the second of which depicts Rwandan people’s experiences during the colonial period, when the Germans ruled Rwanda until 1916 when the Belgians took over after World War I. In this sector, Richard Kandt’s deeds and life is shared during his stay in Rwanda and the third part shows the history of Kigali before, during, and after the colonial period when Kigali was made the capital city in 1962.
The Inema Arts Centre
The Inema Arts Centre in Kigali was founded in 2012 by two brothers, Innocent Nkurunziza and Emmanuel Mkuranga. It’s a fascinating art center to visit because it displays African sculptures and paintings and organizes yoga classes for visitors, concerts, art exhibitions and workshops, training classes, and traditional dance performances. Visitors can also purchase artworks from the galley, leatherwork, and jewelry, among other things, making their visit more rewarding.
Nyamirambo tour
Nyamirambo tour, the Nyamirambo tour is done in Kigali city and takes you to where the Muslims in Kigali live and worship, the Nyamirambo women’s center, which is located in Kigali suburb and was opened in 2007 by local Rwandan women who were victims of gender violence. The women’s center fights gender-based violence by organizing computer literacy classes and English language training, as well as providing modern sewing machines to women for tailoring where they will make Rwandan clothing. The women’s center organized walking tours to neighboring villages where visitors could visit local markets, homesteads, and hair salons, among other things, to gain a better understanding of Rwandan culture.
Visit the Local Markets
Kigali city has several markets where visitors on a tour of Kigali can explore the local markets such as Nyamirambo market, and Kimiromko market, which is the city’s largest and most popular local market. During the local market visit, you will be able to learn more about Rwandan culture, foodstuff, fruits, vegetables, electronics, clothes, fabrics, baskets, souvenirs, craft shops, and so on, allowing you to interact with Rwandans and learn about their lifestyles, culture, and offers a great shopping experience.
Kigali public library
The Kigali’s public library, is designed in a unique and beautiful style, and it serves as a collection of electronic and physical books as well as a venue for workshops. Visitors to the library are given free access to computers, the Internet, and the projector, among other things, and if they want to buy a book, they can do so at the Ikirezi bookshop.
The Kigali Convention Centre
The Kigali Convention Centre is located in the heart of Kigali, next to the Radisson Blue Hotel. The convention center has a beautiful and unique architecture of a beehive with beautiful lights that look amazing at night and is thought to be inspired by the Kings’ palace in Nyanza. The convention center was designed specifically for conventions, multi-day meetings, and events, among other things. The convention center includes a cafe where visitors can enjoy Rwandan coffee, a restaurant, and a meeting space, among other things.
Mt. Kigali
Mount Kigali is the highest hill in Kigali city, standing at 6000 feet, and is the best destination for adventurous visitors. Hiking on this hill begins near the Sun City Hotel in Nyamirambo. Mount Kigali has gentle slopes, making it ideal for lazy climbers, and on top, it offers beautiful views of Kigali city, great photos, and horse riding from the Fazenda Sangha horse ranch platform, where you can ride through the countryside and around Mount Kigali, rewarding your tour with great experiences while in Kigali city.
Hotel des Mille Collines
Hotel des Mille Collines is a beautiful lodge in Kigali that became famous after it was used as the basis for the 2004 Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda, which followed the story of Hutu manager Paul Rusesabagina, who provided shelter to hundreds of Tutsi. The hotel also became well-known for housing over 1000 refugees during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The hotel had a secret room where the refugees could stay while being fed beans, rice, and water.
There was a doctor and a nurse on hand to treat and assist the women, as well as a priest who conducted marriage ceremonies and masses in the conference room. The hotel draws many visitors who come to tour Kigali city because of its fascinating history, and they visit the swimming pool, restaurant, and fitness center, among other things, because the hotel lacks any visible attraction to display its role in the genocide, and thus it does not allow tours.
Accommodation options in Kigali City
Kigali city is blessed with several beautiful luxury, mid-range, and budget accommodation facilities and restaurants such as Radisson Blu hotel and conservation center, Kigali Marriot hotel, the retreat, Kigali Serena hotel, park inn by Radisson Kigali, Ubumwe grande hotel, grand legacy hotel, Hotel des Mille collines, Lemigo hotel, 200 hotel downtown Kigali, Elevate suites, Haven restaurant, and boutique hotel, Hotel Chez Lando, five to five hotel, urban by City blue Kigali, legend boutique hotel, good news guest house, Yambi guesthouse among others which prepare both local and international dishes, privacy, comfortable shelter, cool and pleasant environment for visitors to chill out and relax during their tour in Rwanda.
When is the best time to visit Kigali?
Kigali city can be visited all year, but the dry season from June to mid-September is the best time to visit because there is less rain than during the rainy season from March to May.
From its beautiful scenery and friendly people to its peaceful weather and rich culture and history. Kigali city has emerged from the shadow of the genocide to become a major tourism destination, which is still developing its tourism potential by putting in place world-class hotels, attractions such as Mount Kigali, historical monuments, and other necessities, as well as ensuring that tourists receive value for money and unforgettable experiences during their visit to Kigali city, Rwanda.
