Hôtel des Mille Collines

I had a short 1-night stay at the Hotel Des Mille Collines; famously known as "Hotel Rwanda" in the heart of Kigali. ||Upon entering, you definitely feel the historical significance of this landmark property. The pool area stands out with a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere, and it’s by far the highlight of the hotel. The front desk staff were warm and welcoming at first, which gave a good first impression.||Unfortunately, the service didn’t follow through. Despite arranging an airport taxi at check-in, we discovered the next morning that the request had not been processed. This caused unnecessary stress, though the night shift staff managed to get us into another taxi at last-minute.||The rooms and corridors are dated and worn. The bathroom and furniture feel like they haven’t been renovated since the 1980s. While everything was clean, the overall condition detracts from the comfort of the stay.||We had dinner at the hotel, and the steak was one of the toughest I’ve ever eaten. The meat seemed to be of good quality, but it clearly hadn’t been marinated or cooked with much care. It seems finding a good steak in Rwanda is a challenge. On the upside, breakfast at 6:00 AM—although officially starting at 7:00—was decent, with a fair selection already prepared and of reasonable quality.||Overall, this was an average stay with both highs and lows. I wouldn’t stay here again unless the hotel goes through a meaningful renovation.

DANGER DO NOT STAY HERE, I recently stayed here and watched the hotel staff escalate from words to physical ABUSE. The person was intoxicated and needing help to get a ride home, instead of de escalating and helping the person the hotel staff quickly changed to putting hands on the person and physically THROWING them outside on to the ground due to the conversation. They did not have any concern for the person's safety, I did try to get the hotel managers contact information and they would not provide it. The hotel rooms are also very dated, you are much better off staying at the Marriott which is about 2 blocks away for about the same price. Not safe and not worth the money.

Beautiful hotel with history and charm, amazing service, food and breakfast options. Most rooms have good views of the city too. A special mention of Kenny who works on the concierge desk, he is super helpful and goes out of his way to help his guests. He definitely helped me a lot with a lot of my issues like my visa and flights, not sure how I would have managed in a new country without his help in sorting these issues out. Thank you Kenny you are an asset to the Hotel!

Wow. This hotel felt like a home away from home. I’m usually not left with such an impression, but after starting and ending our trip at this hotel, it feels like our Kigali home base.||After a long flight, we were welcomed with warm greetings and warm, fragrant towelettes to freshen up. Check in was painless and our room was spacious. There was a fruit plate in the room with fruit I hadn’t tried before. I was also surprised with a beautiful gesture - a slice of cake for my upcoming birthday!||I loved standing on the balcony and looking over the bright, manicured gardens to the city beyond. The hotel has spectacular views and I could see across the city to the shrouded mountains in the distance. The beautifully decorated hotel had eye-catching art and sculptures showcasing local talent and culture. The art appeared to be for purchase and there were shops to buy nice souvenirs including decor made from ameythst - a stone Rwanda is known for.||The staff are well-connected with local drivers and helped us arrange transportation and tours around the city. Otherwise, we walked to nearby locations. The hotel is near many shops, dining and photo ops, including the “Kigali” sign.||We ate at the hotel many days. The breakfast buffest is plentiful and delicious and I was served a yummy spice tea that I craved during the trip. The lunch and dinner options are tasty and reasonably priced.||We had wonderful hot stone couples massages and pedicures. It was one of the better massages and pedicures of my life. I felt pampered the entire time in the spa and beyond. While I like seeing new places, I would be happy to stay at Hôtel des Milles Collines on future trips to Kigali.

Stayed here for one night, had planned for 5 but decided to leave. Notwithstanding the lovely sized pool and seating area, and the welcome drink on arrival, this hotel is in a time-warp. The hotel room was so dated (I asked to change rooms but was told by reception that they are all the same, apart from the suites which have been upgraded apparently). Brown bathroom, old tiles, damp and stained carpet running throughout. The room had been cleaned well, but was just old. The tv was decades old. The pillows were like giant bricks. Internet was patchy. My minibar was meant to be stocked but it was empty. Breakfast was ok - little variety, stale pastries. Staff is friendly, but unfortunately doesn’t make up for the state of the hotel. |What annoys me is the price - I was paying £130 p/n - a complete rip off. This hotel is living off the glory of Hotel Rwanda. But it is time to invest some of that money and upgrade the rooms. Definitely do not recommend for business (nor pleasure).

I'm confused by others' negative reviews. Our room was gorgeous, so maybe we got lucky and got a renovated room? Anyway, beautiful hotel and views in a great location. We had just come from 9 days of mediocre hotels and this was truly rejuvenating. A bit pricey but the service and amenities make it worth it if that's a priority for you. Only downside was the pool was not open at night which was a bummer.

I visited the restaurant next to the pool. I was well taken care of. My drink was good and the atmosphere was very pleasant. Secure parking for my motorcycle. Very welcoming security staff at the gate and hotel lobby. I wish I had stayed here.

We spent several nights here in two occasions in April 2025. This hotel is a little “dated” in terms of the rooms, but the lobby, restaurants, bars etc are very nice. We ate at the rooftop restaurant one night and enjoyed the nighttime view of the Kigali city lights. We also at poolside at the other restaurant and enjoyed the food as well. Nothing fancy but the place is fine and the history is amazing.