Sports Activities in Kigali that I (mostly) tried

There are lots of sports activities in Kigali. Staying fit and getting out there is also a great way to meet people if you’re here visiting or working. Whether you’re in Kigali for 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years, or more, you’re sure to find something you love here. In my (and mostly Wilhelm’s) journey to stay fit and explore, we tried out a bunch of sports activities in Kigali. I’ve written down what I’ve gotten up to so far and will continue to add as I explore. Say hi to me if you see me around!

Tennis at Cercle Sportif

• Non-membership Entry: 10k
• Coach cost: 20k
• Ball boy: 3k

There are two main tennis clubs in Kigali, and the closest one to us is Cercle Sportif. It has six clay courts, and all the coaches are super nice. I take classes with Aimable. You can reach him at +250783105940 and let him know Attiya recommended you reach out! He is always encouraging, and depending on your tennis level, he will put you in touch with the right coaches and players.

Courts have a rental fee, and coaches charge 20K per session. It’s mandatory to pay the ball boy (who will chase after all your missed balls, lol) an extra 3,000. It’s definitely best to have MoMo for this— no one has change unless you bring the exact amount.

Coaches are available from approximately 6am to 8pm. I’m more alive in the evening, so I usually go around 5-7pm when it starts to cool down. Before 9am is a good window to beat the heat as well.

If you’re scared people are going to watch you, I assure you, it’s a very chill environment (I’d be worried otherwise, too). Only the courts at the front have spectator areas, and usually, it’s just the coaches around.

The club is also great for other sports activities in Kigali as it has a pool, gym, and other activities, so it’s easy to make a whole morning (or evening) out of it.

Yoga and Pilates (and even more)

Yoga: 12K is the standard price across yoga studios in Kigali. Sometimes over the weekend, there are free/pay-what-you-can yoga classes offered. The first yoga session was a discounted 6k Community Class at Kigali Wellness Hub that I attended to get the vibe of the place before committing to a full session.

Instructors rotate between the different studios in Kigali, so if you like one, you can probably attend 2 sessions with them a week.

Kigali Wellness Hub 

• Yoga (and most other classes): 12K
• Reformer Pilates: 22k

Kigali Wellness Hub has a little bit of everything: yoga, pilates, zumba, and even aerial yoga. They also have several pre- and postnatal sessions

I rarely took group classes until I moved to Kigali, but I’m now a huge fan! The community is so nice here.

I tried the Reformer Pilates class, and it’s a small class with just five people. I completely enjoy the Beginner’s Reformer Pilates class with Cynthia. I’ve also liked the class with Sandrine, though I felt too weak to keep up, haha.

I’ve also done Yoga with Nafe (the half off, community class), and Alignment, Precision & Balance Yoga with B’emnet (if you think you know anything about yoga, take B’emnet’s class and then reassess yourself). I also love the Yogalates class with Pasco! There is a huge variety of classes here, and I attend around 3 classes a week.

If you plan to go regularly, it’s worth buying a package (I did). Be sure to book a week in advance for the Reformer Pilates classes becuase they fill up!

Book online in advance. Drop-ins can be accommodated, but your spot isn’t guaranteed.

YoKiGaLi

• Yoga: 12k

Part BNB, part cafe, part yoga studio, YoKiGaLi has it all. I’ve started to spend Tuesdays here to work remotely, get lunch and coffee, and then end with the 5:30pm yin, yang, and sound bath class. Early risers can schedule 6 and 7am classes. Check out the schedule. Classes are held both inside and outside.

Live Well Rwanda

Live Well Rwanda is a lovely small studio that also hosts outdoor sessions at Nyandungu Eco-Park every Sunday, 5–6pm. I’ve tried the Saturday 10:30am Power Yoga class and I was sweating like crazy! There are class packages and drop-in sessions are 10k. I’ve booked by contacting their WhatsApp number on the weekly program. I love their logo!

CrossFit

• SoHO has drop-in classes are 20k and monthly passes are 50K.

There are two main CrossFit clubs in Kigali, SoHO House and Kigali Fit. Since we live near SoHo (this was actually a big part of why we moved to Kimihurura, lol), Wilhelm goes almost every day. I was encouraged to go one day with a group of friends. Armed with a cute workout fit, I attempted my second-ever CrossFit session. The coach, Ben, was so friendly and welcoming. He accommodated my limited strength in the partner workout.

You can even eat at the cafe on site afterwards.

With our instructor, Ben!

Kigali Fit has a larger variety of class time options, whereas SoHO only offers CrossFit at 6am and 9am (at the time of publication, maybe it will change!). You can participate in a drop-in class or dedicate yourself to a monthly membership.

Gyms

Kigali Fit and SoHo are also gyms, but one of the most popular is Waka located in Kimihurura. It’s a see-and-be-seen spot, and everyone (locals and expats) works out here. Sessions with trainers are popular.

Running

• Cost: Free

There are two great running tracks in Kigali. One is on the Kimihurura Circle and the other is by the golf course. The golf course track is longer and lit up at night. 

Kimi Circle

Golf Course Track

I haven’t braved the runs myself, but Wilhelm has enjoyed running both when he was training for the Kigali (Half) Marathon. It’s a huge thing here!

The Half Marathon start in 2025

Biking

• Cost: Free

Biking in Kigali is tough. This is the land of a thousand hills, after all. You can bike around between cafes or restaurants in your neighborhood, but commuting on the bike may be tough. A great day to bike is the Sunday Car Free Days in Kigali.

Car Free Day Biking

Tugende Cafe is a great spot to get your bike serviced. We spent 25k each on our bikes for a quick tune-up after not having used them while they were in storage.

Padel

• 40k per hour, so that’s like 10k per person
• 4k racket rental
• Play with friends, open up the court to play with randos or book a session with a coach
• Book via PlaybyPoint app (card or momo accepted)

Bounce Padel opened in mid-2025, and it is already popular! I went to watch Wilhelm play with his friends, which was great because the courts are located right by Baso Cafe. I’ve started to play myself too!

Mamba Sport opened up in 2025 and has two padel courts. Bookings are made via the app, PlaybyPoint. I’ve started playing padel too, mostly for the social aspect, to try to make friends! The sport is gaining in popularity here and it’s a great way to meet people. The cafe, Tugende, has great drinks (and food). You can work here before, after, or between classes at Kigali Wellness Hub and Mamba.

Hiking

• Cost: Free

Okay, so I haven’t done this yet because we’ve only lived in Kigali for a few months, but the Tourism Lovers 250 hiking group offers free hiking each weekend. Check out their Facebook group to join.

I’ll add to this list as I continue to explore Kigali and its sports activities!