I travelled to Rwanda with my friend, Jummy, in December 2025. For a long time, we had wanted to travel somewhere together, and when the opportunity finally presented itself, I was excited. We chose Rwanda and planned to usher in the new year together.

Rwanda wasn’t on my radar until October. Our trip was pretty last minute because Jummy was coming to Nigeria for the holidays and had a long stretch of time where she could travel somewhere else in between. I’m happy to say the trip was worth it. Beyond visiting a new place, we were able to bond properly. We saw each other every day, shared space, and discovered new things about each other.

I’ve been enjoying exploring African countries like Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and now Rwanda has joined the list of countries I’ve visited too.

Here are 10 fun (and not-so-fun) facts about Kigali, Rwanda.

1. The Rwandan Genocide

In April 1994, an estimated 1,00,000 people were killed during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. We visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, and the experience was heartbreaking. It was painful to learn about everything that happened just over three decades ago. There are graphic photos documenting the events as they unfolded, as well as information about families and individuals who were lost. We also visited the Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial at Camp Kigali, built in honour of the Belgian soldiers who tried to protect the Prime Minister. It was gruelling to see the bullet holes in the building and the stone tombstones erected in their honour. Rwanda has done a remarkable job preserving history, documenting the truth, and rebuilding both the city and its people.

2. Rwanda Has Four Official Languages

Rwanda has four official languages: Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili, although most people primarily speak Kinyarwanda. Communication wasn’t too difficult, especially compared to other African countries I’ve visited, because English is widely spoken. We even picked up a few Kinyarwanda words during our stay — Murakoze, which means thank you, was one of them.

3. Rwanda Is Nicknamed The Land of a Thousand Hills

Most roads aren’t flat. Everywhere was sloped, surrounded by hills, with houses perched on different levels. I remember thinking it would take some time to get used to driving there. The views were my favourite part of the trip. Every morning, I woke up in awe and made it a point to visit places with sweeping views of the city at night.

4. Rwanda Is Big on Eco-Friendly Initiatives

There were no plastic bags in sight — even at the airport. Throughout our stay, items were packaged in brown paper bags. On our city tour, our guide explained that many vehicles and bikes are electric and that the government works closely with citizens to ensure eco-friendly initiatives are upheld.

5. There Are Security Checkpoints Everywhere

Almost everywhere you go has a security checkpoint. Bags are searched, and car boots and bonnets are checked. You’ll find checkpoints at malls, hotels, restaurants, and on the roads. The airport security process is especially thorough. Despite this, Kigali feels very safe, and people comfortably walk around at any time of day.

6. Kigali Has Three Districts — KG, KK, and KN

The city of Kigali has three administrative districts: Gasabo District (KG), Kicukiro District (KK), and Nyarugenge District (KN). Roads and streets are identified using these letters, which makes navigation surprisingly easy. I thought this was really cool.

7. There Are No Ubers, but There’s Move

Move is a ride-hailing app powered by Volkswagen. The cars are all Volkswagen vehicles assembled in Rwanda. We downloaded the app at the airport as advised. It was easy enough to use once we figured out that paying via cash or transfer was more convenient and that calling drivers after they accepted the ride helped confirm pickup. The app could use some improvements, but it worked. There’s also a more affordable taxi option called Yego.

8. Motorcycles Are a Major Means of Transportation

Moto, as it’s called, is the number one means of transportation. There are apps and USSD codes to book rides, and bikes are everywhere. What impressed me most was that every rider had a helmet — and a second one for passengers. We used motos twice during our city tour, and it was genuinely fun, especially riding through a hilly city. I hadn’t been on a motorcycle for some years and it was interesting to experience this. 

9. Mount Kigali Is a Popular Tourist Destination

Mount Kigali offers activities like hiking, zip-lining, and horse riding. We hiked through a village called Butamwa Miduha, home to about 200 people. It’s a rural part of Kigali where most residents are farmers. Despite being rural, the village has access to electricity and water. Some people choose to live there because it’s less stressful, with fresh food and clean air. I also dragged Jummy to try zip-lining at another part of the mountain — Fazenda Sengha — and we had a great time.

10. Milk Bars Are a Thing

Yes, you read that right. People go to bars to drink milk in Rwanda. It’s part of the culture. Locals gather to unwind and drink milk instead of alcohol, and there are bars dedicated solely to serving milk.

Other Things I Observed

• Rwandans stare a lot — even locals confirmed this.
• People are calm, easy-going, and soft-spoken.
• Kigali is extremely clean; I didn’t see dirt on the main roads.
• Nightlife is relatively quiet.
• Nigerian music is popular.
• Rwanda is famous for producing high-quality coffee.
• Rwanda is visa free for Nigerians.
• Gorilla trekking is a major tourist attraction, with visitors hiking for hours to see gorillas in their natural habitat.

I’d love to visit Rwanda again in this lifetime and explore another city. I can’t wait to discover more.

Check out other fun (and not-so-fun) facts I’ve written about my travels, and don’t forget to explore the world while you can.

Mariam Shittu