Activities

Nearby Attractions and Things to Do ONOMO Hotel Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali Genocide Memorial History Museum

In the span of 100 days, an estimated one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically butchered by the Interahamwe army. This memorial honours the estimated 250,000 people buried here in mass graves and also has an excellent exhibition that tries to explain how it was that the world watched as the 1994 genocide unfolded. This is an intensely powerful and moving memorial for which you should dedicate at least half a day. The informative audio tour (US$15) includes background on the divisive colonial experience in Rwanda. As the visit progresses, the exhibits become steadily more powerful, as you are confronted with the crimes that took place here and moving video testimony from survivors. If you have remained dispassionate until this point, you’ll find that it will all catch up with you at the section that remembers the children who fell victim to the killers’ machetes. Life-sized photos are accompanied by intimate details about their favourite toys, their last words and the manner in which they were killed. The memorial concludes with sections on the search for justice through the international tribunal in Arusha as well as the local gacaca courts (traditional tribunals headed by village elders). Upstairs is a moving section dedicated to informing visitors about other genocides that have taken place around the world and helping to set Rwanda’s nightmare in a historical context. After you've absorbed the museum displays, take a rose (by donation) to leave on one of the vast concrete slabs outside that cover the mass graves. There's also a wall of names, a rose garden, a gift shop and a pleasant cafe serving good coffee, lunch buffets (RFr2500), snacks and juices that is an ideal place to reflect and gather yourself before facing the outside world again. Remembrance and Learning Tours across Rwanda can also be arranged through the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It is located in the northern Kisozi district of the capital, which is a short moto-taxi ride from the centre (about RFr500). The first hall contains the museum shop. The second hall has geological displays including a large relief map that depicts the topography of Rwanda as something akin to a crumpled piece of paper. The middle halls exhibit items used in agriculture, hunting, animal husbandry, weaving, pottery and woodwork. The kagondo hut forms the centrepiece of an exhibit on housing and living compounds in precolonial times. The final halls feature traditional clothing – including an isinde (wicker raincoat), pounded bark garments and goat-skin capes – and information on Rwandan prehistory, including an interesting section on divination. There is also a side hall used to house temporary exhibitions. The museum is also the venue where the Intore dancers and drummers perform. Ask at reception about arranging a performance (RFr50,000). The museum is about 1km north of the centre. You can either walk or jump on a motorcycle taxi for around RFr400. Inema Arts Centre

Opened in 2012, the privately run Inema Arts Center is a collective of 10 resident artists and guests. It's quickly established itself as the foremost modern art gallery in Kigali. As well as paintings, sculptures and contemporary takes on traditional crafts, there are dance and music performances several days a week and courses. Much of the art is for sale (and can be shipped internationally), but if you're not buying, you're welcome just to admire. There's a small on-site cafe.

Hôtel des Mille Collines Hotel

The inspiration for the film Hotel Rwanda, this still-functioning luxury hotel was owned by the Belgian airline Sabena in 1994. At the time of the genocide, the hotel’s European managers were evacuated and control was given to local employee Paul Rusesabagina, who used his position to hide fleeing Tutsis and moderate Hutus, thus saving hundreds of lives. Paul, his family and a few lucky survivors were eventually evacuated in a UN convoy as the Interahamwe seized the hotel. Today, Paul lives in Brussels, is an outspoken humanitarian and has been involved in a public feud with Rwandan President, Paul Kagame.

Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial Museum

Nyamata church, about 30km south of Kigali, is a deeply disturbing genocide memorial where some 50,000 people died. Today the skulls and bones along with clothing scraps of the many victims are on display. While the visual remains of the deceased are a visceral sight, their inclusion here is to provide firm evidence to would-be genocide deniers.

Presidential palace

This former presidential palace on the eastern outskirts of the city has few exhibits, but it’s interesting to explore, with ‘secret’ rooms and an odd presidential nightclub. Wreckage from Juvenal Habyarimana’s presidential plane can still be seen where it was shot down – just over his garden wall. The perpetrators were never caught, but this act proved to be a rallying call for Hutu extremists and helped trigger the genocide.

Ethnographic Museum This outstanding museum was given to the city as a gift from Belgium in 1989 to commemorate 25 years of independence. While the building itself is certainly one of the most beautiful structures in the city, the museum wins top marks for having one of the best ethnological and archaeological collections in the entire region. The seven exhibition halls contain some very interesting items and everything is unusually well lit and presented.

