Kigali City Tour with Local Expert & Local Food
Description
A "One Day Kigali City" tour offers a fantastic opportunity to experience the best of Kigali, including visits to key historical and cultural sites, and a delicious Rwandan lunch at Elikapeka. The tour typically includes the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Natural History Museum, and local markets, with lunch at a restaurant serving Rwandan cuisine. Kigali, Rwanda's capital, is known for its cleanliness, greenery, orderliness, and vibrant atmosphere, often earning it the nickname "Singapore of Africa". It offers a blend of cultural attractions, historical sites, and modern development. A one-day tour of Kigali would likely include visits to key landmarks, exploration of the city's art scene, and opportunities to experience Rwandan cuisine, such as at Elikapeka. One Day Kigali City takes you to the Top places to visit and things to do in Kigali. You will also be able to taste Rwandan local food at Afrika Bite during lunch time.
Tour Options
Itinerary
In the center of the hustle and bustle of Kigali City in Nyarugenge District is a car free zone which is a stretch covering an entire street. It is a pedestrian only stretch and it is lovely to walk, take a rest or buy souvenirs from craft shops. Often there will be exhibitions and entertainment on the weekend hence a nice place to check out while on your visit to Kigali. Old and New Kigali Kigali has a plan of what they want the city to look, and there is already a new Kigali that is developing to take the old Kigali. So crossing between the new and old Kigali gives you a picture of what Kigali has been and what it will be in the next decade.
Mount Kigali – highest point in Kigali (1850m) Afri Safaris driver guide will take you to the highest point of Kigali and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Could take you about 15 - 20 minutes from the city center, driving around Biryogo and Nyamirambo up to the summit.
Richard Kandt was the first colonial governor of Rwanda, on behalf of Germany, until the early 1900s. At present, the Kandt House Museum in Kigali comprises three main parts. The first part presents Rwandan life in all its aspects – social, economic, and political – before the colonial period. The second part traces the experience of the Rwandan people during the colonial period. Following the Berlin Conference in 1884, the Germans ruled Rwanda until 1916, when the Belgians took over under the League of Nations Mandate after World War I. Richard Kandt’s life and deeds in Rwanda are covered here. The third part covers the history of Kigali, before, during and after the colonial era. Kigali was made the capital upon independence in 1962
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a place of remembrance and learning dedicated to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda & the road to recovery Kigali genocide memorial site is a UNESCO World heritage site and built at the burial site of 250,000 victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The museum contains documentation of the genocide and one has to visit this place to learn about Rwanda’s recent tragic history if one is to appreciate the immense progress the country has achieved to date, in terms of reconciliation and development. The museum also contains examples of other genocides in the world. It thus seeks to provide a vital lesson on what blind hate can cause. The museum is free to visit and you can walk through it on your own. There is an audio guide if you want one but for a fee of $15. Allow at least 2 hours for the visit. For more on the happenings of the genocide you can add visits to other museums in Kigali covering incidences pivotal to the genocide
This new museum documents the heroics of the RPA (Rwanda Patriotic Army) led by President Kagame that fought to stop the genocide and has built Rwanda from the ashes into one of the most progressive countries in Africa. On way from Kigali genocide memorial to Campaign against genocide museum you will be enjoying the view of Kigali Golf and Nyarutarama Golf Lake If you are a golf player, the Kigali Golf Club is one of the most beautiful courses you can play on. A 9-hole golf course, it is situated in a lush environment near Nyarutarama Golf Lake. You can also visit simply to enjoy the scenery. You can combine a visit the golf club with the lake. Lake Nyarutarama For nature lovers, this is a little lake situated near the golf club. The lake is surrounded with bush and woodland and the bird lovers it offers a good birding opportunity in Kigali.
Stop by: Afrika Bite for Lunch; taste the local rwandan food.
This is the biggest and busiest market in Kigali where almost everything is sold from foodstuffs, fabrics to clothing. This is an economic landmark which should not miss out on your Kigali day tout itinerary. You have your measurements taken by a skillful tailor and get a colorful African wear made for you in a matter of hours. or Nyamirambo Women's Center The Nyamirambo Women’s Center is a cooperative by local women which offers skills to other women in the area as a way of uplifting them economically and socially. The center teaches basket weaving, Handicrafts making, cooking, computer literacy, sewing, etc… You can visit the center to see a variety of handicrafts' made by the women.
Niyo Arts center is a place for creativity to thrive; a safe haven where Rwandan artists can come and experiment with their art form, be it painting, sculpture, dance, music or drumming. The artists in residence come from all over Africa, so you can expect to see a vast array of African art on display. Niyo Art center provides a space where Rwandan creative artists can explore their talents and express themselves freely. In addition to the art, We dedicate our efforts to improving our community by giving 40% of our profit to Niyo foundation, NGO that supports women and children living in poverty in Rwanda."
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please give us some details about the hotel name for pickup or the street number of the house and the neighborhood in Kigali city.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We provide lunch local food (Rwandan food) for both vegetarian and non vegetarian
Reviews(13)
Great city tour. Elyse showed us all the important places of the city and told us a lot about the life and history of Kigali and Rwanda. The places visited (Kandt House, Genoice Center, Market, etc.) were very impressive.
