Day Trips
Here are some suggested routes around Kigali and just outside.
These can all be done in a day.
Umusabi Village &
National Art Gallery
Umusabe Village is Rwanda's first wildlife conservation park about half an hour out of Kigali, specialising in the rescue and rehabilitation of African crowned cranes. They also have a butterfly garden, medicinal herb garden, and guided wildlife tours. It is best to go in the morning, and you can swing past the National Art Museum on your way back.
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Nyanza Mwami Palace
Mwami is the Kinyarwanda word for king. The King's Palace at Nyanza is a beautiful reconstruction of the ancient palace of the Rwandan kings, which you can walk around barefoot and even sing to the royal cows. It is right next to the modern palace of Mutara III Rudahigwa, the last serving King of Rwanda who died in 1959. You can take a guided tour of both palaces and learn about the history of Rwanda from pre-colonial times to today. It takes between 2.5-3 hours to reach Nyanza and the roads are good, so you can make the round trip in a day.
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Nyamata & Ntarama
Nyamata and Ntarama are two genocide memorials located about half an hour south of Kigali. As well as these two historic sites, there is a huge swimming pool at La Palisse Hotel in Nyamata, and we highly recommend stopping by for lunch at Bugesera Lodge on your way back, as they provide a deliciouse five-course French spread in beautiful surroundings.
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Kigali Genocide Memorial
This trip takes you to Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, which houses the national archives and historical records relating to the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. From there, you can head down the hill to Hôtel des Mille Collines, the original Hotel Rwanda.
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