Climb Mount Kigali

For those who love adventure, climbing Mount Kigali could be just the thing you need. It is not a mountain as such but the highest hill in Kigali reaching 6,000 feet. The starting point is in Nyamirambo near the Sun City Hotel. Overall, hiking to the top of the mountain is easy because of its gentle slopes. The top of Mount Kigali offers amazing views of the city and with opportunities to take beautiful photos. While on top of Mount Kigali, you can stop for food and beer at the Mera Neza bar or visit the Fazenda Sengha horse ranch for horseback riding. There is a platform in the ranch overlooking the beautiful city where barbecue is served for visitors.

Motorcycle Taxi Tour This is perhaps the most effective and cheap means of touring the city and its suburbs. The motorbikes are perfect for navigating through the traffic and provide flexibility to stop at places of interest. The bikes can be rented by anyone but it is important to move with a trustworthy Guide if you are not sure how to use them. Be careful using them during the rainy season and always put on the helmet provided by the Guide.

Volunteering If you have a strong believe in the spirit of volunteerism, then you need to know that Kigali will provide you with opportunities to get involved in important causes. You can request to help patients in the hospitals, teach English in a school, teach a new sport and design a website for one of the numerous Non-governmental organizations looking for the services of committed and skilled international volunteers. Expect to work in difficult conditions with minimal comfort. The only reward to expect from your volunteering spirit is the feeling of knowing that you have done something for the good and betterment of others.

Visit a bowling alley Mamba club was the first place to bring a boiling alley in Kigali. The club is found in Kimihurura and has helped raise the popularity of the sport among people in Rwanda. The club has quality imported bowling gear and puts together other indoor sporting activities that are enjoyed in an atmosphere of fun with good international and local cuisines on offer.

Visit Art Centers, Crafts Shops and art galleries

A visit to African cities is incomplete without visiting one of the art/craft shops – Kigali is no exception. The people of Rwanda love art and if you are looking for evidence, then visit their homes and sitting rooms. The Inema Art Center is the best art Centre in Kigali. This center was opened in the year 2012 by the two Innocent Nkurunziza and Emmnuel Nkuranga. The Centre now houses about 13 of the country’s best artists as well as international guest artists. Places to visit in KigaliIt is the place to go to if you are interested in beautiful African sculptures and paintings. It is possible to witness the artists at work or learn dancing and drumming skills. The centre also arranges yoga classes for visitors and has a bar that opens on Thursday allowing visitors to listen to music as they marvel at the art collections. For the best Jewelry collection, check out the popular Abraham Konga Collections. Konga uses discarded materials to create high quality earrings and necklaces. GOKigali Boutique within the Marriot Hotel has got high quality jewelry, shoes and books. You can also find baskets, clothes and a nice map of Kigali at GoKigali Boutique. For a cheaper jewelry and other household items, why not visit the Sarah Day Design located a few meters away from the boutique at the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre.

Go for Sauna and Massage

While in Kigali, you will have no shortage of places to go to that offer pedicure, facials or manicure. Massage and Sauna isn’t reserved for only the high end hotels but also specialized outlets scattered around the city centre. Visit one of the large shopping Malls

Nakumatt is located within the Union Trade Centre and is arguably the largest super market in the town centre at the moment. You can find almost everything there.

Skydiving This activity has become so popular in Kigali after being introduced only recently. Jumping from a small plane to the ground will raise your adrenaline to phenomenal levels. The activity can be done by anybody but needs great mental preparation. The instructors give an orientation about all aspects of safety including how to organize the parachute. The instructor will fly close to or with you all the way to the ground. I recommend that you read about the top activities in Nairobi if you plan to visit Kenya in the near future.

Ride a Horse Kigali offers the opportunity to go horseback riding through the beautiful countryside and around Mount Kigali with amazing views of the city. Horseback riding is arranged at the Fazenda Sengha in Mount Kigali and at the Rugende Park. Anyone can take part in horseback riding. Before starting the long ride, participants are taken for practice riding around a pen or tree as they learn the basics of handling a horse

Skating This is one of the recently introduced outdoor activities in Kigali. The park used for skating is at the SOS School in What to do in KigaliKacyiru. The SOS School offers opportunities to learn the fundamentals of skating for beginners while also teaching new skills for the advanced skaters.

Golfing The Kigali Golf Club in Nyarutarama allows non-members to play for a small fee while also providing golfing equipment and bags. The club has a well maintained and beautiful 18-hole course.

Play Tennis The best tennis courts in Kigali are found at Cercle Sportif, Hotel Des Places to see in KigaliMilles Collines, Nyarutarama Sports Club, Umubano hotel and the Amahoro stadium. Many of the other courts are still made of clay and may stress your feet as you play for a long time.

Go Fishing Lake Muhazi is the best place to go for fishing in Kigali. It takes about one hour driving by road to reach the lake from Kigali. The lake stretches about 32kms across and has several fishing holes where you can throw your line from a speedboat or a canoe. The area surrounding the lake has amazing scenery which adds value to the activity.

