Is Kigali safe for solo female travelers?

Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, is generally considered to be one of the safest destinations in Africa. It has a low crime rate and the city is well-policed, with 24-hour patrol units. Locals are friendly and helpful towards travelers. Though one should always remain cautious especially at night, safety is generally maintained across the city. However, like any destination, it's always advisable to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.

Safety rating

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How safe is Kigali for female travelers?

Solo travel

I felt safe in Kigali, more so than in any other large city. I noticed that people look out of understandable curiosity, as tourism there is still relatively new. I just looked back at them, said hello and moved on. Men can be annoying, but I never felt unsafe. I travelled around the city by motorcycle taxis and had no problems.

Posted: December 25, 2023
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Group travel

It’s a great city with a few nice places to enjoy art. There are some great cafes like the chess cafe. I really enjoyed the Niyo Arts Gallery, where you can enjoy art as well as food and drinks. Another recommendation would be the Kimironko market. You can get anything here! From food, to decorations, to jewelry. Really busy but pretty amazing :)

Posted: November 9, 2023
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How safe is Kigali for women?

Raisa

Raisa

Honestly the safest place I’ve ever been! I go for late night walks in my neighborhood and don’t need to worry about my purse or phone getting stolen. There’s also little to no catcalling on the streets and people here are very polite. There’s not a lot of night life but people can get home late no issues with safety.

Posted: January 19, 2025
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Kigali is quite safe that I've gotten too used to walking alone at night, but I've been sexually harassed on public transport in the day once. Aside from that, the crime rate is very low, and it's a very safe country to live in compared to many other African countries.

Posted: December 31, 2024
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Safety in Rwanda