A modern African city
In 1994, Kigali was devastated by the events of the Rwandan genocide, during which over one million people were killed in the space of one hundred days. Today, however, the city has rebuilt itself into the rapidly expanding economic and cultural hub of Rwanda. With a population of over a million, Rwanda's capital city offers everything visitors could need to feel at home. The hotel industry is booming, with top-rated establishments continually popping up. New office buildings such as the Ecobank tower and Centenary House are being built each day. Banks, bookshops, markets, sports clubs and souvenir shops line the streets, not to mention the wide array of bars and night clubs that come to life in the later hours. Restaurants also offer a vast array of cuisine, ranging from African and Indian to Chinese and Italian.
Since its founding in 1907 under German colonial rule, Kigali has come a long way. Although the traditional capital was the home of the Mwami (King) in Nyanza, today the President's home and offices can both be found in Kigali. Take one look around, and you will notice that the city seems to be built on a spectacular series of never-ending hills. In fact, Kigali is spread across four ridges and the valleys in between, ranging from an elevation of 1,300m to 1,600m. The city center is concentrated on one of these ridges, and the nearby Mt. Kigali soars to an elevation of 1,850m. With a vast network of mini-vans, taxis and moto taxis, visitors will have no problem getting around. Kigali is also home to the Kigali International Airport, which services daily international flights.
The history-minded city tour
You will experience Kigali on a history-minded tour of the city. Far from simply looking at buildings and listening to a few anecdotes, you will learn about life in Kigali during several different time periods and begin to understand the impact each era had on the Rwandan people. You will look at the colonial history during which the city was founded in 1907, the post-independence period that started in 1962, the run up to the 1994 genocide as well as the modern Kigali with new residential and government areas.
The main stops include the first colonial building in Kigali, the Hotel des Mille Collines made famous in the movie Hotel Rwanda, and Camp Kigali, a small memorial that provides an excellent introduction to the subject of the genocide.
Museums and memorials
- Kigali Memorial Center, Gisozi — a must-see for most visitors and the main genocide museum. A burial site with over 250,000 victims, it includes an exhibition on the history of genocide in Rwanda, a children's memorial exhibition and an exhibition on comparative genocide in the world. The large memorial garden contains ten mass graves where families and visitors may pay their respects. It was built on the tenth anniversary of the genocide by the UK-based Aegis Trust in partnership with the Kigali City Council.
- Museum of Natural History (Kandt House) — the former residence of Dr. Richard Kandt on Nyarugenge Hill, the first European to live in Rwanda, from 1907, and its first Resident Governor. Exhibitions cover the country's geology, mining and volcanoes.
Nyamirambo
Nyamirambo is a bustling multi-cultural commercial district that offers visitors a typical African flair. Guided by the young women of the Nyamirambo Women's Center, the "This is Africa" tour brings you into the West African tailors, the hair salons, the recording studio with its local rap music, the butcher and the Muslim quarter with its Arab influences. You will have a little Kinyarwanda lesson and visit a small market with a shopping list. Afterwards, your hosts will invite you to one of their homes where you will learn how to cook a Rwandan meal, and share lunch over intriguing conversations.