11 Unusual Date Ideas To Try In Kigali

Rwanda’s capital city is full of couples. Married couples, dating couples, friendship couples, you name it – there are couples everywhere. Even so, date options in Kigali are often perceived as limited. However, there are tonnes of unique date opportunities around the city. Check out the following unusual date ideas to try in Kigali and mix up the routine.

Yoga at Inema Arts Center

Art Gallery

Hit the mat with weekly yoga classes at Inema Arts Center. The centre, founded by Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza, showcases some of Rwanda’s best contemporary art, while their assortment of activities are a core part of Kigali’s social scene.

Catch a film

Cinema

Though Chris Pratt’s newest action film is likely wonderful, take a night to explore the local cinema houses and share some of Rwanda’s best film productions with your significant other. Rwandan and regional films are shown at the Kwetu Film Institute, or at different locations hosting the Rwandan Film Festival.

Eat with your hands

Bar

Get down and dirty with a classic Kigali dish: big fish. This giant, grilled fish, topped with onions and spices, is more than enough to happily feed two people (and will likely bring them closer together). Head to the vibrant Nyamirambo neighbourhood for the city’s best offerings. Wash back the fish with a couple of cold beers and spend the rest of the evening bar-hopping your way through one of Kigali’s most fun areas.

Go horseback riding on Mt. Kigali

Locals and visitors alike climb or drive up Mt. Kigali to enjoy the city’s most stunning vistas. Grab a date and head to Fazenda Sengha, a horse-riding destination on top of the mountain, for an adventurous and beautiful afternoon.

Take a Kinyarwanda class

Cafe

What better way to bond with a partner than through mutual education? Take one of Inzora Rooftop Cafe’s Kinywarwanda class to learn a little bit more about Rwanda’s language, cultural heritage, and each other – and stick around for a delicious coffee and brownie afterwards.

Do the Go Kigali city tour

Even Kigali residents enjoy the Go Kigali city tour, as fabulous, local guides show small groups Kigali’s hidden gems. Bring your date on this whirlwind tour of markets, local art, Rwandan coffee, and a couple of neighbourhoods off the beaten track.

Watch a soccer game at Amahoro Stadium

Stadium

Check out your partner’s competitive side with a trip to Amahoro Stadium for a classic Kigali football game. Amahoro is the largest stadium in Rwanda, and is a great place to throw back a few beers and scream your lungs out for your favourite team on a Saturday afternoon.

Picnic on one of Kigali’s many hills

Though Kigali’s public park options are limited, snag some sandwiches from Turambe Shoppe and vanilla eclairs from Baso Patissier before making your way to one of Kigali’s many beautiful hills. Find a quiet spot, lay down a blanket, and voila! A date in the land of a thousand hills. Take a taxi, bus, or motorcycle to the top of Mt. Kigali, or pick any of the other surrounding hills at random.

Take a dance class

Dance classes for adults are offered at City Arts, a lovely performing and visual arts centre in the middle of Kigali. Take Latino dance, African contemporary dance, or tap dance on weekday evenings, and see if the other couples in the room can really move.

Do a coffee tasting

Bar

Question Coffee, in addition to purveying some of Kigali’s best coffee, has recently opened up tasting facilities and tours. For an unusual and unique date excursion, head to Question Coffee and sign up for one of their coffee cupping experiences.

Quiz Night at Sole Luna

Bring a date and join a group of expats, residents and locals at the pizzeria Sole Luna to test your knowledge. Quiz night happens every Monday and is hosted by quizmasters from all over the world. Hope for a competitive team, as winners get complimentary meals and drinks. Besides being a potentially cheap date, this quiz is ultra-unique, with global and region-specific questions and participants.

About the author

Leah Feiger

Though Leah is originally from Chicago, she grew up abroad in Hong Kong and London and has had the travel bug ever since. Perpetually on the road or planning imminent travels, she loves short layovers, mangoes, mountains, and lakeside naps. BA at Dartmouth College and MA at the University of Cape Town.