Kigali City Tours
Kigali started as an administrative outpost in 1907 and became the capital of Rwanda at independence in 1962. Ideally positioned in the centre of the country, Kigali extends across several hills and valleys, with good road links to the rest of touristic destinations. The verdant capital city is pleasantly low key yet dynamic and progressive, with just over one million inhabitants.
Kigali international Airport, formerly known as Gregoire Kayibanda International Airport, and sometimes referred to as Kanombe International Airport, is in the capital of Rwanda – Kigali.
Day excursions in and out of Kigali;
Rwanda’s rich history, culture and art provide many opportunities for anyone interested in the best of Africa’s experiences in addition to Wildlife. Kigali is a perfect point for several excursions, some of which can be done in hours, half day, full day or even in weeks! It’s all about interest and time. Here are some of the day excursions Adventure Consults can arrange for you in and around Kigali. These are a few of the many that can be arranged, so please get in touch for more options – sales@adventureconsults.com
Kigali Genocide Memorial
No Adventure Consults’ trip to Rwanda would be complete without a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial! The centrally located museum is a few minutes away from Kigali international airport, and easy to access from all corners of the the city. This genocide museum is a center of education, peacebuilding and honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans who were killed in 1994. The three permanent exhibitions and burial gardens form part of a meaningful tribute to those who perished and provide a powerful educational tool for all.
The Genocide Memorial center is a significant and heart-rending site that one must visit either at the start or end of the main safari to Rwanda. The exhibition here is shocking provoking and attempts to piece together the causes and events of the three-month genocide which destroyed Rwanda in 1994.
Thousands of first-hand accounts are documented, and personal film footage and photography is showcased, illustrating the collection of events in a simple and striking way. 99.9% of the Rwandan population were affected by the horrific violence of the genocide, a dark past which makes the present friendliness and goodwill of the country’s locals more inspiring.
The Kigali genocide memorial is open daily from 8am to 5pm, last entrance is 4pm. On Umuganda Saturdays (the last Saturdays of every month), the memorial opens from 1 – 5pm.
Nyamirambo Women’s Center (NWC).
The NWC was started by 18 Rwandese women in 2007, living in Nyamirambo who together created an initiative aimed at addressing gender based violence, inequality, and discrimination while providing education and training to underprivileged women. As of year 2020, there are 50 women employed as dressmakers, and women from various cooperatives contribute their weaving talents through contracts with Nyamirambo Women Center (NWC).
As part of Adventure Consults’ goals to promote and work with communities in our areas of operation, we offer a community walking tours that end with a lunch (assuming you participate in the morning session). The community-based tour runs in Nyamirambo community of Kigali, giving visitors an insight into the every-day life and challenges, social events and businesses. Your participation in the walking tour, directly benefits the vulnerable women and also gives every guest an opportunity to explore the busiest and most vibrant neighborhoods of Kigali.
Adventure Consults’ along with the site guides, ensure all guests have rewarding city walk experiences and the tour takes about 2.5 hours. The excursion starts a little slowly but as you get into the short journey, you will find yourself wandering down in all sorts of lane ways that you would never have ventured by yourself.
At the end of the tour, lunch is served, and you will most probably have the best African meal ever! Remember, there’s also plenty of souvenir shopping opportunities. You don’t need to carry a shopping bag, the ladies make bags too, so support them by making as many purchases as you can! Let us know if interested before or after your main safari sales@adventureconsults.com
The Presidential Palace Museum
This is formerly the state house of the Late President Juvenal Habyarimana whose plane was shot in April 1994. Presently, the palace is a museum where guests are introduced to the life of president Habyarimana and all that happened during his regime. You will visit the old property that was left in its originally architect. Get to see the swimming pool and the area where his favorite crocodile used live. There’s belief that the president used to swim with a crocodile and also was the only man on land to talk to reptiles.
President’s security gadgets like sensors are scattered in the museum corridors giving you an authentic historical experience of Rwanda’s head of state at the time.
In the compound, you will see some of the remains of Habyarimana’s 6 -passenger seat plane that crashed in 1994 and eventually sparked off the start of the genocide. You will have a glimpse of the engine and left wing and possibly a few other parts.
Hotel des Mille Collines.
One of Adventure Consults’ recommended hotels in Kigali has got an amazing history! If you are not booked to stay there, you can visit for a coffee, tea, lunch or dinner.
On 7 April 1994 when Rwanda entered into the darkest period of its history, Hotel des Mille Collines became a shelter for a terrified crowd fearing for their lives. As depicted in the Hollywood movie, “Hotel Rwanda”, and in various other movies and books, the lives of up to 2,000 people were saved by the hotel opening its doors to citizens fearing for their lives. Some gave birth, others got married and most importantly, all of them were given the chance to have a future.
A visit to the historic hotel, takes you back to so many years as you Indulge in culinary experiences that vary from European-influenced fine cuisine to local delicacies. Hôtel Des Mille Collines by boasts a quality dining experience for any occasion at any given time of day.
Nyamata church.
This is one of Rwanda’s six National Genocide memorial sites which was desacralized by the Roma catholic church on 11th April 1997 and transformed into a memorial to the victims of the genocide.
Close to 50,000 people gathered at Nyamata church seeking for shelter during the genocide. The frightened Ttusi had locked themselves in the church for safety but Hutu killer hordes found their way inside and killed all of them using the grenades, others thrown into latrines and deep wells.
The chapel/church at this historic site, houses victims’ clothes and their belongings, stained clothes with blood, skulls, bones, different national identity cards, and fighting equipment such as matchets that were used by the Hutu fighters. One of the victims was buried inside the church/Chapel.
Beneath the chapel, there is a room displaying the remains of victims. Mass graves are behind the church, with a vault that houses the skulls of victims and other remains. In addition, the memorial site has got the grave of Antoinette Leocatelli with a placard explaining her life and work in Rwanda, and her eventual murder in 1992.
Nyamata site is about an hours’ drive and if you have an extra day or half day at the start or end of the main Adventure Consults’ trip, a visit to Nyamata genocide memorial is worth considering. Get in touch – sales@adventureconsults.com for this and more