The Hotel des Milles Collines

This is Rwanda’s most famous hotel. The 115 room Hotel des Milles Collines was founded by the now defunct Belgian airline Sabena and sold to MIKCOR Hotel Holding in 2004 who had it managed by Kempinski briefly.

Hotel Rwanda, as most people know the Hotel des Milles Collines by, is the first grand and luxury hotel to open in Kigali in 1973 and still is an icon in the city for glamour and sophistication, even if it is now almost 50 years old.

The hotel was the real life shelter to almost 1,300 Rwandans who sought refuge during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and became the center stage to the movie Hotel Rwanda released on 2004 which was actually filmed in South Africa. The hotel’s cellars provided bribery material to the General Manager who single handedly managed to fend off the militiamen with cognac and wine every time they tried to attack those sheltered inside.

The hotel is located on one of Kigali’s hills (aren’t they all in Kigali?) and has expansive views over the city. The rooms also have similar fantastic city views, especially from their balconies and a decor that resembles the Kigali Serena. The rooms are a bit dated, but charming and you really feel like you are somewhere traditionally Rwandan and this is one of the few luxury hotels in Kigali which are locally owned.

As it is a large property with lush and well-kept gardens, there are a lot of facilities. There is a conference center, several gardens with a pool, three restaurants and a bar. The main fine dining restaurant Panorama, only open for dinner, has one of the nicest views in the city and is one of the best places to see in Kigali. The pool restaurant is a nice place for lunch or a drink and even the buffet restaurant in the main building, La Terrasse, has great city views.

This is an emblematic building and staying here makes you feel as if you are partaking in history.