Kigali Town : Kigali Capital City
Guide to Kigali City – kigali tourism, kigali city pictures, kigali map, kigali airport, kigali hotels, kigali population 2020, kigali upcoming events
Kigali is the capital city of Rwanda, one of the East African countries which is also known to have well organized activities, clean towns and strict laws. Kigali is located in the centre of Rwanda in Kigali province. It was founded by a Germany administrator and explorer Richard Kandt in 1907 and it became Rwanda’s capital city after independence in 1962. It is strategically situated on Nyarugenge hill where it offers the most magnificent views of the surrounding including the neighboring.
Kigali city has several memorial sites where you can have an experience of the harsh history of the 1994 Rwanda genocide which claimed approximately 1,000,000 people. A city tour around Rwanda capital exposes you to the hospitable people of Rwanda, their culture, food and the beautiful towers in the city. Serenity, comfort, beauty and a cool weather define the capital of Rwanda.
There are three major tribes in Rwanda; the Tutsi, the Hutu and the Twa. In Kigali town, you’ll hear people speak different languages but mainly French, Kinyarwanda, English and Kiswahili.
Kigali is the largest and the fastest growing town in Rwanda. It is known as the neatest towns in Africa and you will admit this when you visit it and compare to the rest of the towns in Africa that you have visited before. Yes it is a clean town and you won’t see litter around, using plastic bags is not allowed, rather use paper bags. Kigali town has well developed and established financial services and facilities and the currencies used there for transactions are Rwanda Francs and US dollars.
The city of Kigali also has good transportation infrastructures and comfortable means of transport. Kigali international airport is a well established airport located in the southeastern part of Kigali. Rwanda’s flag carrier is Rwandair, however many other airline companies serve Kigali international airport including Kenya Airways, Brussels Airlines, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines among others. Good roads connect the airport to the rest of the town including hotels, memorial sites and other locations and to national parks, borders and to villages and other provinces. There are several coach companies that serve to different countries in the neighborhood of Rwanda including Uganda, Burundi and the DRC among others.
Kigali has a variety of historical sites and this has made it one of the most touristic cities in Africa. The main historical site in Kigali is;
Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre
This memorial site was constructed in commemoration of the 1994 Genocide of Rwanda. This place has the remains of 250,000 people who were killed during the genocide and were buried here. This place has attracted a lot of tourists and students who wish to understand how this happened and genocide affected the country. Relatives and friends of the victims who were buried here also visit the memorial site to show love to their peoples who were buried here. The memorial centre has a visitor’s centre, the permanent exhibition, the exhibition that consists of the genocidal violence around the world and the children’s memorial.
Other genocide memorial sites in Rwanda include Gisozi memorial site, Gisenyi memorila site, Muramba memorial site, Bisesero memorial site, Nyanza memorial site, Ntamara memorial site and Nyarubuye memorial site.
Other historical sites in Kigali include;
Hotel Mille des Collines
This hotel is famous and historical because a number of Tutsi survived the genocide because they hid there under the help of a man called Mr. Paul Rusesabagina. The hotel is also known as Hotel Rwanda and the movie Hotel Rwanda was based on this scenario of how it was a life saving place for many.
Kandt house museum
Kandt house museum was the home of the first Belgian colonialist in Rwanda known as Richard Kandt who also founded Rwanda city. It was formerly known as Natural History Museum and later on changed to Kandt House Museum of Natural History to remember the work of Richard Kandt.
Belgian’s Soldiers’ memorial site
Many Belgian soldiers who were providing security to Madame Agathe Uwiligiyimana, the wife to President Habyarimana were killed here. As they were shooting at the Belgian soldiers, Madame Agathe could not survive the bullets. Up to now, the bullet holes still exist at the site.
Presidential palace museum
This is where you’ll find the remains of the plane of Rwanda’s former president Habyarimana whose assassination increased grudges between the Tutsi and Hutu leading to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Sainte-Famille church
Many Hutu and Tutsi went to hide at this Catholic Church during the genocide but the priest at the Church was involved in the killing of these people by the armed Hutu killers. After this scenario, many people converted to Islam.
The gorilla statue
The highlight for most travels to Rwanda is gorilla trekking Rwanda which is done in Volcanoes national park. a statue of two gorillas, male and female was situated at the roundabout in the centre of Kigali town to show something they boast in that many don’t have.
Apart from historical sites, Kigali has much more areas where you can make memories of your Rwanda safari while in Kigali. They diversify the entire experience of the safari, they include Nyarugenge hill, Kacyiru hill and Nyaturama Lake for adventure and scenic viewing, Kigali arts center and Inema arts center for arts and crafts, Kimironko market, Kigali cultural village and House of Tayo for shopping and areas such as Inzora rooftop café for hangouts.
Kigali hotels
Accommodations in Kigali include; Five to Five Hotel, Hotel des Milles Collines, Heaven Boutique Hotel and Heaven Retreat, Kigali Serena Hotel, Golf Hills Residence, Ubumwe Grande Hotel, Marriot Hotel Kigali and The Manor Hotel among others. Most accommodations in Kigali prepare both local and international cuisines, they have serene environments and friendly staffs.