Things to do in Kigali and the gorillas

Things to do

1. The Kigali Genocide Memorial

   The memorial to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, where more than two hundred thousand victims are laid to rest. On Wikipedia

   Culture and historyMuseum2 hr 30 minFreebest in the morning

2. The golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park

   An hour with the golden monkeys in the bamboo; the gorilla permit, by contrast, costs $1,500. On Wikipedia

   Nature and sceneryNature12 hr≈ €100takes the whole day

3. Kimironko Market

   Pyramids of fruit, tailors sewing on the spot and kitenge fabrics.

   ShoppingMarket2 hrFreebest in the morning

4. The Inema Arts Center

   Contemporary Rwandan artists at work, in a gallery-house in the center.

   Culture and historyMuseum1 hr 30 minFreebest in the afternoon

5. A safari in Akagera National Park

   Savannas and lakes in the east of the country, home to lions, rhinos, elephants and giraffes. On Wikipedia

   Nature and sceneryNature10 hr≈ €100takes the whole day

6. Nyamata Church

   A church turned memorial, where the victims’ clothes have been left on the pews. On Wikipedia

   Culture and historyMonument2 hrFreebest in the afternoon

When to go

The most pleasant months in Kigali and the gorillas: in January, February, June, July, August, September and December, taking weather and crowds into account.

More ideas for those months: where to go in January, where to go in February, where to go in June, where to go in July, where to go in August, where to go in September, where to go in December.

Averages measured over recent years: mean temperatures and number of rainy days, month by month.

What budget on the ground?

Per person and per day, including accommodation, meals, local transport and visits — excluding the round trip. An estimate calculated the same way as in the app, from the local cost of living.

Budget

€35

Mid-range

€70

Comfort

€125

Getting there from Paris: the carbon footprint

Per person, round trip, in kilograms of CO₂ equivalent — manufacturing, energy and, for flights, contrails included.

Plane

2.2 t

Factors from ADEME (Impact CO₂); outside France, rail uses the European average published by the European Environment Agency.

Book on the ground

Tours and tickets

• Go City Multi-attraction passes for big cities
• Klook Tours, tickets and excursions
• Tiqets Museums and monuments, skip-the-line tickets
• WeGoTrip Self-paced audio tours

Internet on site (eSIM)

• Airalo Data eSIM, by country or region
• Drimsim SIM card that works in almost every country
• Saily Data eSIM
• Yesim Data eSIM

From the airport

• GetTransfer Drivers make an offer for your ride
• Intui Private transfers at a fixed price
• Kiwitaxi Booked transfers, from taxi to minibus
• Welcome Pickups Driver waiting on arrival, price fixed in advance

Rent a car

• Auto Europe Rental comparison
• EconomyBookings Rental comparison
• GetRentacar Cars from rental companies and private owners
• Localrent Local rental companies, often no credit card needed

Partner links: if you book through them, Tripora may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you and without changing the order of these lists, which is alphabetical.

Good to know: Rwanda

Plugs

Type C, J, 230 V

Emergencies

112

Driving

On the right

Near Kigali and the gorillas

• Kilimanjaro and Arusha Tanzania, 750 km
• Nairobi and the Maasai Mara Kenya, 750 km
• Zanzibar Tanzania, 1,120 km
• Victoria Falls Zimbabwe, 1,840 km
• Mayotte France, 2,060 km
• Kruger National Park South Africa, 2,460 km