Kigali
is sobering history
Welcome to Kigali
Spanning several ridges and valleys, Kigali, with its lush hillsides, flowering trees, winding boulevards and bustling streets, is arguably one of the most attractive capital cities in Africa, as well as easily one of the cleanest and safest.Despite bearing the brunt of the genocide's unspeakable horrors in 1994, Kigali has been the centre of Rwanda's nation-building efforts since that time and has seen massive... Read More
Top experiences in Kigali
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Kigali activities
3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Day 1: (L, D)Arrive at Kigali Airport where you will be welcomed by a Nkuringo Walking Safaris representative and transferred to your accommodation. You will have lunch in the capital city before proceeding to the most beautiful national park in the country: Volcanoes National Park. You will explore bamboo forests, open grassland and swamps. You will head to the lodge for Dinner and overnight at (Budget Option: Kinigi Guest House). Day 2: Gorilla tracking. 2-5 hrs trekking (B, L, D) Today you will have the opportunity to spend some time with the endangered mountain gorillas. You will take a beautiful hike through the green landscape and hills of the Virunga Volcanoes. Spend a magical hour with these amazing creatures while your guide talks about the family and their behavior. Return to the lodge in the early afternoon to relax and enjoy the breathtaking view, dinner and overnight. (Budget Option: - Kinigi Guest House).Day 3: Parc National des Volcanoes – Kigali – DepartureHave a relaxing breakfast and enjoy the beautiful scenery one more time before you head back to Kigali with a packed lunch. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided city tour and visit some interesting, historical sites, including the Kigali Memorial Center.Depending on the time of your international flight you will be dropped at Kigali International Airport.*For a fee, you can upgrade to either a mid-range option (Mountain Gorilla View Lodge), or a Luxury option (Volcanoes Virunga Lodge) (inclusive of local beverages and laundry service).
3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS GORILLA AND GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING IN RWANDA
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park. You will be picked from the hotel or airport and go for an OPTIONAL city tour and later drive northwards to Volcanoes National Park. Dinner and overnight stay at Muhabura Hotel(Budget)/Davinci Lodge (deluxe) / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge(Luxury). Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Tracking and afternoon nature/cultural walk. This is the day for gorilla tracking adventure. Assemble at the park headquarters for a briefing in the morning together with your trekking gear and drinking water and ascend in the forest to track the gorillas. It takes between 6 to 8 hours. In the evening, you may go for community walk or nature walk. Dinner and overnight stay at your Lodge. Day 3: Golden Monkey tracking and Transfer back to Kigali. In the morning, you will go for golden monkey tracking. On return, you will transfer back to Kigali. End of Tour NOTE: You can upgrade accommodation to mid luxury or Luxury . You will add 150 USD per person for mid luxury at Davinci lodge. You will add 300 USD per person for Luxury accommodation at Mountain gorilla view lodge OR at Five Volcanoes lodge.
Lake Bunyonyi and Kabale Boda-Boda Day Tour from Kabale
Kabale, with its population of some 500,000, is the chief town in deep western Uganda and just 49 miles from the capital city of Kigali in neighboring Rwanda. Kabale town rarely raises interest among travellers, as it is usually just a transport hub and gateway to both Lake Bunyonyi and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Hence, making this dusty town rather a unique and very local experience. You probably won’t be impressed but you will see the real Africa- see how this city moves, lives and breathes everyday. You will see it as it is, free from any adornments to merit the title “tourist attraction”. Visit the Kabale central market to buy and sample African produce. Here you will see local Ugandans getting about their daily routines. We also go to Bukora where blacksmiths/local Ugandans make hoes, panga, and knives and see how they make intricate designs. We then drive to Kabale hills and visit the famous Lake Bunyonyi, which is the highlight of the tour. This lake was created millions of years ago when lava blocked the River Kabaga creating 29 islands, some of which are settled. It is also home to the infamous Punishment Island where unmarried pregnant girls were marooned and left to die. You will have your lunch here and enjoy its serene ambiance and breathtaking views. After lunch, travel back to Kabale town and visit the hot springs in Rubanda called Kitagata, which is famous for its curative waters. Also called by the locals as ‘Mulago’ meaning hospital, this place receives several people on a daily basis who flock to the springs to bathe in the warm water. The water in the springs can warm up to 80 °C (176 °F). It is estimated that per week, about 800 people of all ages and from all corners of the country visit Kitagata springs.
Lake Kivu Day Trip and Cruise
8:00AM: Pick up in Kigali at client hotel and proceed to Lake Kivu in 4x4 luxury Toyota landcruiser. Arrive in the Lake Kivu are for an orientation tour and lunch at a local hotel with scenic views. Following lunch, board motorized boat for Lake Kivu cruise around various islands in the lake and the scenic beauty of the surround terraced hillsides. Disembark on the uninhabited Napoleon Island for a nature walk on the island viewing the local fruit bat population to the summit of the island which offers amazing vistas of the surrounding area. Board the boat again for the return cruise around the lake and back to port. Scenic drive from Lake Kivu back to Kigali with scenic stops and souvenir shopping en-route to the city. Drop off location at client's discretion.
Full-Day Akagera National Park Safari from Kigali
Your driver/guide guide will meet you at your hotel in Kigali at 5.30am and give you a short briefing before you drive to the Eastern part of the country to the Akagera National Park. Arriving in the Akagera National Park (125 km/2.5 hrs) you proceed on a morning game viewing drive in this African Savannah park. Plenty of animals can be seen, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and also many other mammal species. Known as one of the most scenic savannahs in East Africa, the game drive in Akagera provides you with the opportunity to also view gentle hills blending beautifully with lowland swamps and water bodies. Dominated by the labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the meandering Akagera River, the most remote source of River Nile, Akagera National Park (1,075 km²) is archetypal African savannah; tangled acacia woodland interspersed with open grassland but above all, Akagera is big game country! Herds of elephant and buffalo emerge from the woodland to drink at the lakes; lucky visitors might stumble across a leopard, a spotted hyena, even a stray lion. Giraffe and zebra haunt the savannah and more than a dozen types of antelope inhabit the park, most commonly the handsome chestnut-coated impala and the world’s largest antelope, the statuesque Cape Eland. Alongside the picturesque lakes, pods of 50+ hippopotamus grunt and splutter throughout the day, while out sized crocodiles soak up the sun with their vast jaws menacingly agape. And lining the lakes; some of the continent’s densest concentrations of water birds, amongst the parks over 500 recorded species. In the late afternoon, exit with more game viewing en-route and drive back to Kigali.
Gorilla Trekking Day Tour from Kigali
Your tour will start at 5am with pick-up from where you will be staying in Kigali then drive to Volcanoes National Park arrive on time at 06:30 am for registration and briefing about Gorilla trekking after drive to the base of the mountains where trekking starts accompanied by game rangers, thereafter enter into the jungle to search for the endangered mountain gorillas in their mist. Enjoy some time with the gorillas as you take unforgettable photography and videos and after return back to the park office for your awarding gorilla trekking certificate. Have lunch at Hotel Muhabura before driving back to Kigali for drop off at your accommodation around 5pm.