Kigali City Adventure Experience
Kigali City Adventure Experience is no exception to the country’s reputation as a picturesque land with an abundance of hills and breathtaking scenery. With a population of over a million, Kigali is conveniently located in the middle of Rwanda, making it accessible by road from all its neighbours. Kigali is regarded as one of Africa’s most orderly, clean, safe, and tranquil cities. It is the centre of arts, transportation, and culture in Rwanda.
Following the Kigali city adventure experience, you will understand that Rwanda has experienced significant transformations since the 1994 genocide, fostering a sense of ownership, collaboration, and community. Despite its natural beauty and attractions, few tourists visit the capital, often using it as a transit point to remote national parks. Visitors can see mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and wildlife, and climb volcanoes. Some even prefer gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali. However, Kigali offers numerous places to visit and discover. A 1 Day Kigali City Tour can provide a comprehensive overview of the city’s attractions and activities. For those heading to the northern province, Musanze District offers top attractions to see. Additionally, articles about Rwanda’s tourist sites and cultural activities can be interesting, making you explore Kigali’s unique blend of history, culture, and tourism.
Kigali Hill, the highest hill in Kigali, is a popular destination for adventure seekers. Starting in Nyamirambo near the Sun City Hotel, the hike to the top is easy due to its gentle slopes. The hill offers stunning city views and opportunities for photo-taking. Visitors can enjoy food and beer at the Mera Neza bar or visit the Fazenda Sengha horse ranch for horseback riding. A barbecue platform overlooks the city.
Motorcycle taxis are a cost-effective and affordable way to explore Kigali and its suburbs. They are perfect for navigating traffic and providing flexibility to stop at places of interest. However, it is essential to use them with a trustworthy guide and wear a helmet provided by the guide.
During the Kigali adventure experience, volunteering in Kigali offers opportunities to help patients, teach English in schools, teach a new sport, and design websites for non-governmental organizations. These opportunities require working in difficult conditions with minimal comfort, but the reward is the feeling of contributing to the betterment of others.
Kigali is a vibrant city known for its various attractions and top things to do during the Kigali city adventure experience. One of the most popular attractions is the Mamba Club, which introduced a boiling alley in Kimihurura. The club offers quality imported bowling gear and indoor sporting activities, along with international and local cuisines. Another must-see attraction is the Inema Art Center, which houses around 13 of Rwanda’s best artists and international guest artists. Visitors can witness the artists at work, learn dancing and drumming skills, and enjoy yoga classes. The center also offers a Thursday opening bar for music and art enthusiasts to enjoy.
For jewelry enthusiasts, the Abraham Konga Collections offers high-quality earrings and necklaces made from discarded materials. Kigali Boutique, located within the Marriott Hotel, offers high-quality jewelry, shoes, books, baskets, clothes, and a map of Kigali. Sarah Day Design, located at the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre, offers cheaper jewelry and other household items. Overall, Kigali is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant arts scene.
Kigali offers a variety of attractions for visitors, including saunas and massages, shopping malls like Nakumatt, skydiving, horseback riding, skating, golfing, tennis, fishing, and the Kigali Convention Centre. The city centre features numerous places offering pedicures, facials, manicures, and massages, as well as specialized outlets. The popular skydiving activity requires great mental preparation and can be done by anyone, but requires proper preparation.
Horseback riding is available at Fazenda Sengha in Mount Kigali and Rugende Park, where participants learn the basics of handling a horse. Skating is another popular outdoor activity, with the SOS School in Kacyiru providing opportunities for beginners and advanced skaters to learn fundamentals and new skills. Golfing is available at the Kigali Golf Club in Nyarutarama, which offers a well-maintained 18-hole course for non-members. Tennis courts are available at Cercle Sportif, Hotel Des Places, Milles Collines, Nyarutarama Sports Club, Umubano Hotel, and Amahoro Stadium.
Lake Muhazi is the best place to go fishing in Kigali, Rwanda, with several fishing holes and beautiful scenery surrounding the lake. The Kigali Convention Centre, built next to the Radisson Blu Hotel, is one of the prominent places in Kigali, designed in the shape of a beehive with beautiful lights that look amazing at night. The architect was inspired by the King’s palace in Nyanza, which has a similar design.
In summary, during the Kigali adventure experience, the city offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, including saunas, massages, shopping malls, skydiving, horseback riding, swimming, golfing, tennis, fishing, and the Kigali Convention Centre.
In Kigali, Rwanda, visitors can enjoy various activities, such as watching soccer at Amahoro Stadium, the country’s largest venue with a capacity of 30,000, where local teams like Rayon Sports FC, Police FC, and Armée Patriotique Rwandaise FC play. Additionally, the Kigali Public Library offers a tranquil space with a collection of books, internet access, and a café, though membership is required to borrow books. Culinary enthusiasts should not miss trying local dishes like Akabenz, brochettes, and Nyama Choma at top restaurants, including the upscale Brachetto, known for its Italian cuisine.
Kigali City offers a variety of dining options, with numerous restaurants serving quality food. Notable places include Heaven, which features intercontinental dishes; Pili-Pili and Sol et Luna for Italian cuisine; and local favorites like Afrika Bite and Chez John. For specific cuisines, Zaaffran and Khana Khazana offer Indian dishes, while The Repub Lounge is known for meat and cocktails. Other recommendations include Fantastic Restaurant for mixed cuisines, Lalibela for Ethiopian food, and Sakae for Asian dishes. Additionally, the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre supports survivors of gender-based violence by providing workshops, English training, and computer literacy classes.
Kigali offers a variety of attractions and activities for visitors. The Nyamirambo Women’s Centre produces quality local products using modern sewing machines and organizes walking tours that highlight rural life in the city, including stops at the Natural History Museum and local markets. The Gaddafi Mosque, officially named the Islamic Cultural Centre, features a community centre, school, and clinic. Kigali’s safe streets are ideal for walking or jogging, particularly in areas like Nyarutarama, Kacyiru, and around the Kimihurura roundabout, where visitors can enjoy scenic views of the city.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial serves to honour over 700,000 victims of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and to ensure that such atrocities are not forgotten. Visiting the memorial provides insights into Rwanda’s history, including colonisation and the events leading to the genocide. It features exhibits depicting the tragic fate of innocent victims, particularly children, and extends its narrative to other global atrocities, including the Holocaust and genocides in Armenia and Cambodia. A visit typically lasts around two hours, allowing time for videos and audio recordings that deepen the understanding of these historical events.
The Museum of Natural History in Kigali is a key attraction, highlighting Rwanda’s biodiversity, including its animal and bird life and volcanic landscapes in the northern wing, as the southern wing focuses on the country’s mineral wealth. Additionally, visitors can explore the State House Museum, the former Presidential Palace, which provides insights into events leading to the 1994 genocide. It houses exhibits related to past presidents Habyarimana and Bizimungu, including a chapel, a gun cabinet, and the wreckage of the Falcon 50 presidential jet, which was shot down, next to the palace gardens.
The Campaign Against Genocide Museum, located in the Parliament building, provides insight into how the Rwanda Patriotic Front aimed to stop the genocide after the UN troop withdrawal left the Tutsi vulnerable. Additionally, the Belgium UN Troop Memorial, established in 2000, commemorates the ten Belgian peacekeepers killed while protecting Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana and her family, who were also assassinated. The murder of these soldiers was likely an attempt by the Interahamwe to compel the withdrawal of UN forces and thus facilitate the ongoing genocide, drawing parallels to the killing of American soldiers in Somalia that led to a UN retreat from that region.
During your Kigali city adventure experience, visit Hotel des Mille Collines, a notable luxury hotel in Kigali known for its role during the 1994 genocide, as featured in the film “Hotel Rwanda.” The hotel sheltered over 1,000 people during the crisis and offers amenities like a fitness center, swimming pool, and restaurant. Although it has 112 rooms, non-residents can visit; guided tours and displays regarding its historical significance are not available.