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Year-round (Kigali has a temperate, spring-like climate)
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City Hotels / Boutique Guesthouses (Day Tour only, no overnight included unless requested)
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Private Air-Conditioned Van or Land Cruiser
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Lunch (on Full Day option)
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Professional English-speaking City Guide
Destination Overview
Kigali is often cited as the cleanest and safest city in Africa, but at Maudie Safaris, we know it is much more than that. It is the heartbeat of a nation that has risen from the ashes. Spanning several ridges and valleys, Kigali is a city of lush greenery, modern architecture, and vibrant street life.
This tour is not a traditional “safari,” but it is an essential pilgrimage for anyone visiting Rwanda. To understand the gorillas or the forests, you must first understand the people. The Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi is the final resting place for over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. It is a place of profound sadness, but also of incredible hope and education. We specialize in “slow travel” through the city, we don’t just drive past monuments; we stop to talk to local artists, visit women’s cooperatives in Nyamirambo, and taste the local coffee, giving you a holistic view of Rwanda’s past, present, and future.
Preserving Heritage & Community
While our wildlife tours focus on biological ecosystems, our Kigali City Tour focuses on the social ecosystem. The city’s transformation is built on the concept of Umuganda (community work) and reconciliation.
Maudie Safaris supports this social fabric by prioritizing visits to community-run enterprises. When we visit the Nyamirambo Women’s Center, your visit directly funds vocational training and literacy classes for local women. We also ensure that our shopping stops are at authentic cooperatives like Caplaki or Kimironko Market, where money goes directly to the artisans. By touring Kigali with us, you are not just a spectator of history; you are a participant in the city’s thriving economic rebirth.
Highlights
- Kigali Genocide Memorial: A deeply moving guided audio tour through the museum that explains the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the path to reconciliation.
- Campaign Against Genocide Museum: Located at the Parliament building, this museum details the military strategy used by the RPF to stop the genocide.
- Nyamirambo Neighborhood: Known as the "coolest" neighborhood in Kigali, famous for its colorful houses, mosques, and vibrant street culture.
- Kimironko Market: The largest market in the city. A sensory overload of fresh fruit, fabric (Kitenge), and local crafts.
- Inema Arts Center: A beacon of modern African art, showcasing paintings, sculptures, and dance performances by Rwandan youth.
- Mount Kigali: Drive to the highest point in the city for a panoramic view of the skyline and the countryside.
- Hotel des Mille Collines: Visit the famous hotel (depicted in the movie Hotel Rwanda) for a historical perspective (and optional lunch).