Attractions and Things to do in Kigali

Attractions and Things to do in Kigali, Kigali is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is near the nation’s geographic center in a region of rolling hills, with a series of valleys and ridges joined by steep slopes. The city has been Rwanda’s economic, cultural, and transport hub since it became the capital following independence from Belgian rule in 1962. Kigali is developing rapidly, with new shopping malls, office buildings, and a world-class convention center built in the style of the King’s Palace of olden days, which lights up the night sky atop one of the many hills.

Top Things to do and see in Kigali City?

Visiting the Rwanda Art Museum

The “Rwanda Art Museum” in Kanombe is located in 4 kilometers from Kigali International Airport and one of the best places in Kigali city to spend your honeymoon. This former Presidential Palace Museum changed into Rwanda Art Museum effective from 18th May 2018. The new museum displays contemporary artworks produced by both Rwandan and international artists. The aim is to provide to our visitors’ insight into the originality of Rwandan creativity, arts development from centuries up-to-date, whilst not overlooking traditional or modern imaginations.

The Rwanda Art Museum hosts temporally and moving arts exhibitions as well.  Kids also enjoy the Art Kids’ Studio where they are given the opportunity to put their art skills to work. As this current museum served as the Presidential Palace during 1970s until late 2000, Visitors can visit this historical building. The flight debris from the FALCON 50’s presidential jet that went down on 6th April 1994 are also found at this heritage site. Spending time here with your loved one creates magical memories that Last a life time.

Visiting the King’s Palace

New cultural and unique environments are magical, hence the need to spend your time out of your normal environment. The King’s Palace is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive which is a traditional royal palace. In the past, Nyanza was the heart of Rwanda and it was the site of battles and power struggles. For a long time, the monarchy was mobile, moving the court between various locations. When it eventually settled in one place, Nyanza was the obvious choice. The capital of the kingdom had as many as 2,000 inhabitants, and huts built with the same methods. Spend a day exploring Rwanda’s culture and heritage in Kigali city. Attractions and Things to do in Kigali

Visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial

The genocide memorial is one of the highlight of main places to visit in Kigali City, Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi is where 250,000 victims have been buried. This memorial also serves to educate about how the Genocide against the Tutsi took shape and examines genocide in the 20th century. The wall of names is dedicated to those who died and is a work still in progress. Many of the victims’ names have yet to be gathered and documented and many of the victims who rest in the graves are unknown.

The memorial gardens provide a place for quiet contemplation about the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi. They allow visitors to reflect on how we all have a personal responsibility to prevent discrimination and mass atrocity. The center also provides support for survivors, in particular orphans and widows. Attractions and Things to do in Kigali

Late Night life

For Couples interested in Clubbing, Kigali is a very up-and-coming city with a good choice of bars and restaurants. For a good night out, perhaps start your evening with sunset drinks (known locally as a sundowner) at Choma’D, a hip and trendy bar with pretty views, or Pili Pili Boutique Hotel, before heading to Nyamirambo for what’s likely to be a very interesting evening. Another popular spot with the expat crowd is the Kimihurura neighborhood, which is home to some of Kigali’s best nightspots.

Visit a milk bar

Cows are incredibly important to Rwandan culture, and symbolize wealth, prosperity, and identity. Cows are still used today to pay a marriage dowry, or bride price. Milk is, as a result, also very important culturally, and small shops dedicated only to milk (called milk bars) are classically Kigali. Milk bars in the Nyamirambo or Kimisagara neighborhoods of Kigali are often the best, and are designated as such with the phrase ‘Amata Meza’ (meaning fresh milk in Kinyarwanda) and a drawing of a cow on the door. This is one of the best African experience to enjoy on your time in Kigali City.

Kigali Cultural Village

A traditional market space where local artisans & food vendors exhibit and trade their goods, the Kigali Cultural Village also hosts events, workshops, festivals and music.

Visit local markets and schools

Kimironko Market is Kigali’s largest and busiest market, makes for an incredible afternoon of sightseeing. Hundreds of vendors have set up shop in the massive warehouse complex, hustling everything from bed sheets and carved masks to a cornucopia of produce sourced from all over East Africa. You will walk single file through tight pathways, ducking beneath hanging t-shirts and negotiating space with women carrying large baskets on their heads. You will have a great African experience when you spend you time in Kigali city.

Kigali City Tour

Doing the Kigali city tour is one of the best things to do in Kigali City, you will drive past the streets of Kigali, Bus terminals, Markets and Monuments, The city’s wide tree-lined boulevards and immaculate squares are safe to stroll, overlooking the rolling hills of the city. Rwanda is also called a country of a thousand hills.

Gorilla trekking from Kigali

Kigali is 2 to 3 hours’ drive close to Volcanoes National Park, the park is located in the Northwest of Rwanda is a home to the famous Primates known as Mountain Gorillas and the rare Golden Monkeys.  The park is one of the Africa’s oldest Park and famous for primate Viewing. It also harbors some of the active and dormant volcanoes that are part of the Virunga Mountain chain of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo.

The mountain gorillas are the famous attraction in volcanoes national park with gorilla trekking happening every day throughout the year. Gorilla trekking is an activity that involves visiting the habituated endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment, as you view the way they feed, move, rest and live in harmony. Volcanoes National Park has more than 10 habituated gorilla families for trekking every day, only 8 visitors per gorilla family are allowed to trek every day. The chances of seeing the mountain gorillas are 99% as you are guided by trackers, guides and park rangers. Gorilla trekking starts every day in Kinigi at 7:00am with briefing on guidelines to follow while on the trek, even though the gorillas have 99% DNA as the humans, they still remain wild and you are advised to follow the dos and don’ts from the guides. The gorilla trek can take 30 minutes to more hours depending on the movement and location of the gorillas in the forest.

Where to stay in Kigali?

Kigali has a lot of options best for your overnight stay, best hotels in Kigali include Kigali Marriot Hotel, Kigali Serena Hotel, Hotel Des Millie Collins, Radisson Blue Hotel Kigali, Onomo Hotel, Hilltop Hotel and may others. Attractions and Things to do in Kigali

Why book your day trip in Kigali with Eco Adventure Safaris?

Eco Adventure Safaris offers great day trip deals in Kigali as well gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. We combine gorilla trekking safaris with eco-friendly and unforgettable high-end adventure and wildlife safaris that help preserve biodiversity, conserve wildlife and uplift local communities, these include chimpanzee trekking, Big 5 safaris and game viewing, Mountain Hiking, Boat cruises excursions and Cultural encounters to give you a memorable and best African Safari experience including popular and great African safari destinations Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana and Namibia. Feel free to contact us about Attractions and Things to do in Kigali.