Discover Kigali: Nature, Art and Urban History

Kigali can be explored through a wide range of themes: restored wetlands, art, urban history, and venues for sporting events or concerts. The way you get around the city is also part of the picture. As you plan, you can consider what you want to focus on during your trip—and which location would suit your holiday apartment in Kigali.

On foot, by bike and among wetlands

The Kigali Car-Free Zone is a popular area where people get around mainly on foot or by bicycle. It gives urban life its own distinctive character. If you’re interested in outdoor activities, Nyandungu Eco-Park offers plenty of opportunities: you can walk and cycle along its paths. The park is Kigali’s first restored urban wetland and covers 121 hectares.

Alongside its paths, wildlife shapes the character of Nyandungu Eco-Park. More than 100 bird species can be observed and learned about there. This combines a visit to the wetland with the chance to make birdwatching the focus of your visit. For your travel plans, this offers a different focus from a walk or cycle ride: you can combine nature and exercise, or give particular attention to observing and learning about the species.

Umusambi Village is also a restored wetland. It serves as a sanctuary for more than 50 endangered Grey Crowned Cranes from East Africa that were rescued from the illegal pet trade. The story of these rescued birds is an integral part of the nature experience here. Nyandungu and Umusambi Village therefore offer different points of interest: one focuses on paths and more than 100 bird species, while the other is a sanctuary for Grey Crowned Cranes.

Art and Kigali’s history

The Inema Arts Center exhibits paintings, sculptures and mixed-media works by its artists. The different media offer a direct way to engage with the city’s art scene. If you want to experience Kigali not only through its landscapes and activities, but also through works of art, this adds a cultural perspective to your travel plans.

The Kandt House Museum explores different topics in three sections. The first covers social, economic and political life in Rwanda before the colonial period. The second looks at the experiences of the Rwandan people during the colonial period, as well as Richard Kandt’s life and work in Rwanda. The third traces Kigali’s history before, during and after the colonial period. Together, these topics offer several perspectives on the country and its urban history; the third section focuses explicitly on Kigali.

City life and outdoor activities

The BK Arena is a multipurpose indoor venue for sporting events and concerts. Fazenda Sengha offers a different experience: this outdoor recreation centre is located at the summit of Mount Kigali in Nyamirambo, Kigali. These two venues represent different kinds of experiences—events in a multipurpose indoor venue on the one hand, and outdoor recreation on the other. No specific event dates are assumed; if a particular event matters to your trip, factor its date into your plans.

If wetlands and birdwatching are your main interests, Nyandungu Eco-Park and Umusambi Village are natural starting points when planning your trip. The Inema Arts Center and Kandt House Museum put art and urban history centre stage, while the BK Arena is another option for sporting events or concerts. This lets you first decide what you want your days in Kigali to be about, then look for a holiday apartment that suits your plans.

For the wider travel overview: Kigali.