OVERVIEW:
The name Hôtel des Mille Collines means ‘hotel of a thousand hills’, referring to Rwanda’s very hilly terrain. The hotel was established in 1973 and functioned as a safe haven for almost two thousand people during the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, as portrayed in the film ‘Hotel Rwanda’ (2004). To this day, the film inspires a lot of travellers to stay here rather than elsewhere in Kigali – and we think Mille Collines is a perfectly fine hotel. It’s friendly with a real buzz, especially around the pool bar in the evenings. Accommodation is booked on a B&B basis, and the hotel is open throughout the year.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
The hotel is accessed via approximately 6 kilometres’ road transfer from Kigali International Airport. It’s situated in a central part of the city, amidst well-kept garden grounds.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT HÔTEL DES MILLE COLLINES:
There are 112 rooms and suites, across five categories. At entry level, there’s the Classic Room. This features a queen-size bed or twin beds, bedside cupboards and lighting, a long wooden unit incorporating a desk space and a flatscreen television, and a separate seating area. Additional amenities include air conditioning, a safe, and Wi-Fi. The en-suite washroom contains a flush toilet, a washbasin, and a bathtub. Some rooms in this category have a private balcony too, with amazing views over Kigali. The other room options comprise Classic Room Garden View and Classic Room Panorama View. Step up a level, and there’s the Junior Suite, with its own lounge, a tea-and-coffee station, a mini-bar, and a private balcony. Finally, the Superior Suite benefits from an additional dining area. All options are clean and comfortable, with pleasant wood furnishings and contemporary décor.
The communal facilities at Mille Collines are equally well appointed. Guests can relax in the hotel’s Legacy Lounge, an elegant environment in which to enjoy a great range of drinks, not least cocktails. If you stop by on a Friday or Saturday evening, you can listen to some live jazz! The hotel also has two restaurants. La Terrasse offers all-day dining in a serene setting close to the gardens, with live music during Sunday brunch, from 11am to 4pm. Le Panorama is positioned on the fourth floor of the building, and it’s ideal for a romantic meal accompanied by breath-taking vistas. For less formal dining, there’s the Pool Bar, with an extensive snacks-and-drinks menu. Guests can also unwind in the hotel’s thatch-roof massage gazebo and adjacent swimming pool. And the property provides a sophisticated venue for conferences and other events, offering six meeting and banquet rooms.
ACTIVITIES AT HÔTEL DES MILLE COLLINES:
With its central location there is plenty to do from the Mille Collines – speak to us about arranging a guided tour of Kigali’s main attractions:
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Genocide Memorial & Museum
- Just 10 minutes’ drive from town, the memorial contains the remains of 250,000 people who lost their lives during the 1994 Tutsi genocide. The site includes a visitors’ centre and is a must-see for anyone who has the time. -
City Market
- Big and bustling, the city’s market has fresh food, textiles, arts-and-crafts, and much more besides. It’s also very well organised. -
City Tower
- This high-rise building is the tallest in Rwanda. It houses shops, offices, and a four-screen cinema. -
Cathedral
- Headquarters of the Catholic Church in Rwanda, this modest building is situated on a quiet road and has a nice little gift shop next door. -
Niyo Arts Gallery
- The work of seven artists at a time is exhibited in this interesting space, which features drumming and dance too. -
Inema Arts Center
- With an exhilarating mix of paintings, sculptures, mixed media expressions, and hands-on classes, this is a must-visit for art enthusiasts! -
Centenary Park
- This is Kigali’s first public recreation spot, launched in 2007. The gardeners can be rather strict, often requesting that visitors don’t walk on the grass, but you can stroll along the paved path around the well-kept grounds. -
Kandt House Museum of Natural History
- This museum is dedicated to Richard Kandt, a German physician and keen explorer of Africa. It showcases the flora and fauna of Rwanda’s national parks, and there’s an exhibition of live reptiles too! -
Caplaki Craft Village
- Situated in Rugunga, a short drive from Kigali, the crafts items here are a bit more expensive than they are in the main market, but the sheer variety of products is very impressive. -
Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial
- A mere 3km outside Kigali, this memorial comprises a round area with ten stone columns, a structure riddled with bullets, and a small museum. Each column marks the spot where a member of the Belgian peacekeeping force was murdered in 1994.