I have two quick questions about Rwanda.....1) we will only be in Kigali for one night. Which restaurant should we go to that will provide the best Kigali experience since we only have one opportunity? We will be a group of 5 and are looking to make the best choice. 2) can you get away with tracking gorillas in tennis shoes or do you need hiking boots for certain? Is the terrain full of vines and undergrowth?
Thanks for any advice!
by "the best kigali experience," do you mean to say you're looking for rwandan food and/or culture? or simply the best place to eat and enjoy an evening?
if it's the former, i don't know -- because i live in rural tanzania and eat plenty of african food every day. my trips to kigali are reserved for restocking on groceries and eating at delicious restaurants.
my choice: heaven. it's near the mille collines hotel. it's a beautiful restaurant that overlooks town and served really good food. it's a small menu, but you said you'd only be there a night...
second choice: sola luna. italian place that also has a really good view. they have like 150 pizzas on the menu, but how good they are varies from pizza to pizza.
third choice: new cactus.
Hi....can't really help with a restaurant in Kigali but you'll probably be ok tracking in reasonably strong training shoes....expect to get completely covered in mud though!
Cheers
pkh
most Kigali restaurants look nice but I am not a fan of any of them, either it is the food or service lacking....
Some Kigali restaurants in Town Kiyovu:
Khana Khazana nice decoration, North Indian food, they try to do South Indian dosas etc, not excellent but passable, mixed clientele
Heaven: impressive place, has some social responsibility ideas (training place etc) but the food was not convincing, overplanned and overdone. An art gallery and curio shop annexed.
Choko: tries to be Moroccon, huge list, food quite ok but awfully slow and sloppy service, many Western volunteers etc.
In Kimihurura:
Car Wash: relaxed drink place, plastic chairs, come here if you want to have nyama choma. I got stomach problems from their Sukuma wiki (which was not even sukuma wiki...). Quite many Rwandese customers.
Lalibela: Ethiopian: quite nice and good food. Mixed clientele.
Papyrus: pizza etc. very slow service but good food, Western volunteers/young professional eating adn drinking and local boys watching footie
Afrika bite: sometimes buffet, often many items on the menu not here, Good Pan-African food. Once we served by a waiter who did not speak English, French or Swahili.... Despite all these, my favorite, somehow sympathetic.
Nyarutarama: Zen. latest restarurant, have not been there but understood it is a trendy pan-asian place but expensive.
Sol e Luna: Cozy Italian pizzeria, But who wants to eat Pizzas in Africa?
Note: all the restaurants are outdoors so they can get chilly
New Cactus has a nice atmosphere and pretty decent food
Papyrus is good and cool
Chez Robert is excellent
You can go gorilla trekking in sneakers but it's wet and slippery and steep. You could buy some hiking shoes for about 10 or 15 $ at the street market and keep them or give them to some kid and make his day. I'm sure it's more enjoyable if you're not slipping and sliding the whole way down. And btw, bring a sandwich, you'll be starving by the time you head down the mountain. Enjoy! It's awesome.
If it fits your budget, I'd recommend the roof-top terrace restaurant of Hotel Mille Collines. The food is good (although a little bit overpriced) and the views are probably the best you can get in Kigali.
Go for the hiking boots. The terrain is difficult in some parts and it gets very muddy.
Who wants to eat pizzas in Africa?- loads of Ethiopians in Addis.
I'd also recommend Khazana (I was last there in 2009, heard it had closed, has it reopened?) and I had good Nyama Choma in Carwash. Lalibela was dreadful - who wants to eat poor injera & wat in Kigali? Half a chicken and frites outside in Chez Lando. The restuarant at Hotel Gorillas is good too as is Republika Lounge.
Oops, sorry i did not Helen of Troy is an Ethiopian living in Addis.
Khana Kahazana is open indeed. There are also other Indians: Chef in connection with Diplomat hotel and I believe thenew Manor hotel might have some Indian stuff as well. But Khana Khazana might be better.
I have never been to Ethiopia so I am doomed to eating poor injera. However, can injera ever be good?
hi there -
I was really glad I had on hiking boots and I was there during the dry season. I met people who wore tennis shoes and they were sorry they did. They do have some mud boots available to borrow. Bring gloves too - lots of thistles. I recommend wearing jeans to avoid getting pricked.
Sole Luna is nice - atmosphere wise, but mostly foreigners and yeah, who wants pizza in Africa? I had my ten year old with me, so she was thrilled!
I would go to Chez Lando - go to the part that has an open roof (weather permitting) - nice waiters, good food (try the tiliapia brochettes) and fun atmosphere. Many Rwandans, but tourists too.....
Have fun!
