Location: Kigali
Top Things to do in Kigali
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What to do and see in Kigali, Kigali Province: The Best Bus Tours
Inhabited since the 11th-century, what is now Kigali has been the home of Twas, Tutsis and Hutus. The city sits on a series of verdant ridges and lush valleys, and has a Muslim Quarter and a bustling market. Rwanda's capital is the site of battles that left over a million, mostly Tutsi and moderate Hutus, dead. Kigali Memorial Centre is a permanent memorial to 1994's Genocide, built on a mass grave where 250,000 are buried. Kigali City Tour Bus offers an excellent introduction to this now safe, friendly city.
Restaurants in Kigali
1. 1-day Rwanda Gorilla Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Volcanoes National Park is situated about two hours from Kigali city, Rwanda’s capital. The drive to the park is scenic – viewing the beautiful mountains and green forests, which gave Rwanda its name as the “land of a thousand hills.” Gorilla trekking can take minutes or hours depending on where the gorillas decide to rest from the previous day. When you finally meet the mountain gorillas, you will have a magical chance to see them feeding and crushing through the underbrush, babies running around and full-grown gorillas inching toward observers loudly declaring their importance.
Inclusions: Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected), Transport by private vehicle, Lunch and Bottled Water
Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Gorilla Permits, Personal Insurance and International Flight
Reviewed By bdjshh
We planned our own itinerary , so what was Most important for us was the guide. We interviewed quite a few former customers of different guides, and finally settled on Augustine. He got glowing recommendations from people who had been with him, and even so, he managed to exceed our expectations. He is immensely knowledgeable- not a single question we came up with, that he didn't know how to answer. He is totally honest and punctual. Whatever you agree on - is carried out to the letter. He is a great and careful driver. He is extremely friendly polite and nice. But the really impressive part is his concern for his clients wellbeing and pleasure. He takes enormous pains, with great interpersonal sensitivity, to see that you get maximum pleasure and experiences from your trip. We have been to numerous out of the way places, where we needed local guides/drivers, and have had some really good ones, but Augustine is in a league of his own.
2. 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Budget Safari in Uganda
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
We've got you covered if you want to see more in less time! The 3-day gorilla trekking safari offered by Bamboo Ecotours takes you to the most stunning tourist attractions in southwestern Uganda. The major highlight of the tour is gorilla trekking adventure at Bwindi National Park. If time allows, guests will have an option to do optional activities on Day 1 and Day 3. Optional activities include canoe trekking at Lake Mutanda, Batwa cultural experience, and golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Inclusions: Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Dinner, Lunch, Gorilla permits, transfers, park entry fees
Exclusions: Travel insurance, flights, tips, porter fees
Reviewed By Quest402245
We are fanatically independent travellers who refuse to go for all-in packages but prefer to vet hotels ourselves and arrange independent transport. This may not be right for everyone but that's the way we roll. We made up our own itinerary for a Kenyan/Ugandan trip but the reality of real journey distances, gorilla permits and other unknowns drove us to choose a company that would respect our wishes while offering on-the-ground advice. The Ugandan leg was Bamboo Eco Tours. My first contact with Edison and his calm knowledgeable Whattsups assured us that we had chosen the right company. At one point I accidentally transferred our entire hotel pre-payments to the Eco Tours account. No problem. Edison transferred the money himself out of his account and to the correct parties. Integrity, professionalism and honesty are the fundamentals of this company. After the Kenyan shutdown we were forced (thankfully in retrospect!!) to cancel our 2 weeks there and add it onto our Ugandan itinerary. No problem!! Edison was on it and we arranged for an extended 26 day epic trip. We stayed a leisurely 5 nights in the Kampala Serena and met up with Fred. From the get go he was polite, friendly and extremely concerned that we would get everything we dreamed off out of this holiday. My first bizarre request was to visit the old Entebbe terminal where the famous July 3/4, 1976 raid was carried out by Israel to free hostages. Hotel: Sorry...it is a UN area and