Kigali City

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Area: 113 km² (70 mi²)

Overview

The Republic of Rwanda is 26,338 km² and is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with the average age being 19 years.

Kigali a relatively new city, is positioned in the center of Rwanda, founded as an administrative outpost in 1907, and became the capital at independence in 1962, shifting focus from Hue District in southern Rwanda. Kigali extends across several hills and valleys, with good road links to the rest of the country. The verdant capital is pleasantly low-key yet dynamic and progressive, with just over one million inhabitants.

The central business district covers Nyarugenge Hill while the government and administrative quarter is further east on Kacyiru Hill. Wide tree-lined boulevards and immaculate squares are safe to stroll.

Nyarutarama Lake, or Lover’s Lake, borders an 18-hole golf course in one of the main valleys.

The track around the lake is remarkably peaceful and makes for an excellent urban nature walk, with the chance to see some of Rwanda’s incredible birds. A visit to Rwanda is complete with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which honors the memory of the more than one million Rwandans 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 visitors.

The Uniqueness of this Park

• The stunning scenery and warm, friendly people offer unique experiences in one of the most remarkable countries in the world.
• The extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, montane rainforest, and sweeping plains.
• Renowned for its rare mountain gorillas.
• Voted the world’s ninth-safest country and Africa’s safest country by the World Economic Forum.

Accommodation Options

• Kigali Serena Hotel (148 rooms in total, into several categories; Standard, Deluxe, Superior, Prime, and Suites)
• Kigali Marriott Hotel (has 254 rooms and suites spread across eight floors)
• Radisson Blu (has 292 modern and spacious rooms along with all-day dining)
• Hotel des Milles Collines (112 rooms)
• Heaven Boutique Hotel (31 rooms)
• The Retreat (20rooms)

Activities at the Destination

Shopping Kimironko Market, Coffee Tour, Go Fishing – Day trip to Lake Kivu with coffee farm visit, City Tour – Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Visit Local Restaurants, Visit the Volcanoes National Park, Take a Cultural Tour, Gorilla trekking Day trip with lunch, Day Trip to Akagera.