Sports & nature
Kigali is unlike many other African cities where Chaos is the rule of the day. Kigali, though the business center of Rwanda is a more relaxed, orderly, more peaceful. It is a visitor friendly city than most other African capitals. Here even the streetlights works. Traffic is orderly, the streets are clean and no potholes to speak of – delightful restaurants abound, – the perfect African city.
Below are some of the Tourist Attractions – the things you will want to do and see in while in Kigali – Rwanda – some have historic significance, others represent the arts and culture of Rwanda, some will be interactive times with Rwandans but most will prove to you that Kigali Rwanda is a jewel among Africa’s Capital Cities The post 1994 period witnessed a boom in the construction sector mostly because of the influx of 1994 refugees but most of it was not organized because there was no respect for the City master plan.
Old Kigali
The Kigali City Tour offers one an in-depth view of Kigali, past and present, assuring that one feels the genuine heartbeat of the city. Kigali is blessed with a year round moderate climate. It is also the country’s vibrant commercial center. Kigali is particularly beautiful at night as the lights glimmer over a few of the country’s “one thousand hills”. The city is divided into three districts—Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge and is inhabited by one million people.
The Kigali City Tour begins as a historic journey through the city with a guided tour from the first modern building from which the capital city was first founded, to the rapidly growing neighborhoods that are changing the face of the city. Kigali is one of the friendliest, cleanest and safest of Africa’s cities attracting numerous visitors and investors to the capital.
Kigali Genocide Memorial Center
Along the tour, visitors will pass by Kigali’s older commercial “quartiers”, business and residential areas, visit historic sites commemorating the 1994 Tutsi Genocide, take a guided tour within the Gisozi Genocide Memorial, and learn about the city’s diverse neighborhoods and local attractions.
Presidential Palace Museum – President Habyarimana’s House
In Kigali it is known as Habyarimana’s House – Today it is the Presidential Palace Museum, a place of interest and seeming contrasts to visitors. President Habyarimana was the President of Rwanda, the shooting down of his airplane as it approached Kigali in April of 1994 triggered the Rwandan Genocide. Here you can see how the former president of Rwanda lived – a tour of his former house gives you an insight into the mindset of President Habyarimana. You will see things such as electronic detection devices, hidden gun cabinet in his entertainment center. There is a chapel and next door where witchcraft rituals were conducted. This is just a simple and amazing place.
The gardens are a delight and there you can see the wreckage of the plane the then President was traveling on. A visit here gives you an insight into the mindset of former President Habyarimana and his rule which led to the Genocide – much of it inspired by his fanatical anti-Tutsi wife Madame Agathe.
Hotel des Mille Collines – Hotel Rwanda
It does not look like it is in the movie “Hotel Rwanda” – simple explanation – the movie used a hotel in South Africa where most of the movie was made. Hotel des Mille Collines present general appearance is the same as it did in 1994 – it has gone through a few face-lifts since 1994 (staying in the hotel just after the genocide was quite an experience) and it has new ownership and no longer the Sabena Group that owned it before, during and after the Genocide. A stay here is what many visitors to Kigali do, others come to have breakfast, lunch or dinner at Hotel Rwanda des Mille Collines Hotel, enjoy the pool.
Hotel Rwanda should certainly be on your list of things to do and see while in Kigali either by spending the night or having a meal or drink. take a few pictures and maybe even here a story of the time in the Spring of 1994.
Interactive Guided Tour of the Muslim Quarter of Nyamirambo
Nyamirambo – the Muslim Quarter of Kigali but more. It is that part of Kigali where life goes on after dark with quaint pubs and places where you can get Goat Brochettes and enjoy the evening with good friends newly made in Rwanda or those with you.
The Nyamirambo Women’s Center
The center offers guided walking tours of the Muslim Quarter of Nyamirambo – one of Kigali’s most diverse and colorful neighborhood. The guided tour takes you through homes, with their Arab influences, the market, the West African tailors, hair salons, recording studio and more. Your hosts will invite you to one of their homes, where you can learn to cook a Rwandan meal. You can also visit one of the local mosques. Throughout your time here you will love the bright colors, sounds and smells of Nyamirambo.
Belgian Soldier Memorial Site
On April 7 – 1994 10 Belgian Soldiers – all privates were cruelly murdered – they had been guarding Madame Agathe Uwiligiyimana, the Rwandan Prime Minister and her family. On April 7 – 2000 the Belgian Government unveiled a memorial to those 10 soldiers on the grounds of a former military camp – Camp Kigali. It is a simple 3 room building where the bullet holes of the attacking Soldiers of the Forces Armées Rwandaises (FAR) sprayed the hideout with bullets, eventually killing everyone inside. The marks of the attackers’ shells have been left untouched. The Prime Minister her family that the Belgian Soldiers were guarding were also killed on that day.
Coffee shops, bars and local and international restaurants ranging from Chinese, Italian, North African, East African, Thai and Greek cuisine can be found around the city. Resto-bars are a favorite among Kigali’s residents as people enjoy a delicious meal early on and stay to enjoy the music and drinks afterwards. Kigali’s growing nightlife is sure to entertain any visitor.
