Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Best Views in Kigali

Kigali never fails to amazing me with how beautiful it is. Whether it’s walking around the city’s hills in the hot sun, zipping around town on a moto as the sun sets, or having a cocktail at some restaurant as the stars sparkle at night, it’s a stunning place. Even when it’s chucking it down with rain it still somehow manages to be magical. The skies seem so big here and you can often see the weather rolling in or out which is amazing to see. It’s less amazing when it’s rain and you’re on a moto… but it still manages to impress me!

This article was originally published way back in 2012 where I only listed five places. Only five! Madness! Here’s an updated version with 13 great spots to take in Kigali’s glorious hills and views. I’m sure I’ve missed some so please leave your suggestions in the comments and I’ll be sure to check them out!

Camellia (MIC Building)

Camellia MIC, Best Views in Kigali

Located at the top of (yet another) super weird, new mall in Kigali, Camellia is a bit of redemption for the MIC Building. Perched up on the 11th floor, this cafe has an open view from three sides including a cool perspective on Kigali City Tower from the front. Camellia is an affordable cafe with good food (but sometimes questionable service) and an excellent lunch buffet. Make sure you choose a nice day because this really isn’t the best place to be during a storm.

Juru Park

Juru Park, Best Views in Kigali

Head through Gisozi and keep going up and up and up (and up) and you’ll eventually find yourself at Juru Park. This place truly feels like it’s on top of Kigali. I’m not sure if this is the highest hill in the city, but it certainly comes close. I think it’s great that there’s a park up there and it’s a lovely place to come to relax away from the city. It’s quite wooded so you don’t get panoramic views, but there are a few awesome spots if you look around a bit. If you prefer your views with steak and cocktails, 1000 Hills Distillery isn’t far and it has a lovely view in the opposite direction.

Kigali Heights

Kigali Heights, Best Views in Kigali

This view is less about being up high, gazing across Kigali’s epic hills and more about the view up close of the Radisson Blu hotel, wedding roundabout, and the Convention Centre. The restaurant level at Kigali Heights has become a really nice place to hang out, especially on the weekend when it’s lively with people mulling around and enjoying their day. Java House is always busy and Delizia Italiana seems to be a destination unto itself these days. You have to sit close to the outer edge to get a nice view, or you can just get up out of your seat to snap some nice photos. I like what this part of town has become – if only the Car Free Zone in the city centre would take a few hints!

kLab

kLab, Best Views in Kigali

The kLab takes up the entire 6th floor of Telecom House in Kacyiru and, though this prime viewing spot is actually an office space for IT people in Rwanda, they’re pretty open to visitors and also run regular events. So you should be able to weasel your way up to the top floor one way or another. The best part about this view is that you’ve got an almost 360 degree view of the city from Kacyiru back across to Nyarutarama and Gacuriro plus you can see over to Kimihurura and then across to town and beyond. If you’re lucky enough to be up here during a crazy rain storm it’s pretty spectacular.

Inzora Rooftop Cafe

Inzora Rooftop Cafe, Best Views in Kigali

This lovely little cafe has a wonderful view from the side of the hill in Kacyiru back to the city and it’s an awesome spot to watch the weather roll. If the main cafe section isn’t good enough for you, you can head up to their rooftop to really take in the scenery. Inzora Rooftop Cafe gets my vote for the best place for the most spectacular sunsets. They have a perfect view of the sun going down behind the city and I’m always blown away by how beautiful Kigali is anytime I come here. Fridays are my favourite days because they have wine and a weekly cocktail along with excellent tasting boards – but it’s a wonderful spot any day of the week.

Manor Hotel

Best Views in Kigali

So the photo above is mostly of the hotel, the pool and the puffy clouds and doesn’t show the view at all, really, but it’s all I had! The view from the Manor is one of my original favourites, partly because you can take it in from their roof at Shere Sardar or from the grassy area beside the pool, but mostly because you can a great panorama of a good portion of the city. Once you start to be able to identify Kigali’s main buildings, this is a good place to come to see how the city fits together and where everything is. Plus you can eat Indian food or sip a cocktail at the same time which you can’t really argue with.

Mount Kigali

Mount Kigali, Best Views in Kigali

It look me ages to finally hike up Mount Kigali and I was really angry at myself for taking so long. It’s really stunning up there! The air is fresh, there are forests you can actually walk in, and it’s full of lovely views everywhere you turn. Most of the best views I found were more towards the opposite side of the city and it’s amazing to see bustling Kigali on one side of the hill and what seems like vast countryside just on the opposite side. If you want something to do while you’re up there, head to Fazenda Sengha for a spot of horse riding, zip lining, or archery. It’s a great place for a family day out up on the Mount. Or if you’re less into sports and more into beers, there are a couple of local pubs close to the top as well.

MTN Centre

View from the MTN Centre in Nyarutarama

Sip a coffee on the balcony at Bourbon MTN and take in an amazing view back over Green Hills school down the back of Nyarutarama. The view is the opposite side of the hill to the one you get from the Manor Hotel and it’s a lot more green and countryside-ish.

