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, SwahiliCurrency
Rwandan Franc (RWF)What do the experts say?
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.
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.
I love Rwanda’s stunning natural beauty, peaceful atmosphere, vibrant culture, and the unforgettable experience of meeting mountain gorillas in their lush habitat.
Kigali is typically the start of your Rwanda sa...
A young child in Kigali makes for a great photo...
A water well in Kigali
Most Popular Time to Travel
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
KigaliMostly Sunny
30°C / 86°F
7mm / 0.3"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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