Tourist Activities in Kigali

Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda is named the cleanest and safest city in Africa due to various efforts to make the city clean and secured. It is also being modernized to attract more visitors. Over the last two decades Kigali City has seen a growing number of infrastructures and services. For travelers who look for a relaxed and attractive tour, Kigali offers one of the best memorable tours. The city has a lot of places to visit ranging from touristic and cultural sites, historical as well as modern places. The City of Kigali is characterized by its distinguished topography made of hills, ridges and valleys that offers a very good scenery view to travelers. A number of facilities exist including hotels, various restaurants and public places to purposely serve tourists. Though the list might be long, we tried to list some Tourist Activities in Kigali and places that are more of interest for tourists.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial Center

The 1994 Genocide against Tutsi marks a dark history of the country whereby more than one million people were killed in only around one hundred days. It’s one of the very tragic and deadly massacres that the world has experienced. No matter how much time you have to spend in Kigali you need to space some hour and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center whereby a memorial documentation to explain the events occurred in 1994 a picture of how the country managed to rebuild itself in a developed and peaceful country. A documentary film shading light on how the killings were planned and executed before visiting the museum that houses different materials, documentation on the Genocide. You will also get occasion to visit the memorial whereby 250,000 victims of the genocide are laid to rest. Though the visit to the memorial center is emotionally demanding, it also gives a picture of the journey that the country has undergone to get to its today’s development.

The Rwanda Art Museum

On the list of tourist activities, the Rwanda art museums come next. Housed in the former presidential palace, it is one among the eight National Museums in the country. Within the museum displays of arts and craft will show you how contemporary art was not left out. The arts include ceramics, scriptures, and paintings. Apart from the art works, the palace contains an interesting story of the pieces of the presidential jet that crashed in 1994 with the Former President of Rwanda and Burundi on board. The crash marks the beginning of the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994.

Kimironko Local Market

When travelling to Rwanda, don’t miss out on Kimironko local market on the list of tourist activities in Kigali. In this unique shopping place in the form of a warehouse complex, hundreds of vendors line one another with hanging products and others displayed on stands offering a warm smile to the next customer. In this market you will find every product that can be found in any market ranging from fruits, fabrics, shoes, clothes to art crafts. The most coveted product is an African fabric called Kitenge. From Kitenge a stylist within the same market will make your own tailor made cloth of your choice. You can order a skirt, a trouser or a short to put on the rest of your tour in Rwanda. You may even make others for your loved ones when back home for the memories of the Country of thousand hills, the name that the country is known for.

Nyamirambo Women’s Center

You may have gone to Kimironko local market and you may have bought some locally made souvenirs. Probably among the products you bought include baskets. On your list of touristic activities add also Nyamirambo women’s center to witness how baskets are waved. This women founded organization to address women issues and empowering them offers free education and vocational training to deprived women and girls. With their hand they make various products including hand woven baskets, mats, jewelries and local fashions. If you wish you may also be invited to practice basket weaving. On your visit you may also take cooking lessons of local food.

Mount Kigali

Mount Kigali is one of the highest mountains surrounding Kigali. It is said that in the 14th century this mountain was named the capital of Rwanda by a King called “Cyirima I Rugwe. On this mountain you will find royal cottages of Kings of ancient Rwanda that are still visible. This place is ideal for hiking and offers a spectacular view of Kigali and other hills surrounding kigali. Other touristic activities performed on the pic of Mount Kigali include horse riding, archery range and open play for children.

Bird Watching at Nyabarongo River

The next on the list of tourist activities in Kigali comes bird watching at Nyabarongoriver. This river, also seen from Mount Kigali, offers a spot for bird watching in its surroundings. Various bird species can be recorded including polican, common moorhen, african jacana.

Bird Watching at Nyarutarama

Nyarutarama is also listed tourist activities in Kigali list as a bird watching spot in addition to Nyabarongo River. On a small artificial lake various bird species are available for viewing in addition to the nature walk that is also done at this lake.

Richard Kandt Museum

Also known as the Natural History Museum, it derives its name from the first German colonial resident in Rwanda. This museum was dedicated to the German colonial in Rwanda, it displays the life of Rwandans before the colonial period and the colonial period. The live reptiles such as snakes and crocodiles accommodated in the museum makes it a no miss on the list of tourist activities in Kigali.

Camp Kigali Memorial.

Before the genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda there were UN peace keepers. Among them include Belgians. One of their missions was to guard the government official’s residence. When the genocide started the then presidential guards captured 10 Belgian peace keepers who were assigned to guard the then Prime Minister and brought them to a spot where they were killed. The place was then maintained for the memory of the 10 Belgians and its visit is listed as one of the tourist activities in Kigali.

Umusambi Village

Umusambi village is a beautiful restored wetland of 21 hectares reserve purposely restored to accommodate grey crown cranes and offer occasions for visitors who like birding to visit Umusambi Village to enjoy the walking trails and learning the conservation ways of protecting the environment. The grey crowned cranes are birds with a very good looking that attracts people with their good coloring and good at seeing. As these birds have been disabled as a result of captivity they are no longer flying and only stay moving in the same place which gives occasion to visitors to see them easily. Umusambi village visit is one of the memorable events that one would wish to have when in Rwanda. During the visit one will be able to learn about the plants and wildlife around to understand how important it is to protect wetlands areas and to promote biodiversity.

Question Coffee Café

Coffee is regarded as one of the economic products that brings revenues to the country. Much of the coffee produced is exported in other countries. Question coffee is one of the few places you can go and have a hint on how farmers grow the coffee and how it is processed until served at your table. On the list of tourist activities add question coffee at Gishushu to get a taste of the coffee made at the spot and you may also get a package to take home with you.

On your evening after your tour, when you want to relax and take a fresh breath, there are various restaurants and hotels you can go to and hang out. The hotels range from luxury, midrange and budget. Places like Milles colline Hotel, Radisson Blue, Marriott Hotel will offer you a well-deserved night with various local and international food. When you are not bothered with the big meeting there are some other busiest places to visit on an evening in Kigali like Chez Lando Hotel, Epiculier, the pub lounge and many more others.  Kigali deserves more space in a tourist itinerary than one night before going to trek gorillas in the Volcano National Park or a game drive in Akagera National Park.

Over the last two decades the City of Kigali has developed into a vibrant city that welcomes a number of visitors from all corners of the world. Different tourists have testified to have had a memorable experience by visiting Rwanda. To be sure that your choices of tourist activities in Kigali are well organized you need to have a well knowledgeable tour operator to tailor made your itinerary that best fits your wish. We at Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris  will make sure to have you enjoy the best that Rwanda can offer. Just leave us with your request, we will cater for the rest.