Kigali | |
Elevation M: | 1853 |
Prominence M: | 400 |
Location: | Rwanda |
Coordinates: | -1.9669°N 30.0381°W |
Mount Kigali or Mont Kigali in French, is a hill in Kigali City, Rwanda,[1] after which the city was named. Mount Kigali is located directly West of the city center in Nyarugenge District. The majority of Nyarugenge District is located on the slopes of Mount Kigali. The western slopes of Mount Kigali end in the valley of the river Nyabarongo. At a height of 1853m (6,079feet), along with the taller Mont Jali at 2078m (6,818feet) directly to its North, it dominates over other hills in the city as they rise between 1300 and 1600 m.[2] As a result, Mount Kigali offers expansive views of the entire city of Kigali to the east and north, the Southern Province to the west and south, and the Eastern Province to the east and south.
The history of Mount Kigali goes back to the 14th Century AD. Rwandan King Cyilima I Rungwe conquered the mountain and the areas surrounding it and looking at the sprawling land, he said: “Burya iki gihugu ni Kigali” (This country is vast").[3]