Kigali is the capital and largest city in Rwanda, located in a region of rolling hills. With its wide, clean streets and thriving cultural scene, Kigali is among the better major cities for running in Africa. Runners should note that Kigali sits at 1400m, so altitude is a factor. The city has great weather for running, with daytime temperatures near 27C year-round and nights that cool to 15-16C.
It is generally safe for running in Kigali, especially in the Central Business District , where you’ll see other runners on the wide sidewalks along the main roads along the hotel strip and around the Presidential Palace. The best place to run in Kigali is on the paths in Kimihurura Park and the roads around it. We’ve also mapped a couple of routes in the northeast part of Kigali toward Kagugu, which features some nice countryside. Outside the city, there are extensive trail running opportunities in the beautiful rolling hill terrain.
Runners should also note that the first and third Sundays of every month are CAR FREE days, with tons of people out exercising on the streets of central Kigali.