The City of Kigali was in May 2019 ranked the second most popular destination in Africa by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) which represents the world’s leading association in handling, transporting and accommodating international meetings and events.
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For the second year in a row, Kigali maintained second place as preferred city in Africa after Cape Town on ICCA rankings following a 2019 report released on May 12, 2020.
Rwanda moved forward two positions attaining third place in Africa as preferred country in Africa after South Africa and Morocco.
By and large, Kigali is well known for its clean, beautiful and well-maintained safe streets.
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In this article, we explore 10 of Kigali’s not to miss tourist attractions.
1. Rwanda Art Museum
The country’s sole museum of contemporary art, the Rwanda Art Museum opened to the public in May 2018.
Formerly the Presidential Palace Museum, this museum displays contemporary artworks from Rwanda as well as abroad.
The museum seeks to provide an insight into the originality of Rwandan creativity. Exploring the development of art from olden times to the modern day, it considers how traditional and modern imaginations can blend and fuse.
The flight debris from the presidential jet that went down on April 6, 1994 remains in the backyard and this will remain a heritage site. It is located just about four kilometer from Kigali International Airport.
2. Campaign against Genocide Museum
President Paul Kagame on Wednesday officially opened the Campaign Against Genocide Museum in December 2017.
The Campaign Against Genocide Museum is housed in the Parliamentary building. It was established to showcase the history of Rwanda during the campaign against the genocide against the Tutsi.
The Parliament was chosen as the location for this museum because it hosted 600 Rwanda Patriotic Army soldiers from December 1993 to 1994 as they were preparing for the formation of the Broad-Based Transitional Government and the National Transitional Assembly.
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The museum is modernly furnished partially with traditional artefacts and traditional wall cladding. The well-lit interior is lined with digital pictures and embedded audio and visual videos and pictures for visitors to watch, read and listen.
It displays how the Rwanda Patriotic Army stopped the 1994 Genocide and saved thousands of Tutsi who were being hunted and killed.
3. Kandt House Museum
Richard Kandt was the first colonial governor of Rwanda, on behalf of Germany, until the early 1900s.
The Kandt House Museum, previously known as the Kandt House Museum of Natural History, is located in Nyarugenge District near the former Nyarugenge Prison.
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The museum presents Rwandan life in all its aspects social, economic, and political before the colonial period and Richard’s deeds in Rwanda. There is also an additional exhibit of live reptiles such as Nile crocodiles, snakes such as black mamba, python, cobra and others found in the Rwandan countryside.
4. Umusambi Village
Umusambi Village has been established as Kigali’s first wildlife sanctuary and nature reserve originally to rehabilitate and host the grey crowned cranes rescued from captivity.
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Umusambi Village is about 21 hectares of restored wetland that had been destroyed for settlement and agriculture. It is a wonderful spot to visit for nature walks where you observe and learn about these elegant Grey crowned Cranes and experience nature in Kigali. It offers a perfect place to retreat. Umusambi Village is an environmentally sound place of interest for tourists and locals to visit.
5. Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park
The restoration of the Nyandungu wetland and creation for an eco-tourism park saw the planting of 17,000 trees made up for 55 indigenous species. The 121-hectare park features a medicinal garden, a Pope’s Garden, five catchment ponds, three recreation ponds, an information centre, a restaurant as well as 10 kilometres of walkways and bike lanes.
The Nyandungu Eco-Park provides a space for residents and visitors to the city to explore and learn from nature. It is the first public recreational and touristic facility of its kind in Kigali.
With 121.7 hectares in size, including 70 hectares of wetland and 50 hectares of forest, Nyandungu Eco-Park is home to more than 62 local plant species and hosts more than 100 bird species.
Visitors enjoy birdwatching, hiking and cycling on car-free bike lanes as well as access to educational services and peaceful gardens with fresh air. Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park is located in the valley between Kimironko and Masoro in Ndera sector.
6. Kigali Genocide Memorial
In 1999, the city provided land where a place of remembrance could be built and where victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi could be given a dignified burial. Construction of the Kigali Genocide Memorial began in the same year and the process of properly burying the victims of the genocide began in 2001.
Today the memorial serves as the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide. The Kigali Genocide Memorial, one of Rwanda&039;s dark tourism sites, comprises three permanent exhibitions, the largest of which documents the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
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It also has a children’s memorial in addition to an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world. The education center, gardens and Genocide Archive of Rwanda contribute to a meaningful tribute to those who perished and provides a powerful educational experience for visitors.
7. Imbuga City Walk
Imbuga City Walk is the main car free zone located in Kigali’s central business area that was transformed into recreation and green space with pedestrian and cycling friendly pavements, green corridor landscaping, kiosks for a food court and other items, an exhibition zone in addition to a kids playground.
VIDEO: Explore the new Imbuga City Walk
There are several facilities in place such as street benches and free WiFi, city lounge and arcade, pedestrian- friendly street lamps and public toilets.
8. Biryogo car free zone
Biryogo car free zone’s streets are painted in different colors mostly known as "Mu marange” with food kiosks and restaurants known for its Swahili cuisine, and aromatic beverages. These busy streets always look like a food festival site.
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The home of thé vert (green tea) and other soft drinks, the Biryogo car free zone allowed a neighborhood which never goes to sleep to serve the entire city with its unique recipes. They say the ambiance in this car free zone can only be lived, rather than told.
9. Gahanga Cricket Stadium
Gahanga Cricket Stadium also known as Kicukiro Oval, is a cricket ground in Kigali.
It is Rwanda’s first dedicated international cricket ground and it has quickly become a prominent ground in African cricket.
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Gahanga Cricket Stadium opened in October 2017 and has been dubbed the ‘Lord’s of East Africa.’ The not-for-profit ground consists of an ICC international standard wicket with pavilion and bar, as well as community facilities. It has won and been nominated for several prestigious architecture and engineering awards.
Its three vaults, designed to mimic the trajectory of a bouncing ball, as well as Rwanda’s rolling hills, were constructed out of 66,000 tiles – each handmade, predominantly using local labour – made primarily from local earth excavated on site.
10. Kigali Golf Resort and Villas
The Kigali Golf Resort and Villas is the latest luxury tourism destination in Rwanda. It is also a beautiful urban illustration of development that elevates the natural environment and local capacity in Kigali.
The Kigali Golf Resort and Villas has an 18 hole golf course along with the Nyarutarama Lake, "lover’s lake,” surrounded by a walking track set within lush green vegetation and abundant bird life.