Nyanza

Nyanza, located in southern Rwanda, is the historical heart of the country and the former capital of the Rwandan kingdom. The city was the seat of the Mwami (king) until the abolition of the monarchy in 1961. Today, Nyanza is best known for the King's Palace Museum, a faithful reconstruction of the traditional, thatched-roof royal residence. Right next to it stands the more modern palace built for King Mutara III Rudahigwa, but which was never permanently inhabited. A special attraction are the sacred Inyambo cattle, a long-horned breed kept at the court and cared for by traditionally dressed herders. Today, Nyanza serves as the administrative seat of the district of the same name and. It is a center for art and culture, as evidenced by the Rwesero Art Gallery located on a neighboring hill.

Nearby cities

Kabgayi

The historical epicenter of the Catholic Church in Rwanda houses a monumental cathedral and many schools.

Muhanga

A major commercial hub between Kigali and the western and southern provinces of the country.

Huye

The intellectual capital in the south houses the national university and the impressive ethnographic museum.

Ndora

A bustling center of agricultural trade in the Gisagara district, where coffee beans are primarily traded.

Nyamagabe

This town borders the Nyungwe National Park and is heavily characterized by timber and tea production.

Ruhango

A growing commercial town on the main road south, known for its large cassava processing plants.

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Rwanda's first Catholic mission, founded in 1900, sits majestically on a hill near the city of Huye.

Gisagara

A significant location in the southeast of the Southern Province, where large peat power plants contribute to the national power supply.

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Kansi

This peaceful southern community is heavily influenced by artisanal banana wine production and traditional pottery.

Kibeho

World-famous as the only Vatican-approved Marian apparition site on the African continent.

Mugombwa

A significant location due to the UNHCR refugee camp, which has a strong international humanitarian presence.

Kamonyi

The urban area acts as an important link between the capital region and the deep south of the country.

Nyaruguru

A high-altitude settlement in the deep south, bordering the Nyungwe National Park and the neighboring state of Burundi.

History & landmarks

Ntarama Genocide Memorial

A former Catholic church south of Kigali where five thousand people sought refuge and were killed in 1994.

Nyamata Genocide Memorial

A memorial in a former church in the Bugesera District demonstrating the brutality of the 1994 genocide and the failure of churches as sa…

Rusumo Bridge

A strategically important international bridge over the Akagera River on the border between Rwanda and Tanzania near the Rusumo Falls.

More places

Muhanga Mining Region

A major area for the extraction of cassiterite, wolfram, and coltan.

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Nyabarongo I Hydroelectric Power Station

A large hydroelectric plant on the Nyabarongo River to meet national energy demand.

Ntarama Church Memorial

Another church that became the scene of brutal murders and now serves as a national memorial.

Nyamata Church Memorial

A Catholic church where thousands of people sought refuge and were murdered during the genocide.

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Mbyo Reconciliation Village

A historically important village project where genocide survivors and perpetrators live together after a reconciliation process.

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Ruli Wolfram Mine

A significant mine for the extraction of wolfram, a strategic hard metal.

Rwanda Children's Farm

An educational farm where kids learn how to care for animals and plants.

Lake Muhazi

An elongated lake that is an important inland water body in Rwanda.