Best Tourist Places to Visit in Kibeho, Kigali, Rwanda, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Kibeho, Kigali, Rwanda, Africa

Kibeho is a town belonging to the Southern Province of Rwanda, covering a total area of 79 sq. km. It is situated around 140 km southwest of the national capital, Kigali, between 2°38′ S latitude and 29°33′ E longitude. Kibeho is well known for the incident believed to be happening in 1981, in which the spirits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ appeared to local teenagers, which had become very popular even in outside Rwanda also. Kibeho is situated few kilometers away from Nyungwe Forest, which is a recognized tourist attraction in Rwanda, highly popular among adventure sport lovers.

How to get Kibeho?

Like the most parts of Rwanda, Kibeho is served by Kigali International Airport, the prime airport of the country. Including global cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, Nairobi, Dubai, Istanbul and Doha, the airport covers many African cities. The airport is situated around 140 km away from Kibeho.

Buses are not regular between Kibeho and Kigali, but regular between Kigali and Butare. Visitors can also hire a car to travel between these cities.

Food and Shopping in Kibeho:

The culture of Kibeho is noted for the appearance of the spirits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ in 1981. This belief is still strong among locals.

There are modernized shopping and restaurant options limited in number in Kibeho, but visitors can find mouthwatering local delicacies at traditional food corners in the city. Those looking international standard options can drive towards nearby historical city, Butare.

Things to do in Kibeho:

Day tours
Shopping
Walking

What to see in Kibeho?

Kibeho:

Kibeho itself is famous as a site of pilgrimages and apparitions as the believed thought of the natives of Kibeho had seen the spirits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ between 1981 and 1989. By visiting the town, visitors can get the complete picture of that incident.

Nyungwe Forest:

The Nyungwe Forest is a rainforest covering an area of 970 km², formed by diverse ecological features like swamps, bogs, bamboo and grassland. Established in the year 2004, the park is home to a wide range of floral and faunal species, including 275 bird species, 32 amphibian species and 1068 plant species. The park is situated to the west of Kibeho.

Butare:

Butare is the former capital of Rwanda during the colonial rule, situated to the east of Kibeho. Butare is the site of many iconic attractions like the Gikongoro Genocide Memorial, the National University of Rwanda and the National Museum of Rwanda. Minibuses are generally plying between Kibeho and Butare and visitors can also use rental vehicle for comfort travel. Butare is worth a trip.

List of other places of interest in and around Kibeho includes:

Cathedral in Butare
National University of Rwanda
Huye Market
National Museum of Rwanda
Gikongoro Genocide Memorial in Butare
Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre
Presidential Palace Museum in Kigali
Akagera National Park
Parc National des Volcans

When to visit Kibeho?

The best time to visit Kibeho from June to September, when the weather remains dry and pleasant.

Where to stay in Kibeho?

Hotels of Kibeho are limited to traditional options, so it is advised for visitors to reach nearby Butare city, where one can find all sorts of hotels ranging from budget to star rated options. Butare is not more than 30 km away from Kibeho. Here are some nice hotels in Kibeho, Butare and Kigali: