Attraction
Kigali Genocide Memorial
The national memorial at Gisozi where more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi are buried, with permanent exhibitions and memorial gardens.
Kandt House Museum
Kigali's oldest surviving building, the 1908 house of German administrator Richard Kandt, now a museum on pre-colonial Rwanda, the colonial era and the city's origins.
At a glance
- Type
- History museum
- Area
- Nyarugenge, Kigali, Rwanda
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:00–17:00
- Official site
- rwandaheritage.gov.rw
Good to know
- Live reptile enclosure
- City views
Why we recommend it
The Kandt House Museum occupies the house built in 1908 for Richard Kandt, the German administrator who chose this hill as the seat of the colonial administration in 1907. It is described as the only building left from that first phase of Kigali, which makes it the natural starting point for anyone curious about how the city began. The building was renovated in 2004 and first opened as a natural history museum; on 17 December 2017 it was renamed and given a new focus on history.
The displays are arranged in three parts. The first looks at Rwandan society before colonial rule, including its social and economic life and the monarchy. The second and largest covers the German colonial period from 1884 through the First World War to 1916, with material on Kandt's own life and work. The third tells the story of Kigali itself, from before colonial times to its emergence as the capital.
Outside, a small enclosure holds live reptiles found in the Rwandan countryside, including snakes and young Nile crocodiles, which tends to be the part children remember. The garden also gives views across Kigali towards the Shyorongi and Jari hills, so it is worth stepping out onto the grounds before you leave.
The museum is run by the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, which publishes the same hours for all national museums: daily from 9am to 5pm, opening at noon on Umuganda days (the last Saturday of each month). National museums close on 7 April, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Admission is charged in separate bands for Rwandans and residents, other Africans and international visitors, and payment for heritage services is made through the Irembo platform, so have a mobile payment or card option ready.
The house is on KN 90 Street, about a kilometre from the city centre, so it is easy to reach by moto or taxi and combines well with a morning in the centre or in Nyamirambo. An hour is enough for most visitors. It is a small museum, best suited to travellers with an interest in history rather than those looking for large collections.
Kandt House Museum FAQs
What are the opening hours?
The Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy lists daily opening from 9am to 5pm for national museums, from noon on the last Saturday of the month.
When is it closed?
National museums close on 7 April, 25 December and 1 January.
Where is it?
On KN 90 Street, about a kilometre from central Kigali.
How do I pay for entry?
Heritage services are paid through the Irembo website or Irembo Pay, with separate rates for residents, Africans and international visitors.
How long does a visit take?
Around an hour covers the three exhibition sections and the garden.
Is it good for children?
Yes, the live snakes and young crocodiles outside are popular with children.
Why is it called Kandt House?
It was built in 1908 for Richard Kandt, the German administrator who founded the colonial capital here, and was renamed after him in 2017.
Are there group discounts?
Groups of 30 or more receive a discount on museum admission, according to the heritage academy.