Destination of the week Kigali

Welcome Famously known as the land of a thousand hills, Kigali is among the most attractive capital cities in Africa with lush hillside and flowering trees. It is designed to impress. According to CCTV Africa report, Rwandas government ban on the use of plastic bags in 2008 has propelled Kigali to be the cleanest city in the continent. The land is a testament that peace and order can be restored after the genocide in 1994. Indeed this capital has risen to grace with waves of foreign investment which have sparked a number of ambitious building projects.Few people visit Rwanda without visiting Kigali. Cosmopolitanism has taken its hold on Kigali. You can spot modern designs and for this reason it is most popular with the foreigners. The Buzz on the streets leaves many visitors with a picture of a very bright future for the city.The showpiece capital receives visitors from all walks of life from the humble tourist to foreign investors and visiting dignitaries. The city boasts of a population of one million. The Kigali City Masterplan outlines plans for a new city to be built south of the current city centre.This is the place for you if you are a young church or NGO volunteer especially if it is your fast time to experience Africa. It is an excellent place to bring up your children.

Top 3 placesGorilla TrekkingRwanda is home to the unique Mountain Gorilla which can only be found in four locations around the world! The fur of the mountain gorilla, often thicker and longer than that of other gorilla species. The most interesting bit about the Gorilla families are those that consist of exclusively male groups. They can be found in the Virunga Mountains. A word of caution they do not go close to one if you have a flu. Flu is deadly to the Gorilla family.

Grand Legacy HotelNo tourist should miss a night at the Grand Legacy hotel located just 5 minutes from Kigali International Airport and about a 15 minute drive to the city center. You will get everything you need such as free WIFI, air conditioned room fitted with en suite bathroom, minibar and flats screen. What more could you ask for? Is it the complimentary buffet breakfast? Come and experience enjoyment to its fullest!

Kigali Genocide MemorialKigali Genocide Memorial is a must see for anyone visiting the country. In fact, if you can only do one thing go there. It is very informative and emotional. No fees are charged when visiting the memorial, however there is an option to make a donation. Interestingly there is a fee to take pictures inside the memorial and an audio guide available as an option for a small fee.

TIPSFor those planning to visit Kigali there are only two ways to reach the city by plane or by bus. If you chose the bus option you can get it either from Kampala, Uganda or Bujumbura, Burundi.Learn some French a bit of Swahili and Kinyarwanda it will certainly help you to get around more easily. Kigali is expensive!!! The costs of importing are really high. Wine, cereals and Olive oil may cost a fortune as a result.Be prepared to bargain from vendors. Dont accept to pay double the amount of things.Beware that only US dollar bills dated series 2009 or newer will be accepted.

RestaurantsIt has plenty of place to eat. The city support numerous restaurants, coffee shops and supermarkets.

Shopping:Try out the Rwandan coffee and the Rwandan Honey. You wont regret it. Go to Kimironko. It is an excellent place to food, fruit and other basic foodstuff.Most local markets are stocked with Rwandan handicrafts, clothing and colorful traditional fabric.Fun factsDinky Kigali International airport is small and organized. It rarely encounters any problems. Be aware that plastic bags are illegal in Rwanda so you'll want to conceal these well in your luggage.Stay off the grass in Kigali. It has manicured lawns but if you walk in one you are sure to receive scowls and finger wagging. It is simply a no-no to walk across the lawns.Kigali-Rwanda was founded by German Dr. Richard Kandt in 1907.Kigalis is the African city where things work. The police manage the traffic perfectly, the street lights work, the traffic lights work and laws are obeyed. Rwanda is a land locked country.Rwandas parliament has more female members than any other parliament in the worlds. 56% of parliamentarians are women which puts them as number 1. Sweden follows at a distant of 45%.Getting arroundSafety: Kigali is a very safe place to be as far as capital citys go. However, avoid walking in the dark. Watch out for pick pockets at New Cadillac. It is the safest city in Africa spanning several ridges and valleys.Transportation: The most popular and fastest way to get around town is the Motorcycle taxis. The fare ranges from 250RFr-1050RFr depending on the distance. A trip from the Airport should roughly cost 1700RFr. Secondly there is the matatus (minibuses) which are the cheapest way of getting around. They are still relatively new and well maintained. It ranges from 550RFr to 3000RFr. Then there is car rental agencies in Kigali. Last but not least the Taxis in Kigali which are among the most expensive means of transport.Money: Rwandan FrancExchangeRate: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=RWFCountry Code: +250Main Airport: Kigali International Airport AboutJovago.comJovago.com is an online hotel booking service with offices in Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya),Dakar (Senegal) founded by Africa Internet Group and has MTN and Tigo as investors.Jovago.com, Africas No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to providethem with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services.Jovago.com has over 20,000 local hotel listings across Africa and over 200,000 hotels aroundthe world.

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