Kigali City Tour (History minded city tour of Kigali)

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Kigali Genocide Memorial, KG 14 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda

In 1994, over one million Rwandans were killed in a period of one hundred days. Today, the Kigali Memorial Center stands as a monument of remembrance to all those who perished. The Center was built on the tenth anniversary of the genocide by the UK-based Aegis Trust in partnership with the Kigali City Council. It continues to serve as one of the most important and popular visitor destinations in all of Rwanda.

Over 250,000 genocide victims are buried in mass graves, which surround the Center. Many of their stories are also documented in the Center’s exhibitions. Let a genocide survivor take you on a tour through the Center and hear their own personal stories of suffering and survival. See the photographs of the faces of many of the victims that have been put up by remaining family members. Understand the history behind the genocide and witness the progress that has been made since.

To date, more than 100,000 visitors have come to the Center, including Rwandans and foreigners alike. It serves as a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide, as a place for people to grieve those they lost, and as a warning of the cost of genocides around the world. A visit to the Kigali Memorial Center is an unforgettable and moving experience that no visitor to Rwanda should miss.


Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Camp Kigali Memorial, Rue de l'Hospital, Kigali Rwanda

Camp Kigali also called the Blue Beret Museum is the venue of the massacre of 10 Belgian UN Blue Berets on the first day of the genocide in 1994. Under the command of Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, they were deployed to guard the house of moderate Prime Minister Agatha Uwilingimana. After the violence began, Presidential Guard soldiers invaded the home, disarmed the Belgians and transported them to Camp Kigali where they were killed. Today, the Camp is a Belgian commemoration site that hosts a small museum and provides you with a first introduction to the horrible events of 1994.


Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Kandt House Museum, 90 St Kn, Kigali Rwanda

A German-born doctor, soldier, poet, scholar, naturalist and avid explorer, Dr. Richard Kandt became the first European who lived in Rwanda since 1907. He was appointed the first Resident Governor of Rwanda and saw his administrative residence expand into a series of twenty commercial houses. It was, in fact, the country’s commercial capital until Belgian rule began in 1921. During his time in Rwanda, Kandt dedicated his life to researching the natural environment of the country. He was the first to determine the source of the Nile in Nyungwe National Park and arguably the first to introduce coffee farming to the region.

It has been over one hundred years since Kandt first moved to Rwanda, but his accomplishments remain no less impressive. Today, Kandt’s former residence on Nyarugenge Hill in Kigali has become the Museum of Natural History of Rwanda. It is a tribute to Kandt’s explorations and naturalist research and serves to depict the evolution of the region’s environment and wildlife. Inside the museum are exhibitions dedicated to the country’s geology, mining, volcanoes and more. A visit to the Kandt House offers visitors a rewarding look back at both the country’s colonial and natural history.


Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Kimironko Market, 194 St Kg, Kigali Rwanda

East Africa is known for its buzzing, colorful, and distinctive markets, and Rwanda is no exception. Kimironko Market, located in the Kimironko neighborhood of Kigali, is the busiest market in town. Vendors here sell produce from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while locals from all over the city head here to stock up on fruit, vegetables, fabric, clothing, shoes, and general household necessities. This is the place to experience Rwanda at its liveliest.

Duration: 45 minutes

Pass By: Kigali Convention Centre, KG 2 Roundabout, Kigali Rwanda

The landmark Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) is the first and largest Convention Centre in the region and the leading destination for events in Rwanda. Its unique design integrates all the facilities and functional technology with a clear reference to the culture and traditions of Africa.

The KCC is the no.1 event venue in Kigali and throughout Rwanda, offering a premium environment for regional and international conventions, exhibitions, festivals, meetings and other events.

Stop At: Caplaki Craft Village, KK 2 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda

Caplaki, one of Rwanda’s largest craft markets, is also known as the 'Village des Artistes de Kigali'. Located just outside the center of Kigali, Caplaki features products from East and Central Africa and, of course, a wide variety of Rwandan handicrafts. Stalls display diverse goods including jewelry, masks, spears, idols, carvings, and paintings. Caplaki is the perfect place for visitors to do their souvenir shopping and try their hand at bargaining.

Duration: 45 minutes