After the Kigali International Peace Marathon: A Museum Day in Kigali

The Route: Kigali hotel → One museum or memorial → Lunch → Hotel Logistics: Book a car for the day and agree a return time before you leave. Marathon Month: June Duration: Day trip

Kigali hotel ──(car)──> Museum or memorial ──> Lunch ──(car)──> Hotel

Two laps of hills leave the legs stiff on the Monday, and Kigali's best indoor visits are close enough to reach without a long drive. Pick one place and do it properly.

June in Kigali: the drier season is starting, so rain is less likely than in spring, but a shower can still arrive. Indoor stops suit the day whatever the sky does.

The Memorial

The Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi is a place of burial and remembrance for victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and it also works as an education centre. Allow two to three hours and do not hurry. Many visitors find it heavy going, so it may suit a day apart from the celebration. Check current admission and photography rules before you go.

The Alternatives

Kandt House Museum is in the former governor's house and covers Rwanda before, during and after the colonial period. It is a shorter visit of about an hour or two. The Rwanda Art Museum shows contemporary Rwandan and international work in the former presidential palace. Hours and exhibitions change, so check them with the museum or your hotel on the day.

The Rest of the Day

Hills make walking between sites a poor idea after a marathon. Use a hotel-arranged car for each leg and ask the driver to wait. Have lunch near your last stop, then leave the afternoon empty.

Getting Home

Kigali International Airport (KGL) is reached by hotel-arranged transfer. If you fly out the same evening, keep a generous margin and ask your hotel about luggage storage after checkout.