Hotel des Milles Collines | Rwanda
Built in 1973 by the Belgian airline Sabena, The Hotel des Mille Collines is a property well known for the history behind its formation and ownership. The elegant four star hotel which is one of the oldest hotels in Kigali city achieved fame during the 1994 Rwandan genocide as it provided refuge for 1,268 people during the unrest at the time, the people hid in the building as they tried to escape the militants during the genocide. The story surrounding the hotel was later used in 2004 as the basis for the famous Terry George’s film titled “Hotel Rwanda.”
The hotel is centrally located in the heart of Kigali City making it easily accessible from Kigali International Airport and is in close proximity with key landmarks and attractions in Kigali like the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Belgian Peacemakers memorial, ATMs, supermarkets and restaurants in the city. The amazing thing about the Hotel des Milles Collines is that you can almost walk to all the key landmarks and areas in Kigali city.
Accommodation at Hotel des Mille Collines
The hotel features 112 rooms all elegantly decorated and spacious, different room types are available on the property which include junior suites, classic rooms, superior suites, and garden view rooms. The best rooms are the ones overlooking the lush hotel gardens and the pool area which offer great views. All the rooms contain key amenities that make your stay even more pleasant.
A garden view room at the hotel
Each room at The Hotel des Mille Collines consists of;
A comfortable bed with clean linen.
En-suite bathroom with key bath essentials, a flush toilet, a shower, clean towels and bowl sinks with mirrors at the top.
Hot and cold running water throughout the day.
An in room safe.
A balcony or terrace.
A writing desk and chair (works well for business travelers.)
Complimentary Wi-Fi.
Bedside table and lamps.
Cable TV.
All the rooms at the Hotel des Milles Collines are very spacious, warm and cozy so you are always assured of comfort ability while on your visit to Rwanda.
Facilities and Services at the Hotel
Restaurants – Hotel des Milles Collines offers the perfect culinary experience as it has three onsite restaurants all dedicated to serving delicious and tasty meals. The choice is up to you whether your interest is international cuisines or African signature meals, the restaurants will offer exactly what you prefer. La Terrasse restaurant is well known for its buffet breakfast with great options that include freshly baked pastries, fruit juices, authentic Rwandan coffee and eggs that the chef will make according to how you like them. Le Panorama restaurant is great for having dinner with a view of the vibrant Kigali city by night. The other onsite bar is an open air pool bar which serves delicious pub meals and is a perfect place to have a drink (a cocktail, glass of wine or try out the local beer brands.)
Lunch served by the poolside
Swimming pool – The hotel has a large swimming pool overlooking the lush hotel gardens. The pool area has enough sun loungers, pool attendants and towels are given by staff at the poolside. The swimming pool is a perfect place to take a dive, relax or order a drink and enjoy the views by the pool side.
Legacy Lounge – Hotel des Milles Collines has a cozy and exquisite lounge with cozy sofas and colorful throw pillows, the ambiance at the legacy lounge is perfect for unwinding especially after a long day. The lounge features a bar that offers premium alcoholic beers, spirits and wines.
Conference and Meeting rooms – The hotel features conference rooms which are well equipped with comfortable seats, projector screens, projectors, flip charts and conference essentials like notebooks and pens. The conference and banquet meeting rooms are great for combining business and relaxation as workshops, meetings, gala dinners and corporate sessions can be set up by the hotel staff. All the rooms are well lit, have air conditioning and hotel staff are available at all times in case one needs anything.
Fitness Center – The fitness center at the hotel is a great center for exercise enthusiasts as it has great work out equipment including stationary bikes and treadmills. The fitness center has dedicated trainers on board and you can always join any one of their classes.
Other services at the property include ample car parking space, laundry service, room service and maximum security available 24 hours a day.
Our Review
The Hotel des Milles Collines is what we consider a “perfect Kigali accommodation facility” as it offers a great blend of luxury, serenity and accessibility. The hotel’s rich history is also perfect as you get to stay at a facility that has immense attachment to Rwanda as a state and the people of Rwanda. We recommend the hotel for visitors who like intimate hotels with pleasant amenities and for visitors looking to stay at a hotel with a more personal feel while in Rwanda.
Top things to while staying at the Hotel des MillesCollines
Rwanda is a rich country with so much to offer and experience so while staying at the Hotel you can choose to experience Rwanda by going on excursions in the surrounding areas. You can choose to go on a 1 Day Kigali city tour which takes you to key attractions in the city like the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Kandt Museum,the Belgian Peace makers’ memorial and to other attractions within the city.
If you have more time in Rwanda you can go on a 1 Day safari to Akagera or 2 Day Akagera National Park Wildlife Safari, Akagera National Park is the only savanna park in Rwanda and it offers incredible wildlife sightings. Akagera National Park is also home to the Big Five in Rwanda.
