Sightseeing

1. Ikigo cy'ingagi kiri hehe?

   I-ki-go cy'in-ga-gi ki-ri he-he?

   Where is the gorilla trekking center?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the gorilla trekking permit office, Rwanda's premier attraction

   Grammar Note

   Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park (Parc des Volcans) requires permits. Rwanda has rare mountain gorillas. On the wording: "ikigo" (class 7, hence "cy'" and "kiri") is the word for a centre or institution, whereas "itorero" means a church congregation or a traditional cultural troupe.

2. Ndashaka kugura tiketi imwe

   Nda-sha-ka ku-gu-ra ti-ke-ti i-mwe

   I want to buy one ticket

   Usage

   Used to buy a ticket at tourist attractions and museums

   Grammar Note

   "imwe" means "one" and agrees with the noun class of "tiketi" in Kinyarwanda.

3. Nshobora gufotora hano?

   N-sho-bo-ra gu-fo-to-ra ha-no?

   Can I take a photo here?

   Usage

   Used to ask permission to take photos at tourist sites or cultural venues

   Grammar Note

   "gufotora" means "to take a photo" in Kinyarwanda. The stem incorporates French "photo".

4. Uwo mujyi uri kure iki?

   U-wo mu-jyi u-ri ku-re i-ki?

   How far is that town?

   Usage

   Used to ask the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "kure" means "far" in Kinyarwanda. "iki" here asks "how much/how far?" in an adverbial sense.

5. Amafaranga yo kwinjira ni angahe?

   A-ma-fa-ra-nga yo kwi-nji-ra ni an-ga-he?

   How much is the entrance fee?

   Usage

   Used to ask admission fees at parks, museums, and tourist attractions

   Grammar Note

   "amafaranga" means "money" and "yo kwinjira" means "for entering"; "ni angahe" asks "how much is it".

6. Ndashaka gusura Urwibutso rwa Jenoside rwa Kigali.

   Nda-sha-ka gu-su-ra U-rwi-bu-tso rwa Je-no-si-de rwa Ki-ga-li.

   I want to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial

   Usage

   Used when visiting Rwanda's most important historical memorial site

   Grammar Note

   "gusura" means "to visit" in Kinyarwanda. The memorial honors victims of the 1994 genocide

7. Ndashaka gukora gorilla trekking

   Nda-sha-ka gu-ko-ra go-ril-la trek-king

   I want to do gorilla trekking

   Usage

   Used when booking gorilla trekking, Rwanda's premier tourist activity

   Grammar Note

   Gorilla trekking permits must be booked in advance at Volcanoes National Park. USD 1500 per person

8. Urafite ikarita y'uyu mujyi?

   U-ra-fi-te i-ka-ri-ta y'u-yu mu-jyi?

   Do you have a map of this city?

   Usage

   Used to ask for a map at a tourist office or hotel

   Grammar Note

   "ikarita" means "map" in Kinyarwanda. Free maps are available at Kigali's Rwanda Development Board offices

9. Ni hehe hagenda abantu benshi?

   Ni he-he ha-gen-da a-ba-ntu ben-shi?

   Where do many tourists go?

   Usage

   Used to ask locals about popular tourist destinations

   Grammar Note

   "benshi" means "many/numerous" in Kinyarwanda. "abantu benshi" = "many people"

10. Ni ryari dushobora kubona inyamaswa?

    Ni rya-ri du-sho-bo-ra ku-bo-na i-nya-ma-swa?

    When can we see wildlife?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the best time for wildlife viewing in Rwanda

    Grammar Note

    Wildlife viewing in Rwanda: gorilla trekking (year-round), bird watching (best after rainy season)

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