Kigali Milk bars in Rwanda —Kuruhimbi milk bar and gorilla tours

Kigali Milk bars in Rwanda – Kuruhimbi milk bar

Kigali milk bars in Rwanda – If you’re wondering what to do in Kigali to experience it like a local, then this is your answer. Milk bars are a very interesting feature in Rwanda and an experience to check out. While you drive across the country maybe to Akagera or to the gorilla parks, you will often see locals carrying milk on the back of their bikes. They are taking it to the Milk Bar for pasteurisation.

Milk is very important in Rwanda, as are cows which you will see around the country. They are used as dowry and are important source of livelihood for a lot of people. In Kigali, you can find some of them in the Nyamirambo or Kimisagara neighborhoods. They can be identified either by the traffic of locals bringing their milk or by the pictures of cows on the facade. Alternatively, look out for the phrase “Amata Meza” (fresh milk in Kinyarwanda).

KURUHIMBI IS ONE OF KIGALI’S most popular bars, and it doesn’t serve a drop of liquor. Instead, milk is on tap. Located in the city’s Kimisagara neighborhood, on a dirt road just a few minutes away from a bustling market, Kuruhimbi is a milk bar and Rwandan stalwart. Despite its popularity, Kuruhimbi is one of the last of its kind: With the growth of Inyange Milk Zone, a corporate milk bar chain, local milk bars are becoming relics of the country’s past.

Kigali milk bar Rwanda – Kuruhimbi may not be the easiest place to find—it’s not listed on Google maps, and there’s no website or official phone number—but the colorful sign above the entrance, crisp white interiors, and patterned red-and-yellow plastic tablecloths are nothing if not welcoming.

Know Before You Go

Kuruhimbi is located at KN 204 St. 14. It can be a little tricky to find, but once you make it to the main road, friendly residents will point you in the right direction. The bar is cash only and the hours are inconsistent. Typically, they’re open every day from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., though that is dependent on how many customers are in the bar at any given time.