Kigali Serena Hotel | Kigali
Ideally located on one of Kigali's most charming boulevards, the five-star Kigali Serena Hotel is built around a polished granite atrium, which showcases the very best of Rwandese cultural art. Relaxed yet elegant, the hotel centres on the Executive Lounge and Bar, which opens onto a wide sundeck overlooking the newly refurbished swimming pool. Also overlooking the pool, the popular Milima Restaurant offers a wide range of all-day buffet choices, while the relaxed Sokoni Café offers inside and outside poolside seating. The capital's natural business hub, the hotel also boasts its own extensive conference centre, 500-seater auditorium and lavish ballroom.
The hotel features 148 rooms. Guests can choose from a selection of 60 Standard Rooms, 37 Superior Rooms, 19 Deluxe Rooms, 18 Junior Suites, 7 Prime Rooms, 6 Executive Suites and a luxury Presidential Suite. In-room facilities include 24 hour room service, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, tea/coffee making facilities, mini fridge, hair dryer, private safe and a flat screen satellite TV.
- Information
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
- Restaurants
Your Stay
2 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
Your Rooms
Fast Facts
Hotel
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 148
Special Interests: History & Culture, Leisure, Nature
Varying slightly in size between 25 and 30 sq metres, these rooms offer either twin or king-sized beds and a luxury bathroom with both tub and shower.
Facilities include :
- 24-hour room service
- Air-conditioning
- Wi-Fi and in-room modem hook-up
- Direct-dial phone
- Voice-mail
- In-room flat-screen satellite TV
- Mini-bar
- Private safe
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Hair dryer
- Porter/concierge
- 24-hour on-call doctor
- Walk in shower and bathtub
- Working desk
Varying slightly in size between 25 and 30 sq metres, these rooms offer either twin or king-sized beds and a luxury bathroom with both tub and shower.
Facilities include :
- 24-hour room service
- Air-conditioning
- Wi-Fi and in-room modem hook-up
- Direct-dial phone
- Voice-mail
- In-room flat-screen satellite TV
- Mini-bar
- Private safe
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Hair dryer
- Porter/concierge
- 24-hour on-call doctor
- Walk in shower and bathtub
- Working desk
Varying slightly in size between 25 and 30 sq metres, these rooms offer either twin or king-sized beds and a luxury bathroom with both tub and shower.
Facilities include :
- 24-hour room service
- Air-conditioning
- Wi-Fi and in-room modem hook-up
- Direct-dial phone
- Voice-mail
- In-room flat-screen satellite TV
- Mini-bar
- Private safe
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Hair dryer
- Porter/concierge
- 24-hour on-call doctor
- Walk in shower and bathtub
- Working desk
Varying slightly in size between 25 and 30 sq metres, these rooms offer either twin or king-sized beds and a luxury bathroom with both tub and shower.
Facilities include :
- 24-hour room service
- Air-conditioning
- Wi-Fi and in-room modem hook-up
- Direct-dial phone
- Voice-mail
- In-room flat-screen satellite TV
- Mini-bar
- Private safe
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Hair dryer
- Porter/concierge
- 24-hour on-call doctor
- Walk in shower and bathtub
- Working desk
Studio Suites (40 sq m) offer king-sized beds, luxury bathroom with both tub and shower, and an integrated work space.
Facilities include :
- 24-hour room service
- Air-conditioning
- Wi-Fi and in-room modem hook-up
- Direct-dial phone
- Voice-mail
- In-room flat-screen satellite TV
- Mini-bar
- Private safe
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Hair dryer
- Porter/concierge
- 24-hour on-call doctor
- Walk in shower and bathtub
- Working desk
Executive Suites (70 sq m) offer king-sized beds, a luxury bathroom with both tub and shower, an integrated work space and a separate sitting room.
Facilities include :
- 24-hour room service
- Air-conditioning
- Wi-Fi and in-room modem hook-up
- Direct-dial phone
- Voice-mail
- In-room flat-screen satellite TV
- Mini-bar
- Private safe
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Hair dryer
- Porter/concierge
- 24-hour on-call doctor
- Walk in shower and bathtub
- Working desk
The resplendent Presidential Suite (300 sq m) offers a king-sized bed, luxury en suite bathroom (with Jacuzzi, tub and shower), two en suite guest rooms, private office, private conference room, private dining room (and galley kitchen), elegant sitting room, reception area and private vestibule entrance.The suite is one of the finest examples of luxury accommodation in Kigali and throughout Rwanda.