is off limits to tourists. Fred: Let me see what I can do. I have a friend.... The long and the short of it is Fred made it happen. We got a tour of the bullet-riddled tower and environs. Without Fred and Ecotours...forget it!! What a thrill and we hadn't even left Kampala yet!! We had a wonderful city tour with Fred who saw quickly that some midday RnR at the Serena was in order. Bless him!!! Next day it was the road!!! First stop was Mahingo Lodge near Lake Mburo. Fred quietly let us settle in before materialising like Jeeves to ask when we wanted to start next day. That was typical of his understated but efficient manner. We viewed lots of game in Fred's 4 wheel drive aka "The Beast"!! There was no place it could not go and Fred is a fantastically safe driver. Main roads in Uganda are excellent but the side roads are brutal!! No problem for The Beast!! Then on to Kyumbura Gorge where we were the only guests for 3 days!! We even had our own butler!! But that's another review!! Next to Mt Mgahinga Lodge sitting under 2 volcanoes; part of a string of volcanoes stretching into DRC Congo. This was Fred's home town so he was invaluable in getting us to the Silver back and Golden Monkey trekking sites on time and relaxed. Words cannot describe the experience of the Silverback encounter. A family of 9 gorillas in even terrain moving around you. We were alone but for the rangers, porters and trackers...no other tourists!!! I actually wept after the experience. One of the greatest moments spent travelling....ever!! The walk up to the jumping off point was surprisingly tough. Fred told me of a US lady who wanted to give up even at this point. He said to me that HE wanted to cry for her vanished dreams so he convinced her to go on and she did! What a guy!! On the journey home a small poor child stood by our car. I felt obliged to give him some money. As we drove away Fred spoke to him in Ugandan. I asked him what he had said. "Go give it to your mother to spend on books and clothes not on candy!!" Later I found out Fred had gone away and found out the mother to check he had given the money to her. That tells you everything you need to know about this wonderful person!! Then we drove to Bwindi as we had actually gotten TWO gorilla permits in case the trackers couldn't locate the families!! Trust me they ALWAYS get their man...or primate!! That was a heck of a drive but Fred enriched it by conversing on the terrain, the vegetables, fruit and local villages. What a trip!! The man literally eats and drinks like a bird and runs on power like a Terminator!! Bwindi was totally different and a little bit more touristy although way down on pre-covid days. We again did the gorillas and the trek was even worse than the other two due to the dense forest and steep terrain. It also rained!! Viewing of the gorillas was again different and magical although we enjoyed the Mgahinga experience more. Sliding and slipping down the mountain in the rain was brutal but Fred was there to meet us in The Beast!! We drove back to Kampala stopping off at our favourite Mahingo Lodge again on the way. I also added Jinja and the site of the Speke identification of the source of the Nile. Fred was totally up for it!! This turned into an epic day with beautiful clouds piled up over Lake Victoria. Highly recommended. Finally back at the Serena it was time to say goodbye. We hugged and shed a tear and said goodbye to the guy who had shared one of the greatest trips of our lives. Go with Bamboo Eco Tours. They have the key to unlock the treasures within Uganda's preposterously beautiful land and magical people. You can thank me later!!!
3. Kigali City Private Tour (History, Culture, Art and Markets)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Our city tour covers the cultural and historical insights of Rwanda in general and in Kigali in particular. We visit the memorial, local markets, cultural centres and many other interesting surprises. We start at 9am and finish at 5pm.
Inclusions: Private transportation, Bottled water, English speaking guide
Exclusions: Lunch, Snacks
Reviewed By Dirk W
I cannot rave enough about Patrick, the owner, and Benique, my guide, who accompanied me during most of my 10 day visit to Kigali in October. After the first tour I decided to add several other trips. It was an amazing experience and I had the wonderful opportunity to tour in the North, West, South and East. Both Patrick and Benique are extremely friendly, accommodating and easy to work with. They are a wealth of information and being with Benique on the road felt more like travelling with a friend than a guide. The tours are very profesionally organized and the hotels on the road a fantastic selection with amazing views. I cannot wait to come back! PS: Yambi Tours reinforced the great COVID 19 protocol in Rwanda and you feel very safe at all times.
