King's Palace Museum – Rukari

Rwanda


Situated on a hill 2km southwest of town, this fascinating museum is less about ancient history and more about royal residences. The displays centre on a replica king's ‘palace. Inclusive in the ticket price is a guided tour that helps explain some of the architectural idiosyncrasies inside the royal compound, including why the royal beer brewer’s hut had an entrance without a lip, and other curiosities such as why the woman who looked after the king’s milk was never able to marry.

Behind the royal compound are the inyambo (sacred cows) with their super-sized horns. In some, the span between horn tip and horn tip exceeds 2.5m. Despite their fearsome appearance they seem to like nothing better than having lullabies sung to them!

Crowning the hill itself is the royal residence of King Mutara III Rudahigwa, built by Belgium in 1931. This colonial-style home served as the royal palace until he died. Unfortunately most of the furniture and gifts he received from visiting dignitaries were stolen during the genocide, but it’s still an interesting home to wander through, with its peculiarities including three sitting rooms, the best of which was reserved for receiving white people. There are also excellent panels (in English) about Rwanda's history. Mutara was the first mwami (king) to convert to Catholicism and in the beginning was so enthralled by the Belgian rulers that he once thanked God for having sent them to Rwanda.

Keep hold of your ticket, as admission to this museum entitles you to a 30% discount to National Arts Gallery – Rwesero.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Rwanda attractions

1. National Arts Gallery – Rwesero

0.65 MILES

Rwanda's most prestigious art museum is housed inside what was meant to be King Mutara III Rudahigwa's new palace (he died before the building was…

2. Murambi Genocide Memorial

13.53 MILES

Nyamagabe (formerly called Gikongoro) and the satellite town of Murambi was the site of one of the most unforgettable horrors of the 1994 genocide…

3. Ethnographic Museum

15.71 MILES

This outstanding museum was given to the city as a gift from Belgium in 1989 to commemorate 25 years of independence. While the building itself is…

4. Cathedral

16.93 MILES

Huye is home to Rwanda’s largest cathedral, which was constructed in the 1930s to commemorate the life of Princess Astrid. The red-brick building is still…

5. National University of Rwanda

17.55 MILES

Rwanda’s finest institution of learning suffered terribly during the 1994 genocide, though today it has turned towards the future with hope and optimism…

6. Ntarama Church

27.41 MILES

Some of the most horrific massacres during the genocide took place inside the sanctums of churches throughout Rwanda, including inside Ntarama church,…

7. Les Chutes de Ndaba

28.33 MILES

About 25km from Kibuye along the road to Kigali, keep an eye out for this 100m-high waterfall. Buses usually slow down and helpful locals are quick to…

8. Nyamata Church

28.49 MILES

Nyamata church, about 30km south of Kigali, is a deeply disturbing genocide memorial where some 50,000 people died. Today the skulls and bones along with…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "rwanda/nyanza-nyabisindu/attractions/king-s-palace-museum-rukari/a/poi-sig/1341765/1331550",
      "destination": "Rwanda",
      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Rwanda",
      "position": "superzone"
    }