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The nation's progressive development is exemplified by its parliament, boasting one of the highest rates of female representation worldwide. Its capital, Kigali, showcases impressive infrastructure development and a thriving tourism sector.
Hard to justify traveling to as a city in isolation, but if you are already in East Africa, it's definitely worth spending up to a month as a base to explore Rwanda from.
After a month in Nairobi and running down the limit of my tourist visa in South Africa, I felt there was another box to tick on the continent to round off the experience. After much research of viable destinations, Kigali emerged as one of the better options in Sub-Saharan Africa, looking like an ideal place to work from with a reputation for being one of the cleanest and safest cities in the region.
There isn't a huge selection of properties on the market when it comes to modern, high-quality apartments, but I had a great experience staying at the recently completed Urban Oasis apartment complex. I can't imagine there are many better options across the city, both with regard to its location and the quality of the fit-out.
Given the amount of construction going on in the city, the number of choices on the market is likely to grow year by year. Air conditioning is not a common feature, but there wasn't any time when it would have been required.
There's a sparse selection of dedicated coworking spaces across the city, but none quite at the standard as what you can get in Nairobi or in Europe. That being said, there is no shortage of coffee shops to work from and the quality of both Wifi and 4G across the country is impressive.
If you are earning a foreign wage, the cost of living in Kigali is very reasonable. Local food is tasty and particularly inexpensive (a good lunch can cost under £3), while international cuisine is more in line with what you may expect to pay in Europe.
You may want to budget ahead for excursions like Gorilla Trecking ,with prices commanding up to $1,500 a day due to the limited availability. The prices for guided safaris appeared to be in line with those in neighbouring Kenya.
At its heart, Kigali is an inherently quiet city. It’s often hard to imagine that it has a population of over 1 million.
It lacks many of the typical characteristics you might expect from a European city, particularly a central urban focal point. Can it be considered boring? Perhaps. Can it still offer an enjoyable stay? Undoubtedly.
As long as you set your expectations accordingly, there is still much to appreciate, though it will undoubtedly be a more peaceful and serene experiences.
Rwanda follows Central African Time (CAT), placing it 1 hour ahead of Central European Time (CET) during the winter months of the year and aligning with CEST during the summer.
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There's no real central hub to speak of in the city, with its main attractions being dispersed across a number of different areas. It's a long and hilly journey on foot from Gishushu to Kiyovu, so I'd plan ahead on where you wish to spend your time. There are local ride hailing services with both motorbikes and taxis but its by no means as practical as Uber.
Located a five-minute walk from the convention centre, Westerwelle occupies the fourth and fifth floors of the Fairview Office building. While the fit-out quality is basic, it offers reliable Wi-Fi, ample spaces for calls, and access to the building's roof terrace.
There's no coffee served in-house, but a couple of convenient options are nearby in the immediate vicinity, with both Tugende and The 3K within a minutes walk from the buildings entrance.
While it may not be of a quality to necessarily plan your trip around, if you are in the Kimihurura area, it provides a reliable and inexpensive place to base yourself (a flexible desk is priced at £79 for a month).
An essential part of any visit to Kigali, the Genocide Memorial is a sobering reminder of the atrocities etched into the country's recent history. The memorial includes a well-constructed museum outlining the historical events preceding the tragedy and the country's subsequent efforts to reconcile its differences.
Admission is free, with personally assisted tours and audio guides also available. It's well worth including at the start of your trip to provide added context to the numerous smaller memorials you'll see across the city and in each village.
January belongs to one of two 'dry' seasons, running between June - August and December - February. Even during January, the rain and resulting storms can be ferocious, bringing all traffic across the city to a grinding halt and leaving you stranded wherever you've taken cover. Such outbursts generally last no longer than an hour, but I'd be in no hurry to visit during a wet season.
There's little to justify a full month exclusively in Kigali City, but combined with some weekend excursions, it's a great base to work from and explore the country.
Warm, friendly, and welcoming – my experience with the Rwandan people was entirely positive at every step. English and French are widely spoken, with varying degrees of fluency alongside the native Kinyarwanda.
During morning runs, locals cheer you on with enthusiasm, as if you were in the painful latter stages of a marathon – perhaps a testament to my fitness. As a caucasian, groups of school children take interest in greeting you as a 'Myzungu' (white person), with a mix of excitement, apprehension and laughter.
While there's not much of a remote work community, numerous expats work in the city for development organizations, and there's a steady stream of tourists passing through, with Francophones overindexing. Additionally, there is a prominent Chinese population in the city due to the nation's investment in Rwanda.
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