Memorial · UNESCO World Heritage Site

Kigali Genocide Memorial

Remembering the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

City of Kigali
Best: Jun–Sep
World Heritage Site (2023), Memorial sites of the Genocide

Overview

Location: Gisozi, about 10 minutes from the centre
Open: Daily 9 am – 5 pm (last entry 4 pm)
UNESCO: World Heritage Site (2023)
Allow: At least 1.5–2 hours

The Kigali Genocide Memorial stands on the hill of Gisozi, about ten minutes from the city centre. The remains of more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi are buried here in mass graves beneath the memorial gardens.

Its exhibitions explain the history that led to the genocide, the hundred days of killing and the country's recovery. A children's room remembers young victims as individuals, and newer galleries cover peace education and Rwanda's experience after 1994.

In 2023 UNESCO inscribed the memorial, with Nyamata, Murambi and Bisesero, as the World Heritage Site 'Memorial sites of the Genocide'. Many guides are survivors.

The exhibitions
The history of the genocide, from its roots to its aftermath.
The memorial gardens
Mass graves, a wall of names and gardens for reflection.
Audio and live guides
Self-guided audio tours or guided visits, many led by survivors.

Things to do

Self-guided audio tour
About 1.5 hours at your own pace.
US$20
Ubumuntu visit package
Audio guide, a rose to lay at the graves and a pin.
US$30
Guided group tour
Book a week ahead for groups over 15.
From US$200 per group

Prices are as published by the site or its operators; see Costs below and confirm when you book.

When to go

Open all year. Commemoration (Kwibuka) begins on 7 April each year; the memorial is especially busy then.

Jan: Good
Feb: Good
Mar: Good
Apr: Wetter
May: Wetter
Jun: Best
Jul: Best
Aug: Best
Sep: Best
Oct: Good
Nov: Good
Dec: Good

Costs

The memorial sells visits through its booking site: a self-guided audio tour is US$20, the Ubumuntu package US$30, and guided group tours from US$200 for up to five people. Check kgm.rw before you go.

Getting there

By road
From Kigali city centreAbout 10 minutes
By car, taxi or motorbike taxi to Gisozi.

Open larger map Directions Marker shows an approximate location.

Photos

A garden path beside the memorial walls at GisoziPhoto: Fanny Schertzer, CC BY-SA 3.0

Names of victims engraved on the memorial wallPhoto: Fanny Schertzer, CC BY-SA 3.0

Flowers and graves in the memorial gardens in KigaliPhoto: Jenny Paul, CC BY-SA 4.0

Know before you go

On the last Saturday of each month (Umuganda) the memorial opens at 1 pm.
The exhibitions include graphic material. Dress modestly and be respectful in the gardens.
Book ahead in busy periods; groups of more than 30 may be split.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I spend at the Kigali Genocide Memorial?

Allow at least one and a half to two hours; the audio tour alone takes about 1.5 hours.

When is the memorial open?

Daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4 pm. On the last Saturday of each month it opens at 1 pm because of Umuganda.

Sources

Checked on 25 October 2026. Fees and rules change; confirm with the authority or your operator before you pay.

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