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Panoramic view at the city business district of Kigali Rwanda
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Kigali Vacation Packages and Tours

Kigali
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Overview

Take a trip to Kigali on your Rwanda Vacation

Few people travel to Rwanda without passing through Kigali, the country’s largest and capital city. Located in the geographic centre of Rwanda, Kigali has been the economic and cultural hub since it became the capital in 1962.

Kigali was founded under German colonial rule in 1907. It was chosen as the country’s capital because of its central location after Rwanda achieved independence. Kigali came to international attention as a result of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994 which saw the slaughter of approximately one million Tutsi and moderate Hutu by Hutu militia as well as some members from the Rwandan army. The city was greatly affected by this tragedy but has worked hard to recover. The Kigali Memorial Centre opened on the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide and has been built on a site where over 250,000 people are buried.

Today Kigali is a clean and comfortable city that is popular with ex-pats and hosts numerous aid workers. Many people come to visit this attractive city on their way to visit the country’s famous gorillas at the Parc National des Volcans on the Rwanda safari. Tourism has increased in recent years and since 1994, the city has been rebuilt and continues to look forward without forgetting its past.

At a Glance

Languages

English, French, Kinyarwanda, Swahili

Currency

Rwandan Franc (RWF)

What do the experts say?

Staff profile photo of Elise Umulisa sitting on a wooden log on a beach.

Elise Umulisa

Destination Specialist
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Globetrotters should try to experience The Gorilla Naming Ceremony : Culturally, the naming of an infant is a big affair, and Rwanda has adopted the same cultural event with the New-born Mountain Gorillas, as way to highlight the need to protect these gentle giants that were on the verge of being hunted to extinction.
Learn More About This Expert
Staff profile photo of Elise Umulisa sitting on a wooden log on a beach.

Elise Umulisa

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Rwanda is always a surprise; especially for a 1st time visitor to Africa. The beautiful landscape (hills, mountains and rivers), is accentuated by the clean and organised infrastructure. Being a small country with shorter drives between parks, Rwanda offers superb photography experiences.

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