The Kigali Convention Center The Center is built next to the famous Radisson Blu Hotel. The Kigali Convention Centre is one of the prominent places in Kigali. It was built in the shape of a beehive with beautiful lights that look amazing in the night. It is said that the architect was inspired by the King’s palace in Nyanza, which has a similar design.

Go to the local markets The best way to learn about the culture of a country is to visit the local markets. From the market, you can know their favorite food and how they interact. Kimironko Market is arguably the largest local market in Kigali. It is built away from the city centre and has the best collection of fresh vegetable, fruits, species and flours. Places to visit in KigaliApart from food stalls, the market has several electronics, clothes and other craft shops. You can find local Rwandan fabrics with bright colors ready to be bought and sewed into a skirt, top or dress for small fee. The other major market is the Nyamirambo market. This market is more spacious allowing you to mingle with the locals as you get to know about their products. Most Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda and a bit of French. It is important to move with a guide whenever you visit these markets to help you with translation where necessary.

Attractions on Kigali Take Coffee or tea Kigali is known for producing some of the best coffee in the world. The number of coffee shops in the city has increased over the years serving tasty coffee and tea. Imagine an evening relaxing by one of the popular coffee shops, taking hot coffee as you watch the locals carrying out their daily activities. Some of the best tea and Coffee Cafes are Camellia (built inside a large shopping mall), Poivre Noir, the popular Sundowner, Shokola Cafe, Inzora Rooftop Café, Le Panorama (beautiful views of the city), Cafe Neo for brewed coffee and sandwiches. There is also Bourbon Coffee serving fresh fruit juices and sandwiches or Blues Café for its burgers and salads.

Visit a coffee cooperative After tasting and appreciating the coffee from one of the outlets, why not go and visit one of the coffee cooperatives in the outskirts of the city. Question Coffee is a Non-governmental organization and coffee cooperative that arranges day tours to their coffee plantation and farms to learn about the entire process of making coffee until it is packed in bags ready for sell.

Watching Movies or visiting the Night Clubs The night life in Kigali is filled with activity. Century Cinema located right at the city center is Kigali’s main movie theater. They show the latest blockbusters (some before official release from the US) in 3-D and 5-D with great motion, special effects and surround sound. The Goethe-Institute and Korean Embassy show German and Korean movies (themed) respectively on certain days of the week.

For those who love dancing, partying and mingling with new people, visiting one of the night clubs would be just the thing. These night clubs are frequented by all classes of people looking for a good time and fun over the weekend. Before storming one of the clubs, you can take dance lessons from one of the schools around the city like Chillax Lounge for Salsa dancing. K-Club is arguably the best dance club in Kigali but one can also go to Club 514 and ROSTY Bar for Karaoke on Wednesday nights. Tiamo in Kiyovu has a live band playing African tunes (Lingala, Zouk and Rumba) every Friday of the week. The Serena hotel organizes bigger and more expensive concerts involving known international artists.

Watch Soccer at the Amahoro Stadium Amahoro Stadium in the Remera area is the largest soccer stadium in Rwanda with the ability to accommodate 30,000 people. Soccer is very popular among the people Rwanda and the stadium gets filled each time the top teams play. The top and most popular league teams in Rwanda are Rayon Sports FC, Police FC and Armée Patriotique Rwandaise FC. Tickets for the matches aren’t expensive. So go and support one of the teams and mingle with the locals as you have fun and make new friends.

The best things to do in KigaliThe Kigali Public Library If you love reading books and knowledge, then the new Kigali public library is one place you should visit. The library offers a serene environment with a collection of electronic and physical books. Individuals are free to access the library computers, use the internet or watch documentaries on a large projector while drinking Rwanda coffee served from the Shokola Storytellers Cafe in one of the floors. To take a book home, one needs membership. If one is interested in buying books about Rwanda then they can visit the Ikirezi bookshop.

Top destinations in Kigali Visit restaurants While in Kigali, you can’t miss trying out delicacies like Akabenz (cooked pork), brochettes (roasted meat with chips), Nyama Choma (roasted meat), Ibirayi (goat mixed with potatoes) and giant fried fish.

These delicious meals are prepared in Hotels like Hotel des Mille Collines or in specialized restaurants around the city. The first place to check out is Brachetto. This high-end facility is managed by an Italian chief and is known for very tasty Italian dishes like pasta, grills, risotto, sandwich and gourmet.

Fazenda Sengha Country club

Rwanda Art Museum Historical place museum

Kigali Mountain peak

Question Coffee Gishushu Cafe

1000 Hills Distillery

Ikirezi Bookstore

Niyo Arts Gallery

Kimironko Market Compound grounds

Ivuka Arts gallery

Nyamirambo Women's Center (NWC)Clothing Shop