Hotel des Mille Collines is popularly known as Hotel Rwanda and is a hotel of great historic importance in Rwanda, besides being a major tourist draw. One of the first star-rated hotels in Rwanda, Hotel des Mille Collines draws visitors looking for a great deal, fine dining, a place to relax and also great Instagram pictures. It is after all – The Hotel Rwanda.
History: Hotel des Mille Collines is popularly known as Hotel Rwanda (no confusion there) and was the hiding place of over 1,500 Tutsis during the Rwandan Genocide. A film was made detailing the tragedy (although it was not shot here) but the name stuck.
Overview: This four-star hotel has 112 rooms, a bar, a café, three conference rooms, a restaurant, a swimming pool, and tennis courts. Located centrally (close to the State House), the views of Kigali city are fabulous from here, especially from the rooftop restaurant called Le Panorama. You can arrive by taxi or a moto – it is perfectly acceptable. The uniformed security will welcome you with as much enthusiasm as though you had arrived in a limo.
What I really loved, more than my dinner of roast lamb, was watching the city turn into a sea of lights. Le Panorama probably has the best views of Kigali at night.
Restaurants: Cuisines, both international and local fare are available here. It is one of the best places in Kigali to indulge an amazing culinary experience.
The Pool Bar is the place everyone loves to hangout – naturally so. This is where you get your local savories while the swanky Legacy Lounge& Wine Bar is the place to be at for the finest drinks, cigars, Blues and Jazz.
If you are in Rwanda for business, this place is the perfect choice. If you are a tourist, then a visit is justified – thanks to its history. From the hotel, you can walk to the CBD and around the place.
Do they need a facelift: Personally, I wouldn’t change anything. Some reviews will have you believe that the hotel needs a facelift – but in my opinion, Hotel des Mille Collines is more than just a pretty hotel – it is a historical landmark and the closer they remain to the original, the better. The foyer has been refurbished, the walls painted and built in parts – but that is the charm of this place. It exudes a sense of understated elegance, despite the number of visitors that troop in everyday, mostly out of curiosity.
The room is adequate enough in terms of space and facilities and also quite clean. Most rooms come equipped with a fridge and a mini-bar and flat screen TV. Modern bathroom with latest fitting and running hot water (and with city views!), comfortable beds and air conditioning makes it the perfect choice.
The breakfast is fantastic and fortunately different from what popularly gets served at restaurants. The staff is polite and very accommodating.