4. Women-led Coffee Farm Trek
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Celebrated as a star in the specialty coffee world, Rwandan coffee boasts delicate flavours sought after by connoisseurs around the globe. Here in the heart of coffee country we invite you to learn how Rwanda’s world-class coffee is grown, harvested, evaluated, roasted, and served directly from the women farmers.
Inclusions: Lunch, Gift Bag, Certificate of Appreciation
Exclusions:
Reviewed By FlossieCronje
Visit Question Coffee for a lovely cappuccino, friendly people, a good variety and affordable prices
5. 1 Day Trip Akagera National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Do you want to see the big five, but you don't have much time? We pick you up from Kigali and drive you Akagera N.P. in Rwanda. We offer ground transfers and comfortable to make this an unforgettable and hassle-free experience. For those looking to save time and commune with wildlife, this is the perfect tour.
Inclusions: Private transportation, Bottled water, Coffee and/or Tea, Snacks, WiFi on board, Park Entry Fees
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By kelvinjules
Very Nice tour, amazing car with good price, thank you so much We are very happy with this company...
6. 1 day Trip to Lake kivu beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
After breakfast, from your hotel in Kigali around 7Am in morning meet your driver guide and gives you short briefing about journey and takes 20 min, after 7h30 Am star drive to North-West province with 3 hours driving direct to get there, but on way we have one stop interesting spot for culture village ( Ibyiwacu cultural village is one of the key features that make Rwanda safaris exceptional experiences. its gives you a rare chance to meet local people, in their environment, with a taste of our culture and traditions. Be genuinely welcomed by the community as a special visitor while they proudly present to you aspects of their traditions and beliefs. The only way to get to know people, is getting close and interacting with local people, and taking part in their daily activities and most of all with them.) for 1.5h, thereafter we keep moving to lake kivu for relaxation,boat cruiser, hot spring water and massage takes 3 hours. Around 4 Pm we can plan back to Kigali with 3 hours driving.
Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions:
Reviewed By okolin
Where to begin, I must say I really had a great time at Rwanda I think Akagera National Park was the Highlight of my Trip all thanks to Peter, he's the Best!! and I highly recommend Silverbird Tours Agency...Okay! the day started very early, Peter was already at our guest house on time and ready to go, it took us about 2 hours to get to the park, when we got there, He had already arranged Breakfast and Lunch which was very good!. Then we got set for our Adventure into the park, the best part for me was he knew how to navigate the park and he knew how to find all the animals (Hippos, Antelopes, Zebras, Monkeys, Baboons, Elephant, Giraffe etc) even when we had a flat tire he was so down to earth, very Professional, made us laugh and he made sure we had a good time, he ensured we got back to our Guest House on time so much to say but in all i had a Great Experience hope to come back soon!....
7. 2 Days in Akagera National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
High level services, professional tour guide. This is a value for money, full adventure and leisure package
Inclusions: Dinner, Lunch, Lunch, Emergency medical evacuation services , Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes, Private transportation
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Chuck_U2000
A group of friends and I visit an African country each year. Kigali was our pit stop for October 2019 and we needed a tour company to provide us with a tailored package that included navigating the popular tourist sites and getting to see the real Kigali! Liz and her business partner Claudine did not disappoint; their professional approach was second to none and we received great recommendations re tourist sites to visit, restaurants to eat and coffee shops/ bars to chill. Our own dedicated tour guides and coach service made getting around easy. Our first stop was the Akagera National Park followed by visits to the Genocide Memorial and Parliament Museums. A sumptuous lunch at the Hotel des Mille Collines aka "Hotel Rwanda" followed by individual visits to local markets and galleries followed. Our evening ended with a Kigali bar-crawl! An amazing road trip at the crack of dawn to Rwesero to enjoy the lake Muhazi and King Fish Beach Resort kicked off our 2nd day! The scenery was as good as the food! To top it off a bonfire was organised where we chilled appreciated the nature! The night ended with an amazing rooftop reception in Kigali while we rounded up our city tour on the last day and spent the final evening at the renown Piri-Piri spot. I would highly recommend Phonenix Travel & Tours as they showed a deep knowledge of the entire landscape and definitely provided a rounded experience for us. One thing the group unanimously agreed on was that a second visit was necessary!
8. Full-Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Do you want to see the mountain gorillas, but you don't have much time? We pick you up from Kigali and drives you to Volcanoes N.P. in Rwanda. We offer ground transfers to make this an unforgettable and hassle-free experience. For those looking to save time and commune with the gorillas, this is the perfect tour.
Inclusions: Gorilla Permit, Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, You take a cup of coffee before Briefing at RDB Office Kinigi, Lunch, Bottled water, WiFi on board
Exclusions: Dinner, Alcoholic Beverages, Gratuities
9. Kigali City Tour (History minded city tour of Kigali)
Overall Ratings
4.6 based on 9 reviews
Far from simply looking at buildings and listening to a few anecdotes, you will learn about life in Kigali during several different time periods and begin to understand the impact each era had on the Rwandan people.
Inclusions: Lunch, Private transportation, All Fees and Taxes, Flowers to lay at the memorial
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Ashland_Local43
In discussing the Holocaust and the genocide of 6 million Jews, Hannah Arendt wrote about the "banality of evil." When you visit the Millenium Village, you will get to see for yourself whether this description applies to the Rwandan genocide. It may be one of the most important and touching experiences of your life. How does an ordinary person kill his neighbors? How do you react when you come home to find that everyone you love has been killed? -- and how can you possibly forgive the people who did it? Visiting the Nyamata memorial, you will be horrified at the scale and the cruelty of the Rwandan genocide. But when you visit the Millenium village, you will undoubtedly be left with feelings of hope -- hope that such terrible acts do not necessarily have to perpetuate a cycle of reprisals and revenge that continues forever. Perpetrators can show true repentance and victims can move past unspeakable tragedy to demonstrate forgiveness that is almost unimaginable. This give us hope, not just Rwanda, but for all of humanity.
10. Nyamirambo Walking Tours
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2 reviews
Nyamirambo is a bustling and vibrant multi-cultural commercial suburb of Kigali that offers visitors a typical African flair. Comparable with South Africa’s ‘Township Tours’, this unique experience brings you right into the heart of the colors, noises and smells of urban Rwanda. Here, people from different educational, cultural and social backgrounds live together among enchanting shops and busy markets, surrounded by the sounds of Islamic prayer, children’s games and commercial activities. Your hosts together with the young and charming women you will meet at the Nyamirambo Women’s Co-operative (NWC), will take your hand and guide you through their home area, a part of town that is also called “the city that never sleeps”.
Inclusions: Lunch, Local guide, Local taxes, Bottled water, Meet guide at hotel or other place of preference in Kigali, Transport by private vehicle
Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Reviewed By Claudia S
The driver and the Guide picked me up on time and they were super friendly. I had prepared myself for a full day of Kigali (history and life). The first stop was the Memorial, the second the Kant House, and then to the Kamp Memorial Museum. After that, we had a lunch break. And that was it. After that, we drove around the town for about 1 hour. Kigali is a nice city, but there is not too much to see. Sometime around 2 pm, I asked if we had another stop, they answered 'no' and said the tour was over. I had a faint memory that there was more on the list, but I couldn't check. Why we didn't go to the market, I don't know (especially since I had said several times that I would like to experience the life of the people in the city!!). Also on the list is Caplaki Craft Village: it must be said about this, the Guide had asked me if I liked art. My answer was, 'it depends, I don't like museums that much'. Maybe that's why it was removed from the program. But even if this had been the case, why wasn't I offered an alternative? In conclusion, I must say that I could have easily visited the three places I mentioned in advance by motorbike taxi and saved a lot of money. Conclusion: for me, not good value for money.
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