Papyrus

Best Views in Kigali

I’m guessing that most of us only wander into Papyrus when the sun has gone down. In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Papyrus during the daylight hours and I even had to outsource this photo (thanks Sean!) to capture it in sunny and sober light. But whether you’re here during the day or whether you lurk in the rooftop shadows under the moonlight, you have to agree that the view is pretty spectacular. Since this photo was taken the hill opposite Papyrus has been developed with lots of new buildings that shine back at you with lots of sparkling lights which is quite pretty.

Pili Pili

Pili Pili, Best Views in Kigali

I think Pili Pili is my top pick for the best view in Kigali. Not only is it perched high on a hill, the restaurant itself has a bunch of different vantage points to take in. Chill by the pool as you look over the city, or head up to their second level for an even better look. Their location way out in Kibagabaga means that you have a view of pretty much the entire city unfolding below you. It’s a bit of a trek to get out here but absolutely worth the trip.

Pure Africa

Pure Africa Coffee, Best Views in Kigali

This new cafe in Kimihurura has a view similar to Papyrus but from a bit further up the hill. Plus it’s a cafe and a bit of a more relaxed daytime hangout spot. I like that it feels like it’s sort of nestled in the trees, too. The coffee is great and it’s the sort of place you can chill out for awhile reading, working, or chatting with friends without feeling like they’re rushing you out the door.

Sun City Hotel

Sun City Hotel

When I mentioned to a friend that I was planning on writing an article about the best views in Kigali, he told me about Sun City Hotel deep into the cobbled streets of Nyamirambo. I’d heard about this place but had never been until recently when I accidentally stumbled onto it. My friend speaks the truth – it’s got quite the view! Add in friendly service and some fine brochettes and it makes an awesome place for some panoramic views of Kigali and you also get a glimpse at the farmland surrounding the city. You’re find Panorama Ten to Two a bit lower on the hill which has a great view as well and is a bit more lively a bar.

Ubumwe Grande

Ubumwe Grande, Best Views in Kigali

The Ubumwe Grande hotel is one of the tallest buildings on one of the tallest hills in the city and, as a result, it definitely has the sexiest view. There’s a restaurant up top with a view towards Kacyiru and beyond and on the other side there’s a rooftop pool (for guests only, unfortunately) with a cool bird’s eye view of the town centre and beyond to Mount Kigali. In my opinion this is the best nighttime Kigali view because of the way the stars reflect of Kigali City Tower on a clear night. It’s all magical and stuff.

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9 COMMENTS

  1. I concur!!! I would also add Ten-to-Two in Nyamirambo to this list, especially at night, even though the service usually sucks. (The food’s good, though, if you don’t mind waiting 3 hours and then getting overcharged by about 150% and fighting with the sever for what’s left of your dignity.)

  2. Hi Phillip
    It is possible to get to the top of Grand Pension Plaza but only if secutiry lets you and I think that for the moment it is closed. That monstosity on the top is meant to be a viewing platform.
    Aother good place to get a great view is on top of Mont Kigali. If you follow the signs for fazenda sengha you will eventually arrive at the top. On one side you get great views of the whole of Kigali and on the other side on a clear day you can see as far as Ruhengeri. Someone is also building what looks like a new bar up there too which would be a good place for sunday lunch always depending on the quality of food etc.

  3. You left out the 360 degree one from top tower hotel… especially at night… or a night time vs daytime views.. 🙂 enjoying ur blog a lot!!

  4. Thank you guys for visiting my country,i really appreciate, believe me ,i really love to see foreigners moving around my beautiful country,i’m always like OMG what a blessing,this county is beautiful,safe,it is taking a step to the development and people from all over the world loves it….

    I was abroad for 5years and when i came back in Kigali,i could barely recognize places,a lot had taken place!!…Just come back after few years,you won’t believe your eyes!!!!!!

    Hey,in your comments do not forget to mention that the very beautiful people of Rwanda are so friendly and that they are so welcoming…

    Special thanks to Henderson,you are not like those who come here with negative thoughts and instead of enjoying the beauty that God gave Rwanda,they just stress themselves posting pictures they took from some dirty places just to prove that Rwanda is another miserable African country!!(Believe me,dirty places and poor people are everywhere in the world)you have proved them wrong dude!

  5. stayed at the manor hotel in kigali was a amazing experience with breath taking views from the top. staff were friendly and food was great. Credit to the owner/manager for such a amazing place, wanted to thank him in person but did not know who he was, definately going again in few years

  6. The view from the Chinese restaurant next to the Magda Cafe is also pretty fantastic, and as a bonus the Chinese food isn’t bad either.

  7. You’re strikingly excellent in the choice of picturesque views of Kigali. Another round of such places? Visit Amakuza Graceview resorts. It is next to none in view with unequalled eco friendly food.

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