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| Kigali | ||
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|---|---|---|
| Rwanda has no parent region. | ||
| Residents | 1.156.663 (2019) | |
| height | 1,567 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Kigali is the capital of Rwanda, Capital of the province of Kigali City and at the same time the largest city in the country with just under 1.2 million inhabitants. With Kigali International Airport as the only international airport in the country (in Kanombe approx. 12 kilometers east of the city), the city is the gateway for numerous travelers from all over the world. The fact that Kigali on the Akagera River (also known as Akagera Nile one of the headwaters of the Nile.
background
Kigali was founded in 1907 by Richard Kandt during the German colonial rule. Since Rwanda's independence in 1962, Kigali has been the capital of Rwanda.
getting there
The journey to Kigali is possible by plane and overland by road (e.g. bus).
By plane
Rwanda's only international airport is in Kanombe near Kigali.
By bus
There are domestic buses from all parts of Rwanda as well as intercity buses Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The central bus station is the Nyabugogo Bus Terminal.
In the street
Kigali's main streets are always in very good condition, have a traffic light system and are very well lit. There are many roadside checks by the police, especially at night, and the side streets are rarely asphalted and some are in very poor condition. However, side roads are also being renewed and paved continuously.
mobility
The cheapest means of public transport is the bus. You usually pay between 100 and 200 RWF depending on the distance. The buses run from early in the morning (around 5 a.m.) to evening (around 10 p.m.-11 p.m.). Furthermore, there are a lot of motor taxis on the road at any time, with which you can get from A to B at a reasonable price. During rush hour you are much faster with them than with the bus or car. You always have an additional helmet with you for the passenger. There are also car taxis, especially in the inner-city areas. These are significantly more expensive than Motos, but you may hardly pay more for three or four people or more. In the suburbs, as everywhere in the country, there are also bicycle taxis. These are cheaper than mototaxis, but of course also much slower. As with shopping, it is common to negotiate the price.
- 2 Nyabugogo Bus Terminal. The central bus station for national and international bus connections. At the same time shopping park.Open: 24/7.
- 3 Kacyiru Bus Station
Remote connections
- Uganda: The journey takes about 9 hours and costs between 8,000 and 10,000 RWF, depending on the bus company and time. Buses depart from Nyabugogo Bus Station (central bus station) in Kigali. The buses run almost around the clock. The biggest bus companies for the route Kigali - Kampala are Kampala coach and jaguar (10,000 RWF). These also drive the most frequently. The cheapest are Bahama Coach, Onatracom (8,000 RWF) and Gaagaa coach (9,000 RWF).
- Tanzania: This route is a little more difficult as you first go from Kigali to Benako and from there to Mwanza moves. Due to the poor road conditions, it is difficult to give a travel time. The average travel times are approximately 30 hours after Arusha.
- Kenya: The journey takes about 24 hours from Kigali (Nyabugogo bus station) to Nairobi.
- Burundi: Daily bus connection with e.g. Yahoo Cars or Belvedere. The journey time is approx. 6 hours.
There are also buses to follow Goma and after Bukavu in the DR Congo. However, no reliable information can be given about these connections.
Tourist Attractions
Churches and mosques
There are a number of churches and mosques in Kigali. The most famous include, for example, the Catholic Church Regina Pacis in Remera and the green mosque in Nyamirambo.
Museums
Not a pleasure, but a must for every Kigali visitor Kigali Genocide Memorial Center. Admission is free, you only pay a surcharge for the audio guide. It is recommended to take advantage of this, as there are always written explanations in English, French and kinyarwanda inside, but the outside area consists of gardens of a symbolic nature that cannot be understood without an audio guide. The audio guide is available in English, French, German and Spanish. There are also guided tours for groups; it is advisable to visit the memorial in the morning, as the last entry is at 4 p.m. and you should plan several hours for the visit.
- 1 Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.
Open: daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 4 p.m., last Saturday of the month 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Price: free.
Monuments
- 2 Camp Kigali Memorial (on KN 3 Ave, near the central library, not far from the CHUK (university hospital)). Memorial and small museum for the 10 Belgian UN soldiers murdered on April 7, 1994, the first day of the genocide. Ten pillars stand for the soldiers. Each one contains horizontal cuts, according to age.
Markets
There are several markets in Kigali that are worth visiting, with the largest market in town being in Kimironko in the eastern part of town. Everything from groceries and housewares to electrical goods, clothing and art objects is available there. In Nyabugogo right next to the central bus station there is a clothing-only market and in Kiyovu you can buy all kinds of nice souvenirs at the art market. The art objects there come not only from Rwanda but also from Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and the DR Congo. All over the city there are other smaller markets. For all markets, with a little patience you can always negotiate a good price .
various
shop
Everything you need to live can be bought at the large market in Kimironko.
art
- 1 Inema Art Gallery, KG 563 St / Solace way, Kacyiru, Kigali, Rwanda (Close to the Swedish and British embassies). Tel.: 250 783 187 646. Creative center for young Rwandan artists in the fields of painting, music, dance and sculpture.Open: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
kitchen
At lunchtime, most restaurants offer a lunch buffet. It mostly consists of rice, beans, plantains, potatoes (mostly deep-fried), cassava, dodo (a type of spinach) and some meat in sauce. Often, other vegetable side dishes, such as carrots, peppers and zucchini, as well as salad and fruit side dishes are also offered. The price is usually between 1,000 and 2,000 RWF, sometimes below or above.
In the evenings, bruschettes (meat skewers) and fried bananas or French fries are served as a side dish.
There are also a number of foreign restaurants in Kigali such as Indian, Italian or American. In terms of price, however, these are significantly higher than the restaurants that offer local cuisine.
medium
- 1 Heaven restaurant, No. 7, KN 29, Kiyovu. Tel.: 250 788 486 581, Email: [email protected]. Fantastic view over the city.
nightlife
There are various clubs and bars in Kigali. Especially in Nyamirambo and mu mujyi (in town) there are many to be found.
accommodation
There are many hotels in Kigali. The most famous (and one of the most expensive) is that Hôtel des Mille Collines which served as a refuge during the genocide. There is also a Serena Hotel, which is located near the airport Hotel La Palisse. It includes a fitness center, a large spa and the largest swimming pool in Rwanda.
But there are also many inns where you can get a room for less than 10,000 RWF per night. The price is always per room and not per person. So for two people you pay the same price for a room.
Upscale
- Hôtel des Mille Collines, Hôtel Des Mille Collines 2KN 6th Ave, Kigali Rwanda. Tel.: 250788192000, Email: [email protected].
Price: from around € 120.
medium
Inexpensive
- 2 Murugo Rwanda Hostel, KN 8 Street, Kacyiru, Kigali, Rwanda. Tel.: 250788456953, Email: [email protected]. WiFi, airport transfer, cleaning service.Open: 24/7.Price: $ 35 per room $ 10 for each additional person.
camping
Learn
There are now numerous universities in Kigali. The biggest are Independent University of Kigali (ULK), that Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) as well as that Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). The National University of Rwanda (ONLY) is located in Butare.
In rare cases, German is also taught at schools and universities, for example at the Green Hills Academy, an elite elementary and secondary school. In this case, this is due to the fact that this school is partly funded by the German Federal Government.
Work
This is available at German institutions in Kigali Goethe Institute (GI) in Kacyiru and the Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Kiyovu. In the city center (mu mujyi) there is also the representation of the association Partnership Rhineland-Palatinate-Rwanda e.V.
security
Kigali is now one of, if not the safest city in all of Africa. Soldiers or police officers are posted on almost every street corner and patrol (especially at night). Incidents of a criminal nature are very rare.
health
 | These medical notices have been carefully researched, but they are made no guarantee. A conversation with the person responsible Family doctor or one travel medical or tropical medical advice center is recommended in case of health problems or uncertainties. Also note: Note on health issues |
For general information see also Rwanda.
Hospitals
- 1 King Faisal Hospital, KG 544 St, Kacyiru, Kigali ,, Rwanda. Tel.: 250 250 588 888, Fax: 250252583203.facebook url usedOpen: 24/7.
- 2 CHUK (Center Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali), KN 4 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda (Close to the university). Tel. Toll-free: 250 788 304 005.facebook url usedContact via the website is possible. Emergencies go straight to the emergency.Open: 24/7.
- 3 Rwanda Military Hospital, Street KK739ST Kanombe, Kicukiro District, Kigali City. Tel.: 250 252 58 64 20, Email: [email protected].flickr url usedtwitter url usedOpen: 24/7.
Practical advice
The telephone code for Rwanda is 250. There are almost no landline telephones. There are three international cell phone providers operating in Rwanda:
- MTN: In addition to Rwanda, it is also available in some African countries and the Middle East
- TIGO: also an international provider that is active in some countries in Africa, South America and Asia. The TIGO network in Rwanda is not as well developed as that of MTN, but it is cheaper
- AIRTEL: Has only existed in Rwanda since 2012, but is already a major competitor to the other providers (also in other countries, e.g. Uganda)
trips
Other sights outside of Kigali, such as the Royal Palace or the three national parks, can be easily reached by bus from the Nyabugogo bus station.
Royal palace
The Royal Palace is not in Kigali but in Nyanza, but it is definitely worth a visit. Nyanza is a good three hours drive from Kigali and is on the way to Nyungwe forest, so can be connected well.
literature
There are numerous books dealing with the genocide in Rwanda that began in Kigali; e.g.
- Roméo Dallaire, Brent Beardsley: Handshake with the devil: The global community's complicity in the genocide in Rwanda. Frankfurt am Main: ZWEITAUSENDEINS Versand- Dienst GmbH, 2009 (1st edition), ISBN 3861509067 , 842 pages (German).
Web links
- http://www.kigalicity.gov.rw - Kigali Official Website
- Homepage of the German Embassy in Kigali
