To visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial with a student group, book ahead, tell students plainly where they are going, and leave the rest of the day free to talk. Entry is free, groups of more than 15 must book at least one week early, and children under 12 are not permitted.
This guide is for teachers and group leaders. It sets out what the Memorial publishes for groups, then the care around the day: preparing students, getting there, meals and time afterwards.
What does the Memorial ask of a visiting group?
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is in Gisozi. Its own page says the site is ten minutes by car from the centre of town, and that a car or taxi is the easiest way to reach it.
It asks every visitor to dress and behave respectfully. The optional Ubumuntu audio-guide package includes a rose for the burial site, so decide beforehand with your group whether students will take part in that.
Three things matter most for a student group: book early, prepare students for what they will see, and plan time to talk afterwards. The rest of this guide follows that order.
How far ahead should a group book, and on which days?
Entry is free, but groups must book in advance. The Memorial's pages set these rules:
Groups of more than 15 must book at least one week ahead.
Groups of more than 30 are split into smaller groups.
Children under 12 are not permitted. Check the age of every student before you book.
Send group and learning-tour requests through the Memorial's contact page. The Memorial's visit page has the current details. The hotel reports that visitors have walked in and asked for a guide on arrival, but larger groups should still book ahead.
The Memorial is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. On the last Saturday of each month (Umuganda) it opens later, from 13:00 to 17:00. Check which Saturday that is in your travel month before you set the day.
It is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and normally closed on the morning of 7 April. Short-notice closures are posted on @Kigali_Memorial, so look there the week before you go.
Should the group take a guided tour or an audio guide?
Staff-guided tours are priced by group size:
1 to 5 people: $200
6 to 10 people: $300
11 to 15 people: $400
16 to 20 people: $500
Students get 15% off staff-guide prices. The published table stops at 20 people, so ask the Memorial what applies to a larger group before you plan one.
The Memorial also offers an optional audio-guide package at $30 with a pin, or $20 without. Both options are described on its know before you go page.
How do you prepare students before the visit?
Talk to students before the day, in plain words, about where they are going and why. Tell them the Memorial asks visitors to dress and behave respectfully. Agree what a student can do if they need to step outside, and make sure every chaperone knows.
Brief everyone on the practical rules too:
Photography and filming are free outdoors. There is no photography inside the museum.
Bags, strollers and containers are screened at the entrance, and there is a metal detector. Bring little.
No food or drink in the gardens or the exhibitions.
The hotel's own advice for visitors: avoid plastic bags, which are prohibited, dress respectfully at the Memorial, carry Rwandan francs because cards are not accepted everywhere, bring sunscreen, and allow extra time for airport transfers in peak traffic.
The hotel says designated teachers or adult leaders supervise the group, and that supervision arrangements, curfew times and overnight contact procedures are agreed with the hotel on arrival. It places a teacher in a single room near the students' rooms.
How does the group get from the hotel to the Memorial?
The Memorial gives its own drive time from the centre of town. The hotel says the Memorial is about 6 minutes away by car, or about 30 minutes on foot. With a full group, plan a ride rather than the walk.
The hotel partners with local businesses to arrange group transportation, so a teacher can ask for a ride on the day of the visit rather than organize one alone. The hotel sits in the quiet suburbs of central Kigali, per its own site, and a calm place to return to matters after a hard morning.
The hotel can help with transport on the day. Book a guide or a group visit directly with the Memorial through its contact page.
What do students eat on the day of the visit?
The Memorial allows no food or drink in the gardens or the exhibitions, and it screens containers at the entrance, so plan meals around the visit rather than inside it. Students can eat before they go or after they return.
The hotel has a kitchen open for group meals, lunches and dinners, and is very flexible on packed lunches. The hotel says breakfast is included in standard rates, and dinner is a la carte or buffet. Early breakfast is available on request, and dietary needs should go to the hotel in advance.
How do you make time to talk afterwards?
Leave the rest of the day free. Students often need to sit, drink water and say what they are thinking, or say nothing at all. Do not book another outing straight after.
Offer each student a notebook and a pen. Some will write, some will leave the page blank, and either is fine.
The hotel's meeting room has U-shaped seating for 14, which suits a small group or a chaperone-led conversation with part of a larger one.
The hotel says the meeting room is available to groups to reflect after a Memorial visit, subject to availability. Ask for it when you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is entry to the Kigali Genocide Memorial free?
Yes, entry is free. Staff-guided tours and the audio-guide package are paid options, and students get 15% off staff-guide prices.
What is the age limit?
Children under 12 are not permitted. Check the age of every student before you book the visit.
How long should a group plan for the visit?
The Memorial's own pages do not give a visit length. The Memorial closes at 17:00 and last entry is 16:00, so start early and keep the rest of the day free.
Can students take photographs?
Photography and filming are free outdoors. There is no photography inside the museum.
How far ahead must a school group book?
Groups of more than 15 must book at least one week ahead, and groups of more than 30 are split into smaller groups. Send requests through the Memorial's contact page.
How do we get to the Memorial?
The Memorial says a car or taxi is the easiest way, about ten minutes from the centre of town. The hotel partners with local businesses to arrange group transportation.
Can the hotel prepare packed lunches?
Yes, the hotel is very flexible on packed lunches. Tell the kitchen about dietary needs when you book.
Plan Your Group Stay
Contact the hotel through its contact page, or send a booking request on its reservation page. Give your dates, your group size, the day you plan to visit the Memorial, and whether you want meals and transport arranged. Say if students will need packed lunches for the visit day, and send dietary needs in advance. For room types, see the rooms page.