Best Supermarkets in Kigali for Road Trippers
The golden rule of Rwanda road trips: stock up in Kigali. Once you leave the city, options get thinner, prices go up, and some items disappear entirely. Here are the supermarkets that matter and what to buy at each one.
1. Simba Supermarket
Location: Multiple branches — the main Remera branch is most convenient for airport arrivals. Also in Kicukiro and Nyamirambo.
Best for: The widest selection in Rwanda. Imported goods, international snacks, good water and drinks section. The deli counter does ready-to-eat food for an early departure.
Hours: Typically 8 AM – 9 PM daily.
2. Nakumatt / Carrefour (UTC Mall)
Location: UTC Mall, central Kigali near the Convention Centre.
Best for: Large supermarket with everything you need for a multi-day road trip. Good selection of bottled water (buy your 6-litre Inyange bottles here), camping and outdoor snacks, basic medicine.
Hours: Mall hours, typically 9 AM – 9 PM.
3. Bourbon Coffee / Java House (Not a Supermarket — but essential)
Not a supermarket, but worth mentioning: if you are leaving Kigali at 5 AM for gorilla trekking, Bourbon Coffee at KN 4 Ave opens early and does takeaway coffee and pastries. The only decent coffee option at that hour before a mountain drive.
4. Local Markets (For Fresh Produce)
If you are self-catering in a park lodge with a kitchen, Kimironko Market or any neighbourhood market sells fresh fruit, vegetables, and local produce at a fraction of supermarket prices. Bring a bag and go early (before 9 AM for the best selection).
What to Buy Before Each Destination
Before Volcanoes National Park (Musanze)
- 1.5–2 litres of water per person (gorilla trek takes 2–6 hours)
- Energy snacks (bars, nuts, bananas) — no food inside the park during the trek
- Sunscreen and insect repellent if you forgot to pack them
Before Akagera National Park
- Water for the day — no water available inside the park to purchase
- Picnic lunch if staying all day (some lodges inside are expensive)
- Extra insect repellent — Akagera is the highest malaria-risk zone in Rwanda
Before Nyungwe Forest or Lake Kivu
- Full snack supply for the 5-hour drive
- There is a small market in Huye (Butare) — the last decent stop before the forest
- Any prescription medication you need — pharmacies in rural areas stock basics only
What You Cannot Find Easily Outside Kigali
- International branded sunscreen (SPF 50+)
- English-language books or maps
- Western breakfast cereals or snacks
- Baby formula or specific dietary products
Stock up on anything specific in Kigali before you leave. You will not find it at a petrol station in Kayonza.
Collecting your rental car in Kigali? We deliver to your hotel or the airport — giving you time for a supermarket run before hitting the road. Book your car here.
