Kigali, Capital of Rwanda

Day 12 – 6 December 2019 in Rwanda ⋅ 🌧 23 °C

Arrived in Kigali following our trip to the Genocide Memorial. These road trips now have a pattern. They really consist of a series of stops. Sometimes we stop for a call of nature but surprisingly these are few. There are shops for photo opportunities when we pass by an interesting or beautiful place. Then there are stops to view interesting birds of animals. Often, our driver, has very keen eyesight and spots things when driving. He beeps the horn a few times and we all peer out with peeled eyes to see if we can see what he sees. Usually we can. We often stop at local markets and supermarkets to buy supplies for cooking that day or the next. This could be viewed as a chore or as an opportunity to see Africa up and close. Guess which perspective I choose?

Vanlife in Chui

We didn’t get much of a chance to see the city as it was dark when we arrived and we leave tomorrow at 2pm for a pit stop camp before we hit the border for Tanzania 🇹🇿, our next country.

But, to tell the truth, I’m not mad keen about cities in Africa. It was different in Central Asia where all the interesting places were cities. Here, all interesting places are in the wild, in nature, outside the cities. Just like, after a thousand golden Buddhas, they all look the same. So is it with cities here in Africa, for me anyway . I approached them as a western tourist, not as a traveller.

We went out for a meal tonight as 4 of our fellow travellers are leaving today. We went to a restaurant patronised by westerners and affluent Africans. So, not your typical slice of Africa then.

The food was delicious though. I had chicken breast coated with cardamom and saffron marinade/coating and then cooked in tandoori oven. It came with a lovely sauce and cumin rice with a tasty local spinach as vegetable. My starter was avocado chips. They were tasty too. The whole meal came to 16€ including a coke. Not bad at all, at all, at all.

We finished around 11ish and we old ‘uns caught a taxi home. The millenniums went to a local pub for a session. They came back, noisily, at 2:30ish. A good night was had by all.

Kigali is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is near the nation’s geographic centre. The city has been Rwanda’s economic, cultural, and transport hub since it became capital at independence in 1962. The city hosts the main residence and offices of the President of Rwanda and government ministries. The city is within the province of Kigali City, which was enlarged in January 2006, as part of local government reorganisation in the country. Kigali’s city limits cover the whole province; it is consolidated. The city’s urban area covers about 70% of the municipal boundaries.

Some great photos from Wikipedia as I lost my own original photos (Please click on image to enlarge)

The centre of political and commercial life, Kigali dominates Rwanda and few visit the country without passing through. The city is developing fast, and is very much a showpiece capital designed to impress visitors, from the humble tourist, to foreign investors and visiting dignitaries.

Documentary on Kigali

With a population topping 1 million, the city spreads over several hills and valleys, with many of the better restaurants and hotels away from the traditional downtown area.