The Best Of Kigali

Kigali is the biggest and most developed city in Rwanda. This is where most international flights will arrive. There is no shortage of things to do to keep busy. During our two week trip to Rwanda, we used Kigali as a home base from which to take various trips around the country. Below is a guide to the very best of Kigali and how the make the most of your time there.

Getting from the Airport to Town

Depending on the size of your luggage, you can take a car taxi or a motorcycle taxi (read more about motos in the next section). Keep in mind that it should cost no more than 10,000-12,000 RWF for a taxi ride, so be sure to negotiate.

Getting around Town

The easiest, cheapest, and most efficient way to get around Kigali is on motos (motorcycle taxis). They are everywhere! Every moto driver has an extra helmet for the passenger. Simply get on the moto and tell them where you are going. When you arrive at your destination, pay them (based on your experience or, if you are uncertain, ask around what the trip should cost). If the moto driver feels you have underpaid, they will keep their hand out for more.

The minimum cost per trip is 300 RWF and a ride should cost no more than 1500 RWF within the city. Keep in mind that mzungus (foreigners) will likely be charged more than locals. Also, prices are higher when it’s dark and/or recently rained. You may also have difficulty finding a moto if it is raining (they will all take shelter at that time). Finally, if you want to take the guesswork out of paying, you can negotiate your price upfront before riding.

Where to Stay in Kigali

We stayed at Mamba Club in the posh neighbourhood of Kimihurura and loved it! Not only is Mamba Club a hostel, but it is also a social club that attracts both locals and expats each evening. There is a swimming pool, beach volleyball court, and even a bowling alley. There is also a full service bar and kitchen with decent food and good prices. The hostel consists of three private rooms and a mixed-gender dorm with bunk beds. The staff are amazing and super accommodating (we changed our travel plans multiple times throughout our two weeks in the country). They will also store large luggage for extended periods of time.

What to Eat in Kigali

There are many restaurants and cafés in Kigali. Be aware that wait times can be very long. On average, it will take at least one hour to receive your food after an order is placed. Below are a few of our favourite foods, cafés and restaurants.

Question Coffee

Coffee in Rwanda is amazing! Question Coffee is locally sourced from Rwandan farmers, and is some of the best in town. The café has a great patio and their coffee is top notch.

Inzora Rooftop Café

Inzora’s tiny rooftop patio offers some amazing views of the city from above. Their food menu only consists of a couple of items (we thoroughly enjoyed the grilled cheese). The coffee is delicious, and the fresh fruit juices are super refreshing.

Now Now Rolex

A “rolex” in Rwanda is very different from what a Rolex is in the rest of the world! In Rwanda, a rolex is a must try comfort food found in many restaurants. Our favourite was at Now Now Rolex in Kimihurura. A rolex is a chapati filled with ingredients such as tomato, onion, cabbage, meat, beans, and more. The portion sizes at Now Now Rolex are huge, so come with a hearty appetite.

Rwandan Buffet

A lot of restaurants offer buffet lunches for a decent price. In addition, many local businesses also provide their employees with buffet lunches for a very low price. We were fortunate enough to meet our friend for a buffet on his office’s rooftop a couple of times while in Kigali. The food was amazing, the price was minimal, and our bellies were more full than they needed to be.

Big Fish at Panorama Ten To Two

The big fish at Panorama Ten To Two was one of our favourite meals we had in Rwanda! Ignore the reviews online and recognize that the ambience of the restaurant may not be five star and the wait times will be long. Visit Panorama Ten To Two and order the big fish (and a drink if you want). Be aware that there is no menu and that your meal may take up to two hours to arrive. However, you’ll thank me once you take your first bite. It is so good! Be prepared to use your hands to dig into the delicious fish.

Sundowner

Sundowner is a great place to chow down on nyama choma (Swahili for roast meat). The goat meat is brought out on a giant wooden board and is cheap and delectable. The patio is a great place to meet friends for a sundowner (African happy hour) with good music, a fun atmosphere, and decent food.

Brochettes

At pretty much any eatery in the city, you can find brochettes (meat on a stick). Do yourself a favour and try them! Most commonly seen are goat brochettes, but you will usually also find beef and chicken.

What to do in Kigali

Genocide Memorial

A trip to Kigali is not complete without a visit to the Genocide Memorial. This museum does a remarkable job of describing the events that led to the unthinkable atrocities of the 1990s. It also provides information about other genocides around the world with hopes that education will help prevent history from repeating itself. There is no entrance fee, but the museum appreciates donations.

Kimironko Market

Kimironko Market is a fun place to explore. There an abundance of food, souvenirs, and hundreds of tailors that make custom clothing from kitenge fabric. Although you are likely to be charged inflated “mzungu” prices, leaving Rwanda with a custom kitenge bomber jacket is pretty awesome.

Be sure to discuss the prices with some locals before visiting. This will help prevent you from grossly overpaying. Also, keep the designs simple. I made the mistake of ordering complicated designs that did not turn out the way I wished. Be aware that the moment you step foot in the market, you will be inundated with merchants trying to lure you to their stall. Just smile and politely decline their invitation if you are not interested.

Join the Locals for Karaoke

There are a few bars around the city that have karaoke nights. Check out 514 (an homage to the owner’s hometown of Montreal, Canada!) on Wednesdays. It’s always packed with a mix of locals and expats singing their hearts out!

Ivuka Arts Studio

The Ivuka Arts Studio is home to a bunch of really nice local art. It’s a great place to get a bit of culture while in Kigali.

Inema Arts Centre

Located a short walk from Ivuka Arts Studio is Inema Arts Centre. It is another awesome place to see some quality local art. Also, Inema hosts a fun party every Thursday night! A live band or DJ will be on hand to get the dance floor moving. Be aware that it can get very busy!

Casa Keza

As mostly an expat hangout, Casa Keza is a cool place to watch some live music, eat some Spanish-inspired food, and have drinks with friends.

Hôtel des Mille Collines

This hotel was made famous as a place that over one thousand people took refuge during the 1994 genocide (and the topic of the popular film, “Hotel Rwanda”). Tourists can visit the hotel grounds to see where it all took place.

Kigali Heights and Kigali Convention Centre

Kigali Heights is a modern open-air mall with some shops and Western-style eateries on the top floor. We enjoyed having an afternoon snack at Java House, a popular East African coffee chain (the Tim Horton’s of East Africa, if you will). The convention centre is across from Kigali Heights and houses the Radisson Blu hotel. The dome is great to see at night when it is all lit up with the colours of the Rwanda flag!

So that’s the best of Kigali in a nutshell. There are some other great attractions that we didn’t have time to see such as the Nyamirambo Women’s Center with a walking tour of the neighbourhood. Admittedly, the city was much more developed than we anticipated and felt a lot different than other areas of the country. We loved our time in Rwanda!

Did we miss anything on this list? Send us a message! Murakoze!