Rwanda sports tourism is growing rapidly, offering various activities and events with the latest addition being the bid to host Formula one race in the near future. Well apart from F1 the popular sports tourism attractions include:- Football (Soccer) at Amahoro Stadium or Kigali Stadium, Basketball at the Kigali Arena, Volleyball at the Kigali Volleyball Stadium, Rugby at the Kigali Rugby Stadium, bicycle rides through scenic routes, including the Congo Nile Trail, Kigali International Peace Marathon, Tee offs at the Kigali Golf Club or the Nyagatika Golf Course, Kigali Tennis Club among other sport attractions.
Apart from the traditional sports events mentioned above there are also adventure sports like Mountain biking to explore Rwanda’s scenic trails, Hiking and trekking to discover Rwanda’s beautiful landscapes, Kayaking and canoeing to Paddle on Lake Kivu or Akagera’s lakes and Rock climbing to Scale Rwanda’s rugged terrain.
Rwanda has a number of sports events and tournaments, that include:- Kigali International Peace Marathon (May), Tour du Rwanda (cycling, February), Rwanda Golf Open (June), Kigali Tennis Open (September), African Volleyball Championship (biennial), the BAL event among others.
Sports Infrastructure you should look forward to, to visit includes: – the Amahoro Stadium (football, athletics), Kigali Arena (basketball, volleyball), Kigali Stadium (football), Nyagatika Golf Course (golf) and Kigali Tennis Club (tennis)
Tourist Sports Infrastructure in detail
Amahoro Stadium
Amahoro Stadium, located in Kigali, Rwanda, is a multi-purpose stadium with a seating capacity of 45,508, making it the largest stadium in Rwanda. It hosts football matches, concerts, and public events, and is home to Rwanda’s National Team Amavubi. The stadium has undergone renovations, with the latest upgrade increasing its capacity from 25,000 to 45,000 seats, completed in 2024 at a cost of $165 million.
The stadium was originally constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation between 1984 and 1989 at a cost of $21 million ¹. It has played a significant role in Rwanda’s history, serving as a UN Protected Site during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, hosting up to 12,000 refugees.
The stadium has a seating Capacity of 45,508 and hosts events like Football matches, concerts, public events etc.
The stadium’s inauguration ceremony took place on July 1, 2024, with President Paul Kagame and CAF President Patrice Motsepe in attendance. The ceremony featured a friendly match between APR FC and Police FC, with APR emerging victorious.
Kigali Arena
The Kigali Arena, now known as BK Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with a seating capacity of 10,000. It’s the largest indoor arena in East Africa and hosts various events, including basketball and volleyball matches, concerts, and corporate events. The arena is located next to the Amahoro Stadium and has undergone significant developments since its inauguration in August 2019 ¹.
The arena hosts events like Basketball, volleyball, concerts, corporate events, and more. Notable Events hosted at the arena are 2019 FIBA Under-16 Women’s African Championship, AfroBasket 2021, and the 2021 African Nations Volleyball Championships.
The arena has also partnered with renowned Rwandan singer Bruce Melodie as its brand ambassador to position itself as a regional entertainment hub. In May 2022, the arena was rebranded as BK Arena after a six-year sponsorship deal with the Bank of Kigali.
Kigali Stadium (Pelé Stadium)
Kigali Stadium, also known as Pelé Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Kigali, Rwanda. The stadium has a seating capacity of 22,000 and hosts football matches, athletics, and other events.
The stadium was constructed in 2018 and officially opened in October 2019 [1]. It was named after the legendary Brazilian footballer Pelé.
The Natural grass stadium hosts events like Football matches, athletics, concerts, and public events. It has Floodlights for nighttime events.
Notable Events hosted at the stadium include:- 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Rwanda Premier League matches and International friendly football matches.
Kigali Stadium has become a hub for sports and entertainment in Rwanda, hosting various national and international events. Its modern facilities and amenities provide a top-notch experience for athletes, spectators, and event organizers.
Nyagatika Golf Course
The Nyagatika Golf Course is a scenic 9-hole golf course located in Kigali, Rwanda, offering stunning views of the surrounding hills and valleys. It is 9 holes, par 72 with a length of 6,432 yards (5,880 meters) and a surface of Undulating terrain with lush green fairways and challenging bunkers. The course is elevated at 1,800 meters (5,906 feet) above sea level.
Famous events and tournaments at this course include:- Rwanda Open Golf Championship, East African Golf Challenge, Corporate golf tournaments and Social golf events.
Kigali Tennis Club
The Kigali Tennis Club is a popular tennis facility located in the heart of Kigali, Rwanda. Established in 2015, the club offers top-notch tennis facilities, coaching, and social activities. The facility has 6 floodlit tennis courts (4 clay, 2 hard), locker rooms, restaurant, and bar and it offers tennis equipment and apparel plus private and group lessons. This facility has hosted ITF regional and global events.
