Kigali Travel Guide

 
by JohnniOmani
 
  •   Kigali
    by JohnniOmani
  • ONE LOVE !
      ONE LOVE !
    by DAO
  •   Hotels
    by DAO
  •   Hotels
    by DAO
  •   Transportation
    by DAO
 

Explore Kigali

Things to Do  

MY FAVOURITE BUREAU DE CHANGE

MY FAVOURITE BUREAU DE CHANGE, Kigali

 DAO Says:  FOREX-BUREAU ICYIZERE is a great place to change money in Kigali. They give top rates, are friendly and also quick. Just go in, sit down, hand the money over and about 1 minute later you are out the door with Rwandan Francs. There is no paperwork to do and the receipt takes... 

THE TOURIST OFFICE & GORILLA PERMITS

THE TOURIST OFFICE & GORILLA PERMITS, Kigali

 DAO Says:  The Rwanda Tourism Board is known as ORTPN (Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux). Their offices here in Kigali and Musanze are the only way you can obtain a permit to tack the Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys in Rwanda. Primarily they function as your... 

EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN FOOD AND STUFF !

EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN FOOD AND STUFF !, Kigali

 DAO Says:  Are you going to be here for a while? Do you just have to have a certain kind of chocolate, coffee, shampoo, or baby formula? Euro Foods (La Colombe) is the pace to find European and North American brands of packaged foods, drinks, beauty products and even baby care items... 

THE EYE DOES NOT SEE ALL, BUT SOME

THE EYE DOES NOT SEE ALL, BUT SOME, Kigali

 DAO Says:  I first discovered the FREE Eye Magazine in Uganda. Absolutely fantastic. Great descriptions of restaurants and reviews, current music or art events, even shopping tips. Well Kigali has the EYE, but it does not cover all that it could. It does have some good maps of Kigali... 

Mountain Gorillas

Mountain Gorillas, Kigali

 MikeAtSea Says:  One of the most unique experiences is seeing some of the few mountain gorillas that are left in the world. The hike through the rain forest in the Volcano National Park is an absolutley stunning experience and coming near to our closest relatives is a unique and thrilling... 

The Belgian Monument II

The Belgian Monument II, Kigali

 MikeAtSea Says:  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... 

The Belgian Monument

The Belgian Monument, Kigali

 MikeAtSea Says:  8 Belgian soldiers became victim of the genocide on the 7th of April 1994 the first day of violence. This monument which displays one stone pillar per soldier with the age marked as a line inside the pillow remembers those 8. 

The Rwanda Parliament – Shell Holes

The Rwanda Parliament – Shell Holes, Kigali

 MikeAtSea Says:  From the distance the parliament would appear like any other normal parliament in the world, yet there are shell holes in the town facing side of the parliament. Rebels occupied the parliament and government troops fired rockets onto the parliament to recover the parliament.... 

Hotels  

Kigali Serena Hotel

 113 Opinions

Hotel Chez Lando

 44 Opinions

Restaurants  

Flamingo Chinese Restaurant: Good Chinese food with a great view

Flamingo Chinese Restaurant: Good Chinese food with a great view, Kigali

 Georgewoods Says:  The food was tasty, I liked the cashew nut chicken and the Sweet and Sour pork. The spring rolls where also good, I also ordered fried noodles with vegetables. The service was also very fast and proffesional, it also had a friendly touch to the service and I have been going... 

LALIBELA RESTAURANT: A PERFECT 10 FOR 10

LALIBELA RESTAURANT: A PERFECT 10 FOR 10, Kigali

 DAO Says:  This is the best Ethiopian Restaurant in Kigali. It may actually be the only one, but you do not want to miss this restaurant if you love Ethiopian food. If you have never tried Ethiopian food then you have an amazing opportunity to sample Ethiopian cuisine at its finest. I... 

Nightlife  

Planet Club: Kigali Business Centre

Planet Club: Kigali Business Centre, Kigali

 nsbm Says:  The KBC or Kigali Business Centre houses the Planet Cinema, CAfe and Nightclub ...all next to each other.The Nightclub is well healed and is popular with young rich rwandans and expats.The drinks are pricey but the music is western pop and east african vibes,all catchyThe... 

Planet: Expat Galore

Planet: Expat Galore, Kigali

 babeteaser Says:  - the usual: expats and the ones after their money...- popular with ONG's: spot the UN-numberplates! 

Transportation  

TAXI MOTO !

