Why you go
Why go to Kigali
Kigali drapes across a series of ridges in the centre of Rwanda — clean, orderly and walkable, and the arrival point for almost every Rwandan itinerary. Most travellers spend a night here at the start or end of a gorilla trip, and a half-day city tour is the easiest way to make sense of the country before heading to the parks.
A guided tour usually centres on the Kigali Genocide Memorial — a sober, deeply moving account of 1994 and the resting place of more than 250,000 victims — before lighter stops at the central and Kimironko markets, the craft cooperatives and the coffee houses for which the city's hills are known.
Signature experiences
Kigali Genocide Memorial
An essential, moving account of Rwanda's history, and a place of remembrance handled with care.
Guided city tour
Markets, craft cooperatives, coffee houses and hilltop viewpoints across the capital.
Gateway to the Virungas
The launch point for Volcanoes National Park, roughly a two-to-three-hour drive north.
Experiences here
In pictures
Kigali, before you ever arrive
Representative photography of this destination's landscapes and wildlife — tap any photo to view it full screen.
When to go
The year at Kigali, month by month
The best time for hiking in Kigali is June to August and December to February. Kigali is pleasant year-round at around 1,550 m; the June–August dry season is the most reliable for city walking and day trips.
Best time to visit
Kigali
Driest spell
15° at night
Computed for mid-Jul (±2 min) · across Jul sunrise drifts 06:03–06:05, sunset 18:04–18:07
Kigali is pleasant year-round at around 1,550 m; the June–August dry season is the most reliable for city walking and day trips.
Getting there
Getting to Kigali
Kigali International Airport is the gateway; Volcanoes National Park is roughly a two-to-three-hour drive (about 105 km) north.
Safaris that visit
6 journeys go here
2 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Chimps Tour
A short two-day Rwanda tour pairing a Kigali historical and cultural visit with mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. It suits travellers with limited time who want both history and wildlife.
3 Days Kigali — Rwanda Apes Tour
A three-day Rwanda tour combining Kigali's historical and cultural sites with mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. The final day offers a choice between golden monkey trekking and a Mount Bisoke hike.
6 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
A six-day safari through southwestern Uganda and into Rwanda, combining mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi with a game drive and Kazinga Channel boat safari in Queen Elizabeth. It ends with a visit to Kigali's Genocide Memorial.
7-Day Rwanda Community-Based Tourism Safari
A seven-day Rwanda journey combining Kigali's cultural and historical sites, gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park, and community experiences around Lake Kivu.
8-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Chimps Safari
An eight-day Rwanda journey that pairs chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe with gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes, alongside Lake Kivu and cultural stops. It runs from Kigali across the south and northwest of the country.
16 Day Uganda Rwanda Safari
A sixteen-day journey across Uganda and Rwanda combining gorilla and chimpanzee tracking with savanna game drives, the Nile, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest and Akagera. The route ends in Kigali with a city tour and Genocide Memorial visit.
Good to know
Kigali: questions travellers ask
- What does a Kigali city tour cover?
- A half-day tour typically takes in the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the central and Kimironko markets, craft cooperatives and a coffee house or two, with viewpoints across the hills — an easy, walkable orientation to Rwanda before the drive to the parks.
- Is the Genocide Memorial suitable for all travellers?
- It is a sober and deeply affecting place, and an essential one for understanding Rwanda. Families should prepare children beforehand, and it is worth allowing quiet time afterwards rather than rushing on.
Build Kigali into your safari
Tell us your dates and interests and we'll shape an itinerary around it.