Facilities include :
- 24-hour room service
- Air-conditioning
- Wi-Fi and in-room modem hook-up
- Direct-dial phone
- Voice-mail
- In-room flat-screen satellite TV
- Mini-bar
- Private safe
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Hair dryer
- Porter/concierge
- 24-hour on-call doctor
- Walk in shower and bathtub
- Working desk
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Activity Desk, Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Disability Services, Eco Friendly, Gym, Internet Access (Complimentary), Meal on Request, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa, TV Room
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Disabled Rooms, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Hair Dryer, Mini Bar, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Television
Available Services
Airport Shuttle (Available), Babysitting Service, Room Service (24 hours)
Activities on Site
Fine Dining, Massages, Safaris
Activities Nearby
Fine Dining, Game Drives, Gorilla Tracking, Historical Tours, Safaris
Known locally as “Kandt House,” this museum celebrates the work of Dr. Richard Kandt, a German physician and explorer who embarked on an exploration of Rwanda in 1897, searching for the source of the Nile River. A rich showcase of Rwanda’s natural treasures, the museum includes artifacts from Dr. Kandt’s expedition and also a ship that was sunk off the shores of Lake Kivu during the German troops’ surrender to the Belgian Army in World War I.
This museum is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Umuganda [community work] Day, which is the last Saturday of every month, the museum opens at 12:00 a.m. On 7th April, all museums are closed.
Established in 2007 by 18 women living in Nyamirambo, Kigali, the NWC examines Rwanda’s unfortunate history of violence, inequality and discrimination towards women. Today, the Center’s mission is to provide education and vocational training to disadvantaged women so that they can gain better opportunities for employment.
Located ten minutes from the city centre, the Kigali Genocide Memorial offers guided tours of the exhibits and gardens commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Visitors can choose to be guided by one of the staff, many of whom are survivors of the genocide, or purchase the KGM digital guide, which provides an audiovisual tour.
This collective of Rwandan creative artists showcases local works in contemporary African arts, crafts, music and dance. In addition to exhibiting paintings, sculptures and mixed media expressions, the center conducts programs, projects and initiatives designed to expand the creative arts in Rwanda.
Relaxed and stylish, the colourful Sokoni stands central to the extensive tropical gardens and overlooks the pool. A popular meeting place for guests and locals alike, it is renowned for its colourful cocktails, globe-trotting cuisine and vibrant live music. Sokoni offers all-day café-styled service to suit all tastes. It also features a choice of weekly specials that hit the high spots of the local social scene.
Friday… the African way
Every Friday, wind down from the week at Sokoni. Happy Hour drinks are half price between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and the sumptuous African Buffet runs from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A showcase of local, regional and international cuisine, the unrivalled variety and style of the buffet is complemented by the quality of the resident band, who take the stage at 7:00 p.m.
Sokoni Saturday
Please join us Saturdays at Sokoni for our Family BBQ Lunch.
Child-Friendly Food
Sokoni is exceptionally child-friendly, especially on weekends, and it’s one of the city’s favourite family venues. The children’s menu is guaranteed to appeal to youngsters of all ages and is on offer all day, every day. What’s more, children under 12-years eat at half price.
A visit to Kigali Serena Hotel offers a rich and vivid immersion into the culture, heritage and traditions of Rwanda. As an essential part of your stay, allow us to create unique and authentic experiences that will leave you with lasting memories long after you depart. Whether it’s a visit to a history museum, a chance to examine local history or an exploration of Rwandan artwork and artists, we look forward to providing experiences that will offer a deeper connection to the unique charisma, spirit and character of one of Africa’s most beautiful capital cities.
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Known locally as “Kandt House,” this museum celebrates the work of Dr. Richard Kandt, a German physician and explorer who embarked on an exploration of Rwanda in 1897, searching for the source of the Nile River. A rich showcase of Rwanda’s natural treasures, the museum includes artifacts from Dr. Kandt’s expedition and also a ship that was sunk off the shores of Lake Kivu during the German troops’ surrender to the Belgian Army in World War I.
This museum is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Umuganda [community work] Day, which is the last Saturday of every month, the museum opens at 12:00 a.m.
NYAMIRAMBO WOMEN’S CENTER (NWC)
Established in 2007 by 18 women living in Nyamirambo, Kigali, the NWC examines Rwanda’s unfortunate history of violence, inequality and discrimination towards women. Today, the Center’s mission is to provide education and vocational training to disadvantaged women so that they can gain better opportunities for employment.
KIGALI GENOCIDE MEMORIAL
Located ten minutes from the city centre, the Kigali Genocide Memorial offers guided tours of the exhibits and gardens commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Visitors can choose to be guided by one of the staff, many of whom are survivors of the genocide, or purchase the KGM digital guide, which provides an audiovisual tour.
INEMA ART CENTER
This collective of Rwandan creative artists showcases local works in contemporary African arts, crafts, music and dance. In addition to exhibiting paintings, sculptures and mixed media expressions, the center conducts programs, projects and initiatives designed to expand the creative arts in Rwanda.
Relaxed and stylish, the colourful Sokoni stands central to the extensive tropical gardens and overlooks the pool. A popular meeting place for guests and locals alike, it is renowned for its colourful cocktails, globe-trotting cuisine and vibrant live music. Sokoni offers all-day café-styled service to suit all tastes. It also features a choice of weekly specials that hit the high spots of the local social scene.
Friday… the African way
Every Friday, wind down from the week at Sokoni. Happy Hour drinks are half price between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and the sumptuous African Buffet runs from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A showcase of local, regional and international cuisine, the unrivalled variety and style of the buffet is complemented by the quality of the resident band, who take the stage at 7:00 p.m.
Sokoni Saturday
Please join us on Saturdays at Sokoni for our Family BBQ Lunch.
Child-Friendly Food
Sokoni is exceptionally child-friendly, especially on weekends, and it’s one of the city’s favourite family venues. The children’s menu is guaranteed to appeal to youngsters of all ages and is on offer all day, every day. What’s more, children under 12-years eat at half price.
One of Kigali’s most popular dining venues, the Milima Restaurant overlooks the pool and has been styled to offer a classically elegant interior with a light-filled atrium overlooking the verdant tropical gardens. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Milima, each with its own subtly different ambience, and each as suited to a business briefing as to a more relaxed social or family event.
Breakfast
Anglo-American or continental breakfasts feature an extensive buffet selection of homemade pastries and breads, fresh juices and fruits and a tempting array of continental delicacies.
Lunch
Lunch at the Milima features an extensive buffet selection, which varies daily.
Dinner
The Milima Restaurant is open for dinner daily and offers both a table d’hôte menu and a wide range of à la carte options.
Wednesdays & Saturdays… in Mongolia
On Wednesday and Saturday evenings starting at 6:30 p.m., enjoy the renowned Mongolian Menu, a spicy fusion of the very best of Asian cuisine served under the stars.
Milima Sunday
Please join us Sundays at Milima for our Sunday Brunch.
The beautifully decorated Executive Lounge and Bar with its opulent Bedouin-style tented terrace are reserved for exclusive use by hotel guests. With a selection of newspapers and periodicals, it also offers café service and Wi-Fi throughout the day. and access to the extensive business center
Wilderness Bisate | Volcanoes National Park
Wilderness Bisate is located in the natural amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone and has dramatic views of the peaks of the volcanoes, Bisoke and Karisimbi, rearing up through the Afro-alpine forests of nearby Volcanoes National Park. Six luxurious en-suite Forest Villas maximise comfort and views, while retaining environmental principles and reflecting the culture of rural Rwanda. Each guest contributes to Bisate’s biodiversity conservation and local community projects – making a far-reaching impact on an iconic endangered species: the mountain gorilla.
Aside from tracking one of the several habituated gorilla groups, activities include visiting nearby natural attractions, hiking to Dian Fossey’s burial site, and observing the Park’s group of endangered endemic golden monkey. Walks on Bisate’s property offer birding and participation in the reforestation programme.
INSIDER’S TIP: Wilderness Bisate is within easy driving distance of Volcanoes National Park Headquarters, from where gorilla treks depart daily.
- Information
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Your Rooms
Fast Facts
Lodge
No. Rooms: 6
Special Interests: Birding, History & Culture, Nature, Wildlife
Twin/Double Villas
Although spacious (each villa measures 91 square metres), the Forest Villas feel warm and intimate, thanks to the carefully designed layout which includes a reception area, luxury bedroom and en-suite bathroom – all warmed by a generous central fireplace.
With only six villas, the true luxury lies in the exclusivity and privacy that surrounds Bisate and the rare, raw beauty of its setting, tucked into the phenomenal abundance of Albertine Rift biodiversity with glorious views in every direction.
Property Facilities
Bar
Room Facilities
Bath, Electrical Outlets, Fireplace, Heated Towel Rails, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Mini Bar, Safe, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Available Services
Credit Card Facilities
Activities on Site
Bird Watching, Massages, Natural History Tours, Walks (Guided)
Activities Nearby
Cultural Tours, Gorilla Tracking, Historical Tours
The legendary Virunga Mountains in the north-east are home to volcanoes, swathes of cloud forest and half the world’s total population of endangered mountain gorillas. The primates of Rwanda are unparalleled, and Wilderness Bisate is the perfect base for mountain gorilla trekking. This thrilling excursion takes place from Volcanoes National Park headquarters where guests are allocated to one of the twelve habituated gorilla families for a one-hour awe-inspiring encounter.
* Gorilla Trekking Permits, per person, at an additional cost.
View this beautifully-coloured primate, which is endemic to the area and lives in groups of between 30 to 80 individuals in the Park’s bamboo forest.
