Heritage And Historical sites of Rwanda

Rwanda’s history contains both tangible and intangible components which gives visitors an insight about Rwandan history, culture as well as Mythology. The national museums of Rwanda are among the finest in East Africa, and with locations around the country, it’s easy to fit at least one of these fascinating spots into any Rwanda itinerary.

Ethnographic Museum

This beautiful space sits in wide, tranquil gardens at the edge of Huye city, 132 km south of Kigali. It was given to the city as a gift from Belgium in 1987 to celebrate 25 years of independence. This captivating museum houses one of Africa finest ethnographic collection. Its seven galleries cover an impressive array of topics on almost anything about Rwanda you can imagine: banana beer, geology, cosmology, farming, music, dance, poetry, history, tools, hunting, animal husbandry, weaving, woodwork and transport are all profiled here, giving visitors a rich insight into culture of Rwandans.

Milk house(Nyanza)

Based in Nyanza, 88 km south of Kigali City and Situated on a hill 2km southwest of town, this museum is less about ancient history and more about royal residences. The displays centre on a replica king’s ‘palace’ made entirely with traditional materials offers a detailed look into Rwandan traditional seat of their monarchy. Inclusive in the ticket price is a guided tour that helps explain some of the architectural idiosyncrasies inside the royal compound, including why the royal beer brewer’s hut had an entrance without a lip, and other curiosities such as why the woman who looked after the king’s milk was never able to marry, traditional Rwandan royal cows known for their impressive horns, a colonial building which was also used as the palace for a time sits next door that contains a series of exhibits on the monarchy and court customs. On the neighboring hill of Mwima, you can also visit the burial grounds of King Mutara III and his wife Queen Rosalie Gicanda.

Kandt House Museum

It is reputed to be the first building in Kigali, Former residence of German explorer Dr. Richard Kandt. Kandt House Natural History Museum today stands as a natural history museum and displays number of historical exhibits and photographs of the early settlement of Kigali, along with numerous displays on Rwanda’s wildlife, vegetation as well as information on the physical and geological history of the country. Relics from the German British battles of WWI that took place in Rwanda are also to be found here.

National Art Gallery (Nyanza)

Set in a wide colonial building on top of the gorgeous Rwesero Hill, It was built for Rwanda’s king Mutara III Rudahigwa, who died in 1959, just before he would move into his modern palace. This museum displays both traditional and contemporary Rwandan artwork which testifies to the originality of Rwandan creativity. it’s not very often you find such a cultivated selection of artwork on a lovely green hilltop out in the countryside, the National Art Gallery is an incredible surprise.

National Liberation Park Museum (Umurindi w’Intwari)

At 80 km northeast of Kigali in Mulindi lies the National Liberation Park Museum. A visit to the museum will tell you the Rwandan liberation struggle, untold stories of courage and determination, victory and defiance, heroics and heartbreaks that brought to an end the genocidal regime that had unleashed one of the worst atrocities in human history, the Genocide against the Tutsi. The struggle was initiated by political wing know as Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF). It also illustrates sequence of events before, and after the struggle through visuals that include texts and artifacts. The museum has the bunker which protected the then chairmain of the high command who is now the president of the Republic of Rwanda; H.E Paul Kagame. The other many objects also embody the Arusha agreement; radio Muhabira that was used by RPF AND RPA for mobilization, and the campaign against genocide.

The Presidential Palace Museum

The presidential palace museum is located on the eastern outskirts of the city, 2 km from Kigali International Airport. The palace served as home to Juvenal Habyarimana and Pasteur Bizimungu during the 1970 up to 1990. The museum gives visitor a chance to tour the former state house, its interesting ‘secret’ rooms and an odd presidential nightclub. You can also visit some of the flight debris of the Falcon 50 presidential plane that went down on 6^th April 1994.

Campaign Against Genocide Museum

Located in the parliamentary building, in Kigali 5 km from Kigali International Airport, Campaign Against Genocide Museum depicts in detail how the campaign against genocide plan was executed by Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)/A, the withdrawal of UN troops leaving the targeted Tutsi under the mercy of the Genocidaires and how only the RPF/A forces who were in the war of the liberation took the unilateral decision to stop Genocide, rescue victims of Genocide and defeat the genocidial forces. This CAG Museum also has its outer part comprised of monuments including that of the 12.7mm Machine Gun that helped in stopping genocidal forces.

Environmental Museum

Located on Lake Kivu shore in Karongi, the building consists of two floors with a collection of native plants, each with explanations of their use in traditional medicine. It is the first and only environment museum in Africa that exhibits energy sources both renewable and none renewable. The museum is the center of education for visitors, helps then to understand and safeguard their environment and ensure an integrated and durable development.