Dear Tobias, Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re delighted you enjoyed the city tour with our driver-guide Elyse and found it insightful and memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again in Rwanda. Best regards, Afri Safaris Team
A very educational, beautiful and adventurous tour. I was able to see so much of Kigali and learn the history or Rwanda. My tour guide was very knowledgeable in all aspects of Rwandas culture and history. I highly recommend!
Dear Joe, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We truly appreciate your kind review of the Kigali City Tour experience. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our services and had a great experience with our driver-guide. Your positive comments and high rating mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue delivering excellent experiences. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Warm regards, Afri Safaris Team
Kigali city tour with Afri Safaris was an incredible experience! Our driver and guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and gave great insight into Rwanda's history and culture. We visited Key landmarks like the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local markets and vibrant neighbourhoods all at comfortable pace. The highlight was the delicious local lunch, where we enjoyed authentic Rwandan dishes. A perfect mix of history, culture, and food
Dear Ava, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Kigali city tour experience with us, we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team
Had a great day tour around the spectacular city of Kigali thanks to informative and attentive guide, Elyse, who allowed us more than enough time to enjoy and take in each of the stops on our itinerary, making sure we got the full experience and never rushing us or missing stops even though the time ran over, highly recommended great tour
Dear Ryder, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Kigali city tour experience with us, we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide Elyse. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team
The tour was definitely worth it. The guide, Ben, was very responsive and willing to accommodate my wishes into the schedule. During the trip, I acquired the knowledge on the history of Rwanda, and visited the local markets for souvenir shopping. Most important of all, Ben also took me to his favorite local restaurant for trying the amazing Rwandan food.
Dear Jessica, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Kigali city tour experience with us, we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide Ben. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team
The city tour was quite immersive. I got to try local cuisine and go to some of the most famous places in Kigali. What was most profound to me was the Kigali Genocide Center, I came in April, the genocide month. It was an intense experience, glad I was able to see and gain better understanding and knowledge of some of Rwanda’s history. Samuel was a very pleasant guide, If I’m ever in Rwanda again, I would love him to be my guide for other tours. Thank you AfriSafari.
Dear Ibiye, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Kigali city tour experience with us, we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team
The private tour has a great itinerary: alongside the must-gos like the museums there are also meaningful spots like women’s market (where you can buy art craft to support women in rural areas) and art centre (where you can speak with local artists). My tour guide Ben was very friendly and attentive. He was also very knowledgeable about Kigali and Rwanda as a whole. Having a car to take me to various spots netted the need to order taxis, which was really not that easy.
Dear Alvin, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Kigali city tour experience with us, we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team
I had an amazing experience largely thanks to our guide, Ben. He was not only an excellent host but also incredibly knowledgeable about Rwanda's rich history and the diverse areas of Kigali. I learned numerous fascinating anecdotes about the city that truly enhanced my understanding of the culture and its people. As a solo traveler, I appreciated Ben's patience in helping me capture photos throughout the tour. I can't recommend Afri Safaris enough! I'm already looking forward to my next adventure with them.
Dear Emma, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Kigali city tour experience with us, we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team
I had an amazing experience, largely thanks to our guide, Ben. He was not only an excellent host but also incredibly knowledgeable about Rwanda's rich history and the diverse areas of Kigali. I learned numerous fascinating anecdotes about the city that truly enhanced my understanding of the culture and its people. As a solo traveler, I appreciated Ben's patience in helping me capture photos throughout the tour. I can't recommend Afri Safaris enough! I'm already looking forward to my next adventure with them!
Dear Emma, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Kigali city tour experience with us, we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Warm Regards, Afri Safaris Team
This was an absolutely phenomenal experience! As an avid traveler who has visited over forty countries, one of my top priorities when exploring a new destination is to take a local tour. It allows me to understand the community, its cultural norms, and the overall landscape. While many tours provide these basics, this one went far beyond my expectations, thanks to the incredible care and passion of my tour guide, Ben Alfa. From the very start, it was clear that guiding isn’t just a job for Ben—it’s his calling. His deep investment in ensuring I gained a thorough understanding of both the past and present history of Kenya and Kigali was unmatched. As a native with a personal connection to the Rwandan genocide, Ben shared heartfelt, powerful accounts of this dark chapter in history. His storytelling brought the magnitude of the events to life in a way that was both sobering and deeply impactful. What made this experience even more remarkable were the unexpected surprises along the way. I had the chance to visit a local village, try my hand at archery, dance with villagers, play the drums, and capture incredible photos for my Instagram and to share with loved ones. These immersive moments were unforgettable and added a vibrant, personal touch to the journey. The experience was so exceptional that I immediately booked another tour—the Golden Monkey Trek—with Ben and Afri Safaris the next day. Once again, they exceeded all expectations. The scenic two-hour morning drive was breathtaking, and Ben’s expertise and enthusiasm made the entire trek unforgettable. I can’t wait to return to Rwanda and will enthusiastically recommend Afri Safaris and Ben Alfa to my travel-loving friends. This was, without question, one of the most beautiful and enriching experiences I’ve ever had. Thank you, Ben, and the entire Afri Safaris team!
Dear Gakmba, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Kigali city tour and One-day Golden Monkeys trek experience with us, we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and you learned about Kigali and the history of Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda 1994 with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Warm Regards, Afri Safaris Team
