Kigali has been the capital of Rwanda since independence in 1962, and the city is at-tractively spread out across several hills. The ‘downtown’ city centre is located on one hilltop, and the government/diplomatic quarter on another.
Kigali offers its fair share of colourful city bustle, but on the whole is very clean and or-derly when compared to most African capitals, and its wide, tree-lined streets are a pleasant place to take a leisurely stroll.
There are not a large selection of tourist attractions in Kigali, but those that exist are executed well and should not be missed. This is a young city that has packed a lot into its recent history—and despite certain events carries itself with pride and purpose.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take a city tour of Kigali taking in the Museum of Natural History (formerly house of Richard Kandt); a visit to Nyamirambo, the oldest quarter in Kigali; pass by a tal-ented handicrafts co-operative; and ponder human nature at the Genocide museum
• Dine out at one of Kigali’s fine restaurants
• Experience Dancing Pots, a chance to learn more about the Twa people (Batwa) and participate in a traditional pottery workshop and a display of lively dancing
• Enjoy a display of traditional ballet or dancing at one of Kigali’s top hotels
• Visit a colourful local market and sample some traditional Rwandan fare
• Visit the original Hotel Rwanda
• Take a day trip to Gisenyi for the coffee experience and a chance to see Lake Kivu