Introduction
Kigali is the capital of Rwanda and the largest city. Situated near the geographical centre it is the ideal place to start to explore Rwanda. Kigali has a warm and pleasant climate most of the year. It is situated on a number of hills which means beyond every corner a beautiful view can await you. There is a wide variety of bars and restaurants with local as well as international menu's.
In Kigali you will find the following tourist attractions:
The Genocide Memorial Centre
The Natural History Museum
Nyanza - Kicukiro Memorial
Rebero Memorial
Mont Kigali
Camp Kigali
In Kigali you will find the following tourist attractions:
The Genocide Memorial Centre
The Natural History Museum
Nyanza - Kicukiro Memorial
Rebero Memorial
Mont Kigali
Camp Kigali
Inema ArtsIt’s an ugly day. Undecided. It wants to rain, but it also does not. I’m torn between carrying an umbrella and possibly having to lag it around all day, unused, or leaving the house and praying every five minutes for the skies not to open...
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The Genocide Memorial Centre
The Genocide Memorial Centre by Thomas
When in Kigali you should always try to visit the Genocide Memorial Centre as to get an understanding of the atrocities that happened in 1994 against the Tutsi minority. The story of the genocide is one of many aspects and goes back to the colonization by the Germans and the Belgiums. Because of the intricacy and the vast history of the genocide I will not go into the details here. In this section I just want to show you my view on the museum and tell you about my experience. We entered the museum and sat down in a chairfilled room in ront of a TV-screen. On the screen a movie played depicting the damage the genocide has done and the influence it still has on the local people. There were interviews with genocide survivors who frequented the memorial and spoke about their loss. It was sad to see how many people were affected by the genocide and how they tried to come to grips with what happened. The Museum is beautifully designed. When entering the museum you start at the very beginning of the genocide, how Rwanda was even before the Europeans came to colonize it. To see how the Rwandese culture was before the meddling of the European countries gave an intersting insight into cultural habits. Rwanda appeared as a country wich was at peace. The story and the background of the genocide were told and gave me a much needed context. I heard about the devestating numbers and it was very hard to understand where they came from. The most shocking part of the museum came when the actual genocide started. Gruesome pictures were shown and horrible stories were told about the events that took place in 1994. It was hard to watch. I do not feel that I can use words to describe the pictures I saw and the emotions I felt during that part of the museum. I thought about posting the pictures on this site, but I think people can find the pictures if they really want to and should not be forced to see them. After the gruesome pictures and the horrible events luckily for my stomach there came a part about the reconstruction of Rwanda. It was heartwarming to see the strong call for unity and peace. Eventhough a lot of people still suffer from the genocide the country rised and is now the proud host of a people called Rwandese. This was the end of the exhibition about the history of the genocide, but the most shocking part was yet to come. When ascending the stairs to the second floor I could see the sign which read: "Children's room." Unprepared I entered and was overwhelmed by the pictures of the children who were killed during the genocide. Large heads of small children started at me with lively ice. Beneath them a small portion of text depicting their favourite food, their favourite play and the way they died. "Smashed to a tree," "Hacked by a machetee," and "Burned to death" were on the the most gruesome ones but not uncommon. My heart sank to my stomach and I realised I would never get the full impact the genocide would have, but being here was the closest I would come and it was horrible. I can not explain these emotions and strongly advise anyone to visit this beautiful place. |
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum by Thomas
The Natural History Museum is located close to the city centre of Kigali and easily accessible by moto-taxi or on foot. I was given a map about Rwanda on which the Natural History Museum was advertised. On first read I actually misread the title and thought it read "National" instead of "Natural." So for two days I thought I would be going to a museum about the national history of Rwanda. On the day of visiting I reread the title and saw it was a natural museum about the local animals in Rwanda. A bit surprised but equally interested I went by moto, which was a long drive, to the natural history museum. The entrance fee was 6000 RWF for non-locals but you also get a guide who tells you about the exhibitions. After the entrance counter I progressed to the main building, constructed as early as 1907 by Richard Kandt. Kandt was a German explorer who searched for the origin of the nile around 1900. Inside the building the different national parks of Rwanda were portrayed with their different specific animals. They even had a large crocodile on display as well as a leopard and a zebra. I thought it was really interesting to get a sneak peak of the national parks as I want to visit Akagera and Nyungwe soon. The museum was rather small and not fully translated to English. It took me half an hour to see and read the whole museum. Admittedly I skipped the minrals part because I do not what is so fascinating about stones, but there is a large section for those who like it. Outside they had a small cabin in which they had different snakes in small cages. You could walk by and watch the snakes upclose while enjoying the protection of the glass. Inside the snake cabin there even was a black mamba, one on the most dangerous snakes in East-Africa. I was watching it until I suddenly spotted a live guineavpig also in the case. I asked my guide why it was there and she said they feet the snakes live animals. It was really thrilling to see the guinea pig getting close to the snake. It appeared as though he was not hungry however because the snake did not move much. The museum consists of the exhibitions about the animals, the minerals and the exploration of Rwanda in the main building. And the snakes in the small cabin. Overall I liked it a lot, escpecially the snakes. |
(R)Wanderer Diaries: Kigali, the City on a Hill
By Soila Kenya ([email protected])
Kigali (pronounced ‘Chigali’) city is a refreshing experience, especially for someone coming from Kenya; the safety, the cleanliness, the scenery (especially at night). It’s a city with lots and lots to offer, but is grossly underrated.
As Rwanda is a small country, the towns and cities are small too. Kigali city centre and most common areas are easy to learn, even for people who are directionally challenged. This is not helped by the fact that their streets are not named after places or things, in the conventional way of most other countries, but with street codes such as ‘KN 90 St 04’. Therefore, people rely on names of neighbourhoods to get around, though this takes some getting used to.
