KIGALI CITY

Kigali is located in the country’s center. It boasts several hills, ridges, and valleys, as well as a thriving restaurant and nightlife scene. Kigali is the main entry point for tourists visiting Rwanda’s national parks and Rwanda gorilla tracking, as well as boasting its own tourist attractions and activities, such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Eco-tourism facilities, as well as pubs, coffee shops, and restaurants.

Attractions in Kigali City

Kigali Genocide Memorial site

The Kigali Genocide Memorial was established to remember the almost 700,000 victims of the 1994 genocide, but also to remind people of the atrocities perpetrated so that they do not happen again. Kigali’s top attractions as distressing as it can be, visiting this memorial center will give you an understanding of what happened while also allowing you to appreciate Rwanda’s recent success. The exhibitions will teach you about Rwanda’s broad history, colonization, and other factors that contributed to the atrocities. The Interahamwe slaughtered scores of young children viciously on the spot.

Presidential Palace Museum

This is one of the most popular memorial sites for tourists interested in learning about Rwanda’s history. The palace was once home to Juvenal Habyarimana, Rwanda’s final president before the 1994 massacre.  On April 16, 1994, the president at the time was shot, and his 60-passenger plane collapsed at his own estate. The wreckage of the jet are still present, but the most intriguing aspect of this location is its contentious history, which the guides thoroughly explain at each stop around the house.

Inema Arts Center

Since its establishment in 2012, the Inema Arts Center, started by a pair of brothers (both self-taught artists) on a goal to tap the untapped potential of art in Rwanda, has become the destination to see modern art in Kigali. The building’s exteriors are adorned with vibrant murals that are tough to overlook. The interiors of Inema Arts Center are dedicated to gallery space for ten artists in residence. Depending on the mix of artists on show during their visit, tourists may see modern twists on traditional African crafts, abstract and expressive portraits, mixed-media works representing scenes of African life, and some of the best artwork in Rwanda. The Inema Arts Center, in addition to visual art, hosts monthly dance performances, art-inspired yoga courses, gallery tours, and concerts.

Amahoro Stadium

Amahoro Stadium is Rwanda’s premier venue for sports and entertainment. Sitting in the stands with up to 25,000 other fans to see Rayon Sports Football Club and Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Football Club compete is an incredible experience that immerses travelers in Rwanda’s passion for soccer. Rugby matches, live performances, marathons, and other events are also held in the stadium. Amahoro, meaning “peace,” is a lot more than just a sports facility; it’s also a historical site. During the Rwandan genocide, around 12,000 people sought refuge at the stadium for weeks, hoping to survive with nothing more than the clothing on their backs beneath the open sky. The stadium pays tribute to this significant piece of history by hosting commemorative activities on the anniversary of the genocide.

The Belgium UN Troop Memorial

The memorial, first established in 2000, was created to memorialize the ten Belgian UN troops who were killed while protecting Prime Minister Madame Agathe Uwiligiyimana and her family. Together with her husband, the Prime Minister had been assassinated. After a long stalemate, the Belgian soldiers attempted to fight back but ran out of ammo. The assassination of the Belgian peacekeepers was intended to force the UN peacekeeping force out of Rwanda, allowing the mass murder to continue unabated.

The only Western UN peacekeeping forces in Rwanda were those of Belgium. The others were made up of soldiers from other hemispheres. The Interahamwe and its supporters had studied how American and UN troops had been killed in Somalia. The Interahamwe anticipated that killing Belgian troops would incite resentment and cause the evacuation of all UN peacekeeping troops, and they were right. The death of American soldiers forced the UN out of Somalia.

Nyamirambo Neighborhood

Nyamirambo is a bustling district in Kigali’s southwest. It has been dubbed Kigali’s “coolest neighborhood” and the “heart of Kigali,” also known as Old Kigali, because it is the central core from which the entire city grew.  Kigali’s life revolves around Nyamirambo. People party all hours of the day and night. Grocery stores are open all night, boutiques don’t close, and people work in shifts, so Nyamirambo is usually awake 24 hours a day.

The Museum of Natural History

The Museum of Natural History is Kigali’s best museum, and it was designed to document Rwanda’s natural beauties. The museum’s northern wing displays Rwanda’s animal and avian life, as well as the stunning volcanoes. The Southern Wing, on the other hand, focuses on the country’s mineral wealth. You can learn how much each of them has contributed to the country’s wealth.

The Nyamirambo Women’s Centre

The Nyamirambo Women’s Centre is located in a Kigali suburb. This center and workshop were founded in 2007 by a group of Rwandan women who had previously been victims of gender violence. The Nyamirambo Women’s Center, a non-governmental organization, fights gender-based violence while simultaneously conducting English language classes and computer literacy programs for victims. The best things to do in Kigali The center supplies sophisticated sewing machines for the women to utilize in making local clothing, bags, and other accessories out of local materials. The finished result is of exceptional quality, and some of the most vibrant Kitenge (a local cloth) can be purchased at their boutique to benefit the center. The Nyamirambo Women’s Centre provides walking tours in Kigali to expose visitors to rural life in Kigali.

Mountain Kigali

Tourists can ascend this gradual incline from near the Nyamirambo Stadium, following the signs for Fazenda Sengha, in an hour or two and enjoy spectacular views of the city from a variety of vantage points. The short trip also includes a beautiful eucalyptus grove, a coffee plantation, and a series of rural neighborhoods.

The Kigali Convention Center

The Kigali Convention Center hosts all important conferences, meetings, and exhibitions. The center, which can seat 2,500 people, is adjacent to Kigali International Airport. The complex also houses the Radisson Blue Hotel, a five-star lodging facility featuring 292 rooms. The Kigali Convention Centre also has shopping malls, arcades, small businesses, and offices.