TAXI MOTO !, Kigali

 DAO Says:  Want a cheap, quick and even SAFE way to get around? Take a motorcycle taxi! No, really. Known as ‘Taxi Moto’ they are actually regulated across most of Rwanda. You will see these guys scooting around in their green jackets, helmets with ID numbers, AND an extra helmet for... 

Shopping  

SIMBA SUPERMARKET: THE LIONS HAVE IT !

SIMBA SUPERMARKET: THE LIONS HAVE IT !, Kigali

 DAO Says:  Just follow the 2 stone lions in front and you will discover the Simba Supermarket. Simba is actually a hyper-market with just about everything including an ATM that sometime works. They offer everything from a fresh bakery, butchery, cheeses, produce, housewares,... 

NAKUMATT: THE BIG SUPERMARKET - 24/7

NAKUMATT: THE BIG SUPERMARKET - 24/7, Kigali

 DAO Says:  Nakumatt is the only 24-hour grocery store in Rwanda. Part of a large Kenya based chain, it offers just about everything. It’s actually a department store offering everything from stationery, appliances, electronics, bedding, camping equipment and household plastics. Did I... 

Art Market: Local Arts and Craft

Art Market: Local Arts and Craft, Kigali

 MikeAtSea Says:  A small art market right in the city centre offers the opportunity to purchase souvenirs and handicraft produced locally. Word of caution though prices are inflated and you should negotiate! 

Local Customs  

KEEP KIGALI CLEAN ! PLEASE !

KEEP KIGALI CLEAN ! PLEASE !, Kigali

 DAO Says:  Kigali is not only one of the cleanest cities in Africa- it is also one of the cleanest capital cities in the world. This is not by accident. The government of the city of Kigali have spent a lot of time and money in introducing nice litter bins (pictured) throughout the... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Don't get caught in the rain

Don't get caught in the rain, Kigali

 MikeAtSea Says:  Being close to the equator any summer day ends with a huge thunder storm. I walked around Kigali when the next moment the sky opened and it was literally poring buckets, with streets being flooded and everyone seeking shelter in entrances of buildings and shops. 

Tourist Traps  

IF YOU WANT TO PEE – YOU HAVE TO PAY

IF YOU WANT TO PEE – YOU HAVE TO PAY, Kigali

 DAO Says:  Kigali does not have a lot of ‘public’ toilets and they all charge. Get 100 Rwandan Francs ready as this seems to be the going rate. If you can find one of the better hotels, like the Hotel des Milles Collines they have nice free toilets in their lobbies. You might find a... 

Favorites  

Cleanliness

Cleanliness, Kigali

 MikeAtSea Says:  We are in the heart of Africa – if you look at the streets you would not imagine it. Stretches of Kigali are so clean that you could eat of the ground. Even areas of trading and markets are astonishingly sparkling – and it shows that the current administration really has... 

The Place

Plan a Kigali vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Kigali locals

Experience Kigali
  •   47 Tips and Reviews
  •  167 Photos
  •  1 Videos
  Share your Travels  
Map of Kigali
 

The People

8 Members Live Here
 
Advice from the Locals
 profile photo

 Kigali - I am now living in Kigali. My initial imprssions are nothing but positive. I hear that this city was safe but it is no doubt it is one of the safest cities I have ever visited. That includes many... 

8 members live in Kigali

 

Questions and Answers

CatherineReichardt profile photo

Q:  Hi My husband will be passing through Kigali in transit for 6 hours next week. His luggage will be checked through to his final... 

DAO profile photo

A: Easy. Hope its during the day. Get a taxi to the centre. Pretty much only cars there at the airport. Get ready to haggle big time. You want an area near the UTC Mall, not... 

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Top Kigali Writers

1

Kigali – Capital of the Country of the 1000 Hills

MikeAtSea profile photo

 Upon my arrival to Kigali, the Rwandan capital I was not sure what to expect. Any trip to this part of the world will undoubtedly be associated with the cinema film “Hotel Rwanda” or the pictures that... 

2

HILLS

DAO profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Kigali. I'd love to share with you the 14 tips I've written, the 80 photos uploaded, and 2 travelogues I've created. 

3

KIGALI on the hills

nsbm profile photo

 Kigali is an interesting mix of rural and urban villes overflowing on juxtaposed hilly terrain. New construction is everywhere and large mansions stand side by side with mud brick huts and dirt roads.... 

4

kigali

husain profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Kigali. I'd love to share with you the 3 tips I've written, the 5 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

5

La Geographe in Kigali

lageographe profile photo

 Hello! I'm a 20-something NGO worker living in Kigali and posting my best travel experiences in Rwanda here. Check out my page at tripadvisor.com for reviews of more Rwandan attractions. 

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