The daily life in the city is like any other but for a Kenyan, the hustle and bustle seems significantly less and more organized. The forms of transport used are motorbikes (commonly known as ‘motos’), matatus (referred to as ‘taxis’ which is endlessly confusing) buses and taxis. The most used are the motos, which conveniently take you to exactly where you are going and obey traffic rules, increasing your sense of safety.
The lingua franca is Kinyarwanda (pronounced ‘Chinyarwanda’), however, in Kigali there are quite a number of people who speak English and/or Kiswahili so it is not impossible to get by, although as a foreigner you might run into minor problems.
Food in the city is commonly served with mayonnaise, ketchup and chilli (known as ‘Akabanga’ meaning ‘little secret’). One soon gets used to this combination, and even considers adopting it when they return home. They have several delicacies, and not one particular staple food; it depends on the part of the country and what is produced there. However, once cannot leave Rwanda without eating their ‘Omelette Speciale’ which is eggs stuffed with potatoes and is delicious.
As Rwanda is a small country, the towns and cities are small too. Kigali city centre and most common areas are easy to learn, even for people who are directionally challenged. This is not helped by the fact that their streets are not named after places or things, in the conventional way of most other countries, but with street codes such as ‘KN 90 St 04’. Therefore, people rely on names of neighbourhoods to get around, though this takes some getting used to.
The daily life in the city is like any other but for a Kenyan, the hustle and bustle seems significantly less and more organized. The forms of transport used are motorbikes (commonly known as ‘motos’), matatus (referred to as ‘taxis’ which is endlessly confusing) buses and taxis. The most used are the motos, which conveniently take you to exactly where you are going and obey traffic rules, increasing your sense of safety.
The lingua franca is Kinyarwanda (pronounced ‘Chinyarwanda’), however, in Kigali there are quite a number of people who speak English and/or Kiswahili so it is not impossible to get by, although as a foreigner you might run into minor problems.
Food in the city is commonly served with mayonnaise, ketchup and chilli (known as ‘Akabanga’ meaning ‘little secret’). One soon gets used to this combination, and even considers adopting it when they return home. They have several delicacies, and not one particular staple food; it depends on the part of the country and what is produced there. However, once cannot leave Rwanda without eating their ‘Omelette Speciale’ which is eggs stuffed with potatoes and is delicious.
Due to the topography of Rwanda, when moving about, you are either going upwards or downwards. That translates into several winding roads that snake their way up and down the hills. It also means there’s always a view, wherever you are of the skyline, which is best seen at night as you move on a moto. The winking lights in the distance with the moon hanging overhead creates a picturesque environment. For this reason, Kigali, and Rwanda as a whole, is a photographer’s paradise, especially those interested in cityscapes and nature.
As a tourist, there’s a lot to do in the city. The nightlife is thriving and for those who like to party it up, it’s possible to do it from Monday to Monday. Clubs, pubs and bars abound. There is also a high chance of running into local celebrities because they frequent the same places too.
As a tourist, there’s a lot to do in the city. The nightlife is thriving and for those who like to party it up, it’s possible to do it from Monday to Monday. Clubs, pubs and bars abound. There is also a high chance of running into local celebrities because they frequent the same places too.
If you’re not one for clubbing, you too can enjoy the high-end hotels and joints offered in the city – places like Ubumwe Hotel, commonly known as ‘Rooftop’ where you can view the whole city, best seen at night. Due to the assurance of the security personnel that diligently patrol the city at night, you are free to move around late at night as you have fun with friends and leisurely explore the city without the interference of crowds that are present during the day.
There are also the conventional tourist-y things to do such as visiting the Presidential Palace Museum where 2 past Rwandese presidents used to live during their tenure, Juvenal Habyarimana and Pasteur Bizimungu during the 1970s up to the late 2000. Visitors get a glimpse into the lives they lived with their families and one can almost see visions of their past activities as you walk through the rooms. There is also the flight debris of the FALCON 50’s presidential jet that was gunned down on 6th April 1994 and killing all its occupants, including Habyarimana.
There are also the conventional tourist-y things to do such as visiting the Presidential Palace Museum where 2 past Rwandese presidents used to live during their tenure, Juvenal Habyarimana and Pasteur Bizimungu during the 1970s up to the late 2000. Visitors get a glimpse into the lives they lived with their families and one can almost see visions of their past activities as you walk through the rooms. There is also the flight debris of the FALCON 50’s presidential jet that was gunned down on 6th April 1994 and killing all its occupants, including Habyarimana.
Another site to visit is the Kigali genocide memorial where one can learn in great detail about the genocide that occurred in 1994. Not for the faint-hearted, this memorial gives a comprehensive overview of the whole affair in a way that outsiders can understand and sympathize with.
All in all, Kigali, the city on a hill (actually several hills) is a must-see place for any adventurer or traveller. You will fall in love with the place almost immediately (as soon as you get used to the hills, that is).
All in all, Kigali, the city on a hill (actually several hills) is a must-see place for any adventurer or traveller. You will fall in love with the place almost immediately (as soon as you get used to the hills, that is).
Kigali - The beating heart of Rwanda
The capital is located in the centre of the country. Kigali is a driven and modern African city that is peacefully nestled along picturesque hilltops. It’s cleanliness and hospitality is something you cannot overjump!
The roads are very good, - actually all the head roads in Rwanda are excellent – the city is so safe and the people are extremely welcoming. I’m charmed by the warmness and kindness of the Rwandan people!
Let me take you for a city trip!
The roads are very good, - actually all the head roads in Rwanda are excellent – the city is so safe and the people are extremely welcoming. I’m charmed by the warmness and kindness of the Rwandan people!
Let me take you for a city trip!