Connecting African Culture Through the Seas
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …
Hilly and green, Kigali is one of Africa’s cleanest and most efficient cities — sort of a Singapore in Africa (don’t bring plastic bags with you, as they are illegal!). Kigali’s one million residents drive and walk on trash-free and pothole-free roads lined with LED lights, past red-roofed houses and even small farm plots. It’s easy to forget you are in Africa, considering how different Kigali feels from more chaotic capitals like Kampala or Dar es Salaam.
A sprawling city, Kigali is divided into suburbs like Kiyovu, Kimihurura, and Nyarutarama, which house various museums, arts collectives, international-style restaurants and bars, and bustling local markets run by both entrepreneurial locals and expats alike. If you can’t find something to do, eat, or see here, you aren’t trying very hard.
Of course some of the top attractions relate to the 1994 genocide. The excellent and sobering Gisozi Genocide Memorial Centre pays tribute to those who lost their lives and attempts to explain the origins of the tragedy (some say it leaves out important details). The Hotel des Milles Collines, made famous in the 2004 movie Hotel Rwanda, is now one of the swankest spots in town to drink and dine. You can also visit the former presidential palace, just east of the city. Take a private tour of the house, which featured its own nightclub and a secret loft which could be used in times of national crisis. Adjacent to the grounds you can see the remains of President Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane, which was shot down in 1994, igniting the genocide.
But this forward-thinking city is not dwelling on the past by any means. A burgeoning culinary scene exists, with over 150 venues to try, from restaurants, to wine bars, to bakeries, to bistros. Though Kigali is a somewhat sleepy city where most businesses shut down by 8pm, there are a more than a few places to go if you’re after a night of drinking and clubbing. And new hotels are opening every year, including many high-end brands such as Serena and Kempinksi, which exist alongside plenty of mid-range and backpacker joints.
SAFETY: Kigali is incredibly safe as far as African capitals go, and it is not unheard of for visitors to walk around late at night without incident. However, all the usual precautions should be taken: stay alert and keep your hand on your wallet in crowded places; don’t get so drunk that you make yourself vulnerable; women should travel in groups at night; and don’t wear lots of expensive jewelry or carry electronics in a visible way.
The Amazing Journey of Bill Pinkney Imagine leaving your life and the familiar touch of soil beneath your feet to sail across treacherous seas around the globe with only a …