Things to Do in Kigali

Kigali sits at nearly 1,600 metres above sea level on Rwanda's central plateau, giving it a mild, spring-like climate year-round despite its equatorial location.

The city was almost completely rebuilt after the 1994 genocide, making modern Kigali one of Africa's newest and cleanest capitals, with wide avenues and organised green spaces.

Kigali's name likely derives from the Kinyarwanda word meaning 'the wide place', referring to the valley where the city was established in 1907 as a German administrative post.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial, located in the city, documents the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and houses the remains of over 250,000 victims in mass graves.

Rwanda's famous mountain gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park, just 2 hours north of Kigali, making the capital an essential gateway for gorilla trekking safaris.

Kigali's Caplaki Craft Village and local markets showcase traditional Rwandan basket weaving, pottery, and woodcarving—skills that have become economic drivers for post-genocide recovery.