Remembering the Past, Honoring Lives, Building a Peaceful Future
What You Will Experience
Learn About Rwanda’s History
The Memorial’s exhibitions provide a carefully presented journey through Rwanda’s history, the events leading up to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the genocide itself, and Rwanda’s continuing journey of justice, reconciliation, and renewal.
Hear the Stories of Those Who Lived Through It
Personal testimonies, photographs, artifacts, and historical documentation help visitors understand the human impact of the genocide. The experience goes beyond dates and historical events by introducing visitors to the lives and experiences of real people.
Pay Your Respects
The Memorial’s mass graves are a place of remembrance for the victims. Visitors are encouraged to approach the site with dignity and respect. The optional Ubumuntu visit package includes a rose that visitors can lay at the burial site in memory of the victims.
Explore the Memorial Gardens
The peaceful gardens provide space for quiet contemplation. They include several remembrance gardens, including the Gardens of Unity, Division & Reconciliation, Rose Gardens, Forest of Memory, and other spaces dedicated to reflection.
Discover the Children’s Memorial
The Children’s Memorial remembers children who were killed during the genocide and presents their individual stories in a deeply personal way. It encourages visitors to reflect on the value of every human life and the importance of protecting future generations.
Learn About Genocide Around the World
The Memorial also includes an exhibition exploring the history of genocidal violence internationally, helping visitors understand that the lessons of Rwanda have relevance far beyond the country’s borders.
Why Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial With Us?
A visit to the Memorial is different from an ordinary sightseeing experience. It requires context, sensitivity, and respect.
With our experienced local guide, you will have the opportunity to understand the history within the wider context of Rwanda and its people.
Meaningful Understanding
We help you understand what you are seeing and provide context before and after your visit, allowing you to reflect on the experience rather than simply passing through the exhibitions.
Respectful Experience
We understand that this is a sacred place of remembrance. We ensure that the visit is conducted with appropriate behavior, sensitivity, and respect for victims, survivors, and other visitors.
Connect History With Today’s Rwanda
The Memorial provides an important perspective on how Rwanda has worked toward reconciliation, unity, peace education, and rebuilding after the genocide.
More Than History
The experience is not only about understanding what happened in 1994. It also encourages visitors to think about human dignity, compassion, responsibility, resilience, and the importance of preventing genocide and violence in the future.
Best Time to Visit
The Kigali Genocide Memorial can be visited throughout the year.
We generally recommend visiting in the morning, when you can allow enough time for the exhibitions, gardens, and personal reflection without feeling rushed.
The Memorial is currently open 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, with last entrance at 4:00 PM, seven days a week. On the last Saturday of each month, it opens from 1:00 PM because of Umuganda community work. It is also closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and normally closed to the public on the morning of April 7 during the start of Kwibuka.
We recommend allowing at least 1.5 hours for a complete visit, although many visitors choose to spend longer depending on their pace and interest.
What to Expect
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a serious and emotional place of remembrance. Some exhibitions contain difficult photographs, personal testimonies, and descriptions of violence.
Visitors should come prepared for a reflective experience rather than a conventional tourist attraction.
Dress Respectfully
Please dress appropriately and behave respectfully throughout the Memorial grounds. The site includes burial grounds and is a place of remembrance.
Allow Time for Reflection
Do not rush your visit. Some parts of the Memorial can be emotionally difficult, and visitors are encouraged to take time to process what they see and learn.
Photography
Outdoor photography is permitted, but photography inside the museum exhibitions is not allowed. Visitors are also encouraged to be considerate of others when taking photographs around the grounds.
Children
Children under the age of 12 are currently not permitted to visit the Memorial.
Guided Experience
Visitors can choose a self-guided experience, an audio guide, or a live guided tour. Many of the Memorial’s guides are survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi, adding an important human perspective to the experience.
A Place of Remembrance and Hope
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is deeply connected to Rwanda’s journey since 1994. While it remembers those who were lost, it also represents the country’s determination to learn from the past and build a more peaceful future.
The Memorial’s work extends beyond commemoration. It contributes to peace and values education, documentation, survivor testimony, and efforts to prevent future genocide and identity-based violence.
For anyone visiting Rwanda, this is an experience that goes beyond sightseeing. It is an opportunity to remember, to learn, to reflect, and to better understand the resilience of the Rwandan people.
Experience Rwanda Beyond the Landscape
Rwanda is famous for its mountains, gorillas, savannahs, forests, and beautiful lakes—but understanding Rwanda also means understanding its people and its history.
A visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial is an essential part of that understanding.
It offers a powerful opportunity to remember the past, honor those who were lost, listen to the lessons of survivors, and appreciate Rwanda’s continuing journey toward unity, reconciliation, and peace.