Kigali City Excursions
Kigali City Tours
Kigali is the capital city of Rwanda, roughly in the center of the country. It sprawls across numerous hills, ridges and valleys, and has a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial documents the 1994 mass killings in Rwanda, associated with the country’s civil war.
The city’s Caplaki Crafts Village has stalls selling traditional handicrafts, including woodcarvings and woven baskets.
Kigali Genocide Memorial
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994 through education and peace-building.
New Kigali
The story of the changing face of Kigali would be incomplete without looking at how Rwandans worked hard to transform their city.
Snakes House At Richard's House
Kandt House Natural History Museum, Kigali, Rwanda ©
Former residence of German explorer Dr. Richard Kandt, Kandt House Natural History Museum today stands as a natural history museum and displays Rwanda’s wildlife, vegetation, and the focal point–a live snake exhibit. The first section features taxidermied zebras, antelopes, native birds, and wild animals. In the second section, see minerals and rocks found in the country.
The last and most exciting section displays snakes, including the ominous black mamba. Keep in mind that captions come in Kinyarwanda and German; you can, however, opt for an English guided tour.
The museum is also known for the great vista of the old city and the three surrounding mountains.
Market Tours
Even though there are a number of malls, the lively markets and local stores are where you should head to if you‘re after something more authentic. From handicrafts and clothing to fresh fruit and vegetables, get ready to practice your bargaining skills and join us as we explore Kigali’s best shopping spots.
On this tour, we will be focusing more on the local markets selling local stuff, Crafts will be an optional thing for clients if they would like to see them. We will be able to visit the following markets:
Kimironko Market
Walking through the neighbourhood of Remera, you’ll eventually end up in Kimironko, home to a large covered market. Outside the main market, stalls sell everything from meat and fish to sunglasses and household items. But it is once you get inside the structure that you will see fruit and vegetable stands extending in every direction. Packed with carrots, onions, potatoes, lemons, cucumbers, herbs, spices, dried beans and anything else you can imagine in extraordinary abundance, there is no wonder why locals and visitors alike choose it for their grocery shopping.
On this tour, we will still visit Nyabugogo market before ending our half day tour.
Kigali Museums
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994 through education and peace-building.
The Genocide Archive of Rwanda is a collaborative project of the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Aegis Trust, and Rwanda’s National Commission for the Fight against Genocide. The objective of the archive is to document the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Old Kigali
“Twenty years ago, Kigali looked just like an abandoned slum. Destroyed buildings were covered in dust with bullet holes peeping through,” remembers James Kamali, 36, who entered the city in November 1994.
Kigali, like many parts of the country, had been reduced to ashes following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi with countless corpses lining the street.
“It was a deserted city with no place to go and no TV to watch. There was virtually no life,”
Richard Kandt's House
Richard Kandt House, the residency of Rwanda’s old colonizer now turned museum has four main part
- The first part presents Rwandan life in all its aspects (social, economic, and politically: monarchism) before the colonial period.
- In the second part, which is the biggest one, the museum traces experience of Rwandan people during the colonial period, more specifically under the German rule from 1884 (the time of Berlin conference), throughout colonial administration, World War I, few to mention; up to 1916, including Richard Kandt life and his deeds in Rwanda.
- Another attractive gallery is the third part where the history of Kigali; Kigali before colonial time, during colonial, and its naissance as capital city, is well presented.
- Last part is a snake house, with more than 10 species of snakes currently being raised.
Kigali Art Centre
Kigali arts center is a hub of creative minds, founded by two former nyundo arts school (Ecole d’Arts de Nyundo) students KABANDANA Casmir and Fabrice GIRIHIRWE.
The Kigali Arts Center’s mission is to expand and stimulate creativity for individuals, community, and economic growth. Kigali Arts Center provides space to talented artists specializing in contemporary african art.
They produce paintings, Illustrations, sculpture and mixed media expressions and all works are displayed at the gallery at kigali arts center. Also you will find Books, Crafts, creative toys for kids and we serve all industries in different creative work.
Kigali Arts Center provides a space to both beginners and professionals at the studio to express their ideas artistically. Kigali Arts Center is open daily from 8AM to 9PM, it is located at kacyiru KG 649 st house 58