Kigali, Rwanda: One of Africa’s cleanest & greenest cities 🇷🇼

The Kimenyi family has farmed & processed coffee in Rwanda’s Western Province for generations. Today, Valentin Kimenyi lives in Kigali, where he is managing director for the family business of farms and washing stations which provide green coffee to roasters across Europe and the US.

Read Valentin’s guide below for a local’s look at biking, hiking, clubbing, & more in the capital of Rwanda.

*Gasharu Coffee grows & processes coffee in Rwanda’s Western Province. Photos courtesy of Gasharu Coffee*

Filter: What do you like to do for fun around Kigali?

Bike riding: We have mountain biking events that happens often, and also a national car-free day that happens twice a month, helping people exercise and do sports and also biking.

Hiking: Rwanda is well known for its hills, mountains and volcanoes. Most hiking happens in the volcanoes from the Northern Province, where you get to visit gorillas too. But also there’s events like those within the city.

Going out: We have all types of outing spaces in Kigali, ones with the best food, best views of the city, filled with activities like playing pool, painting, bowling—all sorts of games and chill spaces with best vibes and music.

Horse riding: We have Fazhenda: a place filled with activities and games like horse riding, bike riding, archery, paintball, ziplines and more. We also have Umusambi Village with beautiful nature filled with the grey crowned crane of Africa and horses to ride.

Gasharu Coffee grows & processes coffee in Rwanda’s Western Province. Photos courtesy of Gasharu Coffee

Filter: If a good friend came to visit, where would you be sure to take them?

Art galleries: Most popular ones are Inema Art Center, Kigali Arts Center, and Choose Kigali.

Clubbing: Cadillac, People, Cocobean, Envy, and Shooters have the best vibes and music playing.

Bars: Some of the best choices are Choma’d, Inferno, and Maison Noir.

Filter: What do you love about Kigali?

The environment: it’s called the greenest city cause of the trees, plants, flowers around every corner. And also called the cleanest city in Africa.

The culture: The traditional dance and history is amazing. You can find history sites around the city ever since it was founded.

The people are very welcoming, and funny, with a little bit of English, they make you feel welcomed.

The safety: Most of the places you can walk at any time of the day freely and safe.

Filter: What’s another coffee shop around there that you really admire?

Question Coffee cause of their women empowerment policy 80% of this business is women and also the coffee the serve they plant it themselves

Filter: What do you like to do to escape the city?

Visiting Nyungwe Forest: the canopy walk experience is the best—you get to see one of the biggest forests in the country filled with monkeys, birds, and more.

Visiting volcanoes/gorillas: Also one of the parks in Rwanda is filled with gorillas, chimpanzee, monkeys,...You get to see some unique plants and trees and more

Visiting lakes: Most visited are Kivu and Muhazi. The nearest to the city is Muhazi [which is] only 2 hours away. There are other lakes like Ruhondo in the north and Mugesera Lake with the best views...

Visiting parks around Kigali: Umusambi Village and Eco-Ground Nyandungu are the most common in the city. They have the best nature and calming environment.

Filter: Could you share a little about yourself?

I am Valentin Kimenyi, 31-years-old, the fourth in nine children (six boys and three girls). I did bachelor in agribusiness and rural development. A man who likes to be happy. I love working, sport, and praying. I am old school music’s lover (pop and R&B).

As one born from local area, living in Kigali is a good experience for me as I am just close to every information and it’s better to live with people with high mentality (most people living in Kigali are open minded) who always look how to move forward. I feel like it’s my home because of many close friends to whom we enjoy it together.

Filter: What is your role at Gasharu?

I am managing director at Gasharu Coffee. For more details about our story I would recommend to check on the website. We own two washing stations, Gasharu and Muhororo washing stations. We are used to operating five washing stations in total each year.

We have our own coffee plantations planted in 15 hectares and we plan to augment area up to 40 hectares in these two coming years—all this production is being processed in Gasharu and Muhororo washing stations, combined with other volumes from farmers on the zones where those two are located. Gasharu processes five containers [and] Muhororo four containers each year. Most of our coffee exported to Europe is through Algrano, the importer from Switzerland, but there are a couple bags shipped directly to roasters.

Filter: What makes Kigali feel like home to you?

The cleanest city—it’s like our everyday life duty for everyone to keep the city clean, so just seeing it clean it's satisfying.

The safety—I love night walks and night jogging and I can walk in the middle of the night Without a problem cause of the safety of the city.

Welcoming people—easy to get help because most of the people speak English, and are willing to help.

Nightlife/music—the weekends it’s always a big party wherever you go. It is always vibing and interesting. At the same time you learn a new thing everyday, even for the locals.