The Kigali city tour is a Rwanda safari experience where you get to feel the heart beat of the country economically, politically and socially. Kigali city which is the main capital city of Rwanda is busy all day but you have so many activities to enjoy while on the tour.
Some of the outstanding spots to enjoy during Kigali city tour include business centers, museums, cultural centers, genocide memorials, community visits and more. Request For A Qoutation
Brief details about Kigali City of Rwanda
In 1907, Kigali city was started as a colonial small outpost by Dr Richard Kandt. He was the first German colonial resident in Rwanda. Kigali city lies at ahigh altitude but watch by modest climate all year. Kigali city is the geographical and cultural heartbeat of Rwanda.
Over time, Kigali city has progressively grown into the beautiful, clean and safe city to visit in Africa. Kigali city cuts across Kicukiro, Gasbo and Nyarugenge districts. When in Kigali city tour, you enjoy the amazing view of the well planned city of Rwanda and get the genuine heartbeat of the city.
Activities and Places to Visit During Kigali City Tour Rwanda
The Kigali City Institute of Science and technology
As the world is evolving mores scientifically backed up and proven experiments are being given first priority. One of the supporting scientific institutions in Rwanda is the Kigali city Institute of science and technology. You can plan to visit this institute while on Kigali city tour.
Presidential Palace Museum in Kigali
From Kanombe Aiport is the residence of the former President of Rwanda who died in a plane crash in 1994 J. Habyarumana. At the palace museum are some of the debris of the plane that went down on April 6th 1994 from where he succumbed to death. After his death many incidences happened including the genocide of Rwanda in 1994.
Kandt house or Natural History Museum
While on Kigali city tour, you may pay a visit to the natural history museum in Nyarugenge. This was the home of the first German Imperial Residents in Rwanda. At the moment, the Natural History Museum displays geological and physical elements of Rwanda. This includes land formation, evolution, plants, soil and animal life in and around Rwanda.
Genocide Memorial of Gisozi
The remains of the victims of the 1994 genocide of Rwanda are preserved in different Museums like the one in Gisozi allover the country. While in the Museum, you may request for a walkie talkie to give you a summary of what happened during this terrific moment.
On the walls of the genocide memorials in Rwanda is some literature with explanations about these 100 days of ignorance that claimed thousands of lives.
The Genocide memorials in Rwanda were set up to remind those who would like to antagonize the country of the extent it can go for many people to lose their lives.
Art and crafts galleries in Rwanda
Rwandese are famous for their unique art and crafts making. While on a Kigali city tour, you may visit some of the outstanding arts and crafts centers like Kaplaki art center, Niyo art gallery, Inema art center, Neo art center where contemporary Rwandese art is on display.
While on a visit in Kigali art and crafts centers, you may find ceramics, sculptures, baskets, the famous Imigongo cow dung paint. Most of these items are made from locally collected materials like reeds, clay, palm leaves, wood and more.
Rwandese Cultural Experience
The people of Rwanda are proud of their cultural heritage and are ready to share it with the world. While on a Kigali city tour, you may get to experience some of the Rwandese cultural performances like Intore dance moves, folk songs, try on traditional Rwandese attire, attend a Rwandese cultural ceremony and more.
A visit to the Nyamirambo Cultural center where mainly women are most active participants gives you a glimpse into the warm culture of the people of Rwanda. The people of Rwanda are known for their epic songs and dynastic poetry chronicling their origin. Music and dance accompanied by the Lulunga drum play a big role in the traditions of the people of Rwanda.
The Business main center of Kigali city
For more shopping in Rwanda, there are business buildings in the city where materials, and other merchandise is sold. You may move through to know how the people of Rwanda operate their business and support where you can. Do carry your bags with care because in every busy town there are pick pocketers.
Taste Rwanda Coffee and food
How do you leave Rwanda without having a fee and taste of its locally brewed coffee with its natural aromas. All over Kigali city are different café shops where you can sit comfortably to sip a coffee and taste the locally prepared cuisines of the Rwandese.
Nature walks in Kigali city
The Nyandugu Eco Tourism Park provides chance to get up close with nature or do a biking adventures. The Fazenda Sengha situated on Mount Kigali also offers chance to do mountain biking, horse back riding, quad biking and more away from the ever loud and busy city activities
For better view of the sparkling Kigali city especially during night fall is when at the Kigali Conversion center
Important Tips When On Kigali City Tour
- Protect your belongings during the Kigali city tour when moving around just like any other busy town where insecurity is expected.
- Do not carelessly dump garbage in Kigali city because as a law, one is punished for misplacing garbage in Rwanda.
- Keep right while in Rwanda because the country follows the policies of France which colonized it. Drive at a recommended speed to avoid getting into trouble with authorities in Kigali city.
- Avoid eating street food while on Kigali city tour to avoid food poisoning but eat from designated spots which are safe food centers. Drink packed water while in Kigali rather than tap water.
- Do not take photographs of the locals in Kigali city without their consent to avoid getting into trouble.
- Start the Kigali city tour early to cover your itinerary for the day and beat jam.
- As a former colony of France expect to find language barrier in some places as some Rwandese still speak French so you need an interpreter for better communication.
- Do not forget to carry hard cash while on Kigali city tour because credit cards are still not widely used in the country because of the lengthy process of collection money from them.
What More To Do On Rwanda Safari
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
The foremost safari activity of Rwanda is gorilla trekking a unique adventure to see some of the leftover mountain gorillas in the world. At the moment the population of mountain gorillas in the world is about 1062 mountain gorillas living in only three countries of which Rwanda is one of them.
Volcanoes National Park a pre-historic rain forest in Northwestern part of Rwanda is the only home to the mountain gorillas. Currently Volcanoes National Park is home to about 12 gorilla trekking families open to the public including Amahoro, Agashya, Umubano and more.
As a biosphere reserve, Volcanoes National park is home to other inhabitants including endangered golden monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and more. Over 350 bird species including 7 of the Albertine rift endemics on the red list of IUCN live in Volcanoes Forest.
Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda
Nyungwe National park is the chimpanzee safari destination in Rwanda with so far two communities of chimpanzees open to the public with one living in Cyamudondo. Uwinka station is where the headquarters of Nyungwe National Park are located.
To do chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda, you need to reserve a chimpanzee permit from Rwanda Development Board. For the morning or afternoon session. Note that the topography of Nyungwe forest is quite steep so expect to hike through the different trails around the park including Usamo trail and others.
Canopy Walk In Rwanda
Enjoy the most stunning views of Nature from a more elevated point in Nyungwe National Park by taking on the canopy walk. The Nyungwe canopy walk is on a suspension bridge which is about 160 meters long and 70 meters high.
While standing at the canopy over Nyungwe forest, you may spot several primates, birds, amazing views and so much more.
Game Drives In Rwanda
Akagera National park is the only game safari destination of Rwanda. While on game drive in Akagera National Park there are chances of spotting the big five that is rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and lions.
The population of wild animals in Akagera National park is growing steadily after the park was affected by the past civil wars in Rwanda which led to their fleeing or death. The African park and Rwanda Developments Board are jointly reviving the glory of Akagera National Park and good results are seen.
While on a game drive through the tracks of Akagera National park, you may come across animals like giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, zebras, Uganda kobs, elands, reedbucks, an array of birds flock the park and more.
Taking a boat trip on lake Ihema is an opportunity to relax while watch nature beautifully stand out from the comfort of your boat. Enjoy the view of several highlands that tower over Akagera national park.
Birding in Rwanda
Rwanda hosts more that 700 bird species including Albertine endemics. You can organize a birding safari in Rwanda if you have a well planned birding itinerary. Some of the birds of Rwanda include African Green Broadbill, Rwenzori Turaco, Mountain Masked chestnut, Western Green Tinkerbird, Chestnut throated Apalises, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, African Hill Babbler, Collared Apalis and others.
Rwanda’s birding destinations include Volcanoes forest, Nyungwe forest, Lake Kivu and swamp, Gishwati-mukura National Park, Akagera National Park, around Kigali city and others.
Rwanda Cultural Tour
Get in depth details about the rich culture of Rwandese when you take a Rwanda cultural visit. Rwanda is mainly occupied by two tribes the Hutu and Tutsi. Cattle keeping and agriculture are some of the main economic activities of the people of Rwanda.
- Ethnographical Museum Rwanda
A visit to the Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda in Huye walks you through part of the history of the people of Rwanda. At the Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda, displays of items used by the locals in the past are preserved like knives, hunting materials, fishing equipment, gardening tools and more.
- The Rwanda ancient history Museum in Rukari
The last king of the Rwanda Kingdom called King Mutara III had his place at this home in Nyanza which he built in 1932. During the reign of King Yuhi V Musinga in 1899, Nyanza was turned into the Royal capital of Rwanda.
At this place, you get to find the Inyambo which is the local name for the long horned Royal Traditional cows
King Mutara III dies in 1959 but his Queen Roselie Gicanda lived till 1994 and was buried at Mwima hill where their royal burial site is situated.
- Nyakarimbi Crafts center
The art and crafts center of Rwanda is in Nyakarimbi where you can find a number of art and crafts making including pottery, sculpturing, weaving, ceramics and more. The famous Imigongo cow dung painting can easily be found at this spot.
Mountain Climbing or Hiking in Rwanda
Rwanda the land of a thousand hills indeed has several highlands where you can test your fitness level by taking a hiking safari. Some of the notable sites for mountain climbing in Rwanda include Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhavura and others. You must be in company of a ranger guide from Rwanda development Board to take park in this adventure.
Rwanda safari to Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is one of the amazing water bodies in Rwanda that substitute the ocean or sea activities. While at lake Kivu, you can participate in Boat ride, sports fishing, scenic viewing and more.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Volcanoes National park in Northwestern part of Rwanda and home to the mountain gorillas is home to golden monkeys too. The golden monkeys are an endangered primate specie and although they undergo habituation process they do not lose their natural characteristics so they are charming to watch. The golden monkeys hope from one tree to another all day Golden monkeys have a large physiology compared to other monkeys and golden brown hairs.