Welcome to the amazing city tour in Kigali – Africa’s cleanest city! Kigali is the capital city of the Republic of Rwanda, a country in the eastern part of Africa. Kigali city is near the geographical center of Rwanda. It is surrounded by rolling hills and steep slopes as you move down to the valleys. It is a very clean city and is regarded as the cleanest city in Africa. Kigali is a Kinyarwanda word that means “big or wide”. The capital was named after Mount Kigali which was regarded as Kigali meaning it was vast. Kigali city is the center for transport, culture, and an economic hub for the entire country.
Brief history of Kigali city
Kigali city became the capital city of Rwanda at independence in 1962. It was earlier formed by the colonial leader Richard Kandt of the German empire that was controlling Rwanda at the time. Richard Kandt was looking for a suitable location to put the administrative outpost for the German empire. Later, foreign merchants started pouring in from all over the world to trade. Richard Kandt later built schools for the Tutsi people of Rwanda. These schools were run by the government of the German empire. When the Belgians came to power and took over Rwanda and Burundi, they merged them to form Ruanda-Urundi but the capital was made Usumbura which is the current Bujumbura.
Kigali city started to grow slowly and it was not affected by the civil wars that were taking place at the time. Kigali has now developed drastically into one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the cleanest. Kigali is also considered the luxury city of Africa because of its high rates of living. The city is also a very safe place to stay with a rich cultural heritage and very beautiful and friendly people.
What can you see while on a Kigali City Tour?
Genocide Memorial Center
The Genocide Memorial Center is located in the capital city of Kigali. It is a museum that consists of the remains of the people who were massacred in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. It is estimated that over 800,000 to 1,000,000 people died in the genocide. The Genocide Memorial Center has over 250,000 remains of people who were the victims of the civil war.
The 1994 Rwanda genocide is estimated to have taken over 100 harsh days. It was a dark period in the history of the country where the Interahamwe or Hutu extremists carried out mass killings of the Tutsi minorities. This was shortly after the then-president of Rwanda Juvenile Habyarimana was killed in a plane crash. His plane was shot down as it was landing and after it was confirmed that he was dead, the massacres in the country began.
The Genocide Memorial Center is divided into three sections, one section for the remains of the children who were killed, the second for the adults, and the third section for the other genocides that happened elsewhere in the world. When you arrive at the center, the guides will show you around and you will get to learn what happened before, during, and after the genocide of 1994. While at the center you will watch films about what transpired and also videos of the survivors telling their testimonies and these may leave you emotional. The Genocide Memorial Center was set up as a remembrance of what happened and to teach the new generation that it should never happen anywhere again.
Nyamatta Church
The Nyamatta church is one of the places to visit while on a tour in Kigali city. The Nyamatta church has an emotional and tragic past that often leaves even the strong-hearted in tears. The Nyamatta church is a church on the outskirts of Kigali that holds the remains of over 10,000 people who died there. During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, over 10,000 ran and sought refuge in the Nyamatta church thinking they were safe there. The Interahamwe or Hutu extremists bombed the doors open using grenades before killing all the 10,000 inhabitants inside the church. Their remains are still visible inside the church up to date. There is even a mass grave outside the church where over 50,000 people were buried. The Nyamatta church remains a very emotional and memorial site in the heart of Kigali.
The king’s palace
The king’s palace is located in the southern part of Rwanda in the Nyanza town. The palace was home to the last king of Rwanda King Mutara. Rwanda was initially a Kingdom and was under monarchy rule. The kingdom was later abolished by the then-Belgian government after conflicts and also lack of acceptance from some tribal groups. The palace was built during the reign of King Rudihigwa Mutara III with the support of the Belgian government before it was abolished. The palace dates back to over 200 years ago bearing information and artwork. During the 1994 genocide, there was massive destruction and killings and it was during this time that King Mutara and his wife Rosalie Gicanda were massacred. The royals were buried on a hill close to the palace. The palace has now been turned into a museum and it attracts people from far and wide.
The State House Museum
The State House Museum is also one of the places to check out while on a Kigali city tour. The State House Museum is the presidential palace of the former president of Rwanda Habyarimana who was killed in a plane crash. President Habyarimana’s plane was shot down as it landed in the state house ground. The president was later pronounced dead and this sparked off the long-planned genocide of the Hutu extremists against the Tutsi which took over 100 days. The State House has been turned into a museum by the current government. The State House has been preserved in its former state and the wreckages of the plane that crashed are still visible.
The National Museum
The National Museum of Rwanda was built in 1989 in the town of Butare. It is located a few 20 kilometers from the capital city Kigali. The National Museum has seven galleries that show photos, cultural tools, and artworks that date to over 500 years ago. The museum is a center of art as well as music because one can enjoy the Intore dancers after a tour of the seven galleries.
The Kigali Convention Center
The Kigali Convention Center is a prestigious building in the center of Kigali. It is famously known for hosting national and international conferences. The Kigali Convention Center also has a luxurious hotel called Radisson Blue as well as large shopping centers. The Kigali Convention Center offers beautiful scenes for photo shoots. When the night falls on Kigali, the Kigali Convention Center lights up in the beautiful colors of the flag of Rwanda. Make it a point to visit the Kigali Convention Center while on your Kigali city tour.
Kimironko Market
Kimironko Market is also a must-visit while on your Kigali city tour. The Kimironko market is the main market of Rwanda and the center of all trade products, food, and fruits. If you are looking for where you can get cheap fabrics, foods, and fruits while in Kigali then look no further than the Kimironko market. This market gives you a feel of the local people and how they go with their usual lives. Do not miss out on a tour to Kimironko Market while on a Kigali city tour.
Conclusion
Taking on a Kigali City Tour will guide you around one of the cleanest cities in Africa. The tour can make you have mixed feelings of happiness as well as sadness, especially around the genocide sites. Be sure to visit the genocide memorial hall, Nyamatta church, the State House Museum, and other genocide sites to remember and learn from the mistakes of the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The King’s Palace and other cultural sites like the National Museum will give you a feel of embracing culture as well as artefacts. Touring around Kimironko market will allow you to interact with the locals as they go by with their daily lives.
