Kandt House Museum of Natural History, Natural history museum in Nyarugenge district, Rwanda
The Kandt House is a natural history museum in Nyarugenge with three exhibition sections located on a hill overlooking the city. The building houses a collection of local flora, fauna, and artifacts while offering views across the mountains and older neighborhoods of Kigali.
Richard Kandt chose this location in 1907 as the seat of German colonial administration, leading to the construction of administrative buildings and this residence. The house remained a significant building throughout Kigali's development into a modern city.
The exhibition halls display objects and documents showing how Rwandan communities lived and organized themselves before colonial times. You can see how people practiced their crafts, governed themselves, and structured their daily routines through the items on display.
The museum sits on a hillside with stairs and walking paths that are easy to navigate and offer viewpoints along the way. The building entrance is straightforward to find, and the exhibitions are spread across multiple levels so you can move at your own pace.
The museum features living reptiles including Nile crocodiles, black mambas, pythons, and cobras that live in Rwanda's countryside. These animals are rarely seen in modern cities like Kigali, making this display a special experience for visitors.
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