Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda happens to be one of the safest and cleanest cities in the Africa. With beautiful cultures, fascinating history and a host of exciting activities, the city hosts a good number of tourists almost round the year. If you plan on visiting Rwanda, check out these 11 best things to do in Kigali.
1. Shopping
Shopping is quite popular among tourists in Kigali. There are quite a number of places you can go to enjoy an exciting shopping experience. You can visit Kimironko Market where you find a variety of fruits, local herbs and spices. You can go shopping at Caplaki, a good market to find handcrafts and other items that you can buy as souvenirs. Azizi Life Boutique is also an exciting market where you find skillful artisans and various handmade crafts. These markets are among the famous local places for tourists to visit when in Kigali, for everything from local food to handcrafts.
?Kigali Kimironko Market, Rwanda
2. Coffee Tour
Coffee brewing is very popular among Rwandans as this amazing country is known for growing coffee beans. You can take your adventure to coffee tours and experience hands on, the process of coffee making. You can even pick your coffee beans in the plantation and have them roasted for you, brewed and served for your enjoyment.
3. Go Fishing
There are a good number of spots where you can go fishing in Kigali. If fishing is one of your bobbies, Kigali will surely do you some good. If you really want to enjoy fishing, best to go early in the morning or in the evening. Lake Muhazi is a good spot for fishing and just about 30 minutes from Kigali.
4. City Tour
If you really want to enjoy the beauty of the city of Kigali, do a guided tour. Touring will definitely give you an amazing opportunity to know the city better and visit many exciting places. The activities may include but not limited to visiting local restaurants, markets or checking out wildlife.
5. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial
The memorial which houses mass graves of over 250,000 victims of the 1994 genocide is a serene place where tourists go to pay their respects. You can visit here to learn about this historic event that changed Rwanda forever. The memorial is open every day to visitors from 8am to 5pm.
?Kigali Genocide Memorial: KG 14 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda
6. Visit Local Restaurants
A good experience when visiting Kigali is enjoying local cuisine. Rwanda has a variety of local dishes you can enjoy. There are a host of local restaurants you should go to when you visit and enjoy a taste of African dishes. Some of the popular local foods are Brochettes, Ibirayi, Isombe or Barbecued Fish.
7. Visit the Volcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes National Park is a popular safari destination where most tourists go to for spotting Gorillas in their natural habitat. The park is about 2 hours from Kigali airport and hosts a variety of wildlife including birds, golden monkeys and various reptiles. If you are a lover of adventures, a tour of the Volcanoes Park can prove very rewarding.
8. Go Skydiving
If you don’t mind jumping thousands of meters from the sky, your dreams will come true in Kigali. Skydiving is fast becoming a popular activity among for tourists visiting Kigali. Before the diving, an instructor takes time to give you a course on how it works including safety measures. Nonetheless, you will not be diving alone as an instructor will be with you all the way.
9. Take a Cultural Tour
You would be missing a lot of fun if you happen to visit Kigali without taking a cultural tour. Rwandans are known for the beautiful cultures and you can enjoy some of these cultures by visiting cultural centers such as the Nyamirambo Women’s Center or the Inema Arts Center where various beautiful arts are on display.
?Inema Arts Centre – KG 563 St, Kigali, Rwanda
10. Scale Mount Kigali
Located on the southwestern corner of the city, Mount Kigali offers a spectacular view of the beautiful city, there are paths and routes for walking and even biking up. Be sure to book ahead of time if you intend to go on a hiking adventure here. If you are lucky, you might even encounter a Gorilla.
11. Visit a Museum
The Museum of Natural History formerly known as Kandt House Museum is an amazing place you can visit to behold Rwanda’s natural wonders. The Museum is located on the Nyarugenge Hill and houses a variety of reptiles including snakes and crocodiles. The Museum of Natural History is one dedicated to natural sciences and was designed to show the evolution of life, description of Flora and Fauna of Rwandan Natural Parks and biological history. Another part of the museum shows the experience of Rwandans during the colonial times especially under German rule.
Explore the Top Museums and Art Galleries in Kigali.