Set on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, and an easy drive to the park gate, Wilderness Bisate is located in a vantage point that feels part of the park, offering breathtaking views of six volcanoes, including Bisoke, Karisimbi and Mikeno.
A full-day guided hike to the summit of Mount Bisoke (3 711 metres) can be strenuous, however, is well worth the effort, offering sweeping views of the rainforest and crater lake. Explore the diversity of habitats, and visibly discover the flourishing wildlife.
One of the Wilderness Bisate agronomists will show you around the tree nursery and help you plant a sapling as part of our visionary reforestation project. Includes a visit to the Bamboo Greenhouse to see our greater indigenous tree nursery efforts.
Guided visit to the nearby community and members of the cooperative, including the farmers who cultivate and sell their vegetables to Wilderness Bisate.
A spectacular, challenging hike to Dian Fossey’s burial site and the ruins of her Karisoke Research Centre, set in the saddle of Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes at an elevation of some 3 000 metres.
Bisate Kwanda accommodates early arrivals and later departures, providing more flexibility with transfers in and out of the lodge. Further enhancing our guest experience, the offering at Bisate Kwanda will allow guests to shower, change, have a light meal, visit the Wilderness Bisate Boutique stocked with items from Rwanda (purchases at an additional cost), have a massage (treatments at an additional cost), or simply relax in the informal lounge with fireplace, while enjoying the sweeping views overlooking the organic vegetable garden and the reforestation efforts towards Volcanoes National Park.
Kwanda is a Kinyarwanda word meaning growth or expansion; a place to gather; a gift – all three of which perfectly sum up the day lounge’s unique offering. Located close to the main lodge, tucked out of sight, Bisate Kwanda has local craftspeople to thank for its uniquely Rwandan flavour. From hand-tooled wooden utensils and food boards to delicate crockery, striking entrance floors and hallways, volcanic rock walls and facings, hand-woven baskets and placemats, and garden pots, everything has been designed and hand-crafted by Rwandans to create a truly authentic ambience.
* All Volcanoes National Park activities require permits (per person) at additional cost. The private gorilla trek is at a further additional cost.
Established in 1967, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund works to protect and study gorillas, and their habitats, as well as to empower people who live near their forest home. With a team of hundreds working in Rwanda and the DRC, the Fossey Fund is the world’s longest-running and largest organisation dedicated entirely to gorilla conservation.
In 2022, the organisation moved to its first permanent, purpose built home, the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Nestled in a beautiful, reforested landscape near the Volcanoes National Park it is worth visiting, with a stop at the campus easy to add during a stay at Wilderness Bisate or Wilderness Sabyinyo.
https://gorillafund.org/ellencampus/
* No additional costs besides the entrance fee, and may be experienced either on arrival or departure, or in the afternoon after gorilla trekking.
The Retreat by Heaven | Kigali
Town & Country and The New York Times describe The Retreat in Kigali as one of the top boutique hotels of the world. The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 20-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined residential street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport. 8 new luxury pool villas are now open where King Charles III stayed in June 2022! The Retreat is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally-crafted furniture from a Tanzanian sustainable teak farm, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga and meditation deck, spa, large heated saltwater swimming pool with hot tub and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness center. Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offers delicious farm-to-table international cuisine, while Heaven Restaurant (reached through The Retreat’s “Stairway to Heaven”) offers an innovative modern African menu. The Retreat is the perfect choice to host guests for first 2 nights or several days as visitors enjoy innovative, curated cultural experiences and exciting activities onsite and around Kigali. From public health to hospitality, co-owners Alissa & Josh Ruxin created Heaven Restaurant in 2008 to provide jobs and vocational training in hospitality, to date, Heaven and The Retreat have trained over 3,000 Rwandans.
- Information
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
- Restaurants
Your Stay
1 Night
Bed and Breakfast
Your Rooms
Fast Facts
5 Star
Hotel
Spoken Languages: English, French
No. Rooms: 20
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Cycling, Flora, Golf, Gourmet, Hiking, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Shopping, Sports, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
Room size (Indoor and outdoor private living space): 120 m²
This room features:
1 King Bed (Emperor King size - 2 meter x 2 meter)
(All beds can be configured as Twin setup; 2 pool villas can be adjoining)
Sofa bed opens into a child bed
Private salt water heated plunge pool
Lush private front and back gardens with outdoor showers
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 65" Plasma TV with Netflix
Food & Drink - Refrigerator, minibar, Luxury coffee/tea maker, complimentary unlimited purified water and 24-hour room service
Sleep - Pillow-top bed, Organic UK Naturalmat mattresses, British linens, a duvet, a pillow menu, and turndown service
Bathroom - Private bathroom with indoor and outdoor rain showers, organic amenities (shampoos, conditioner, body lotion), double Duravit sink, wood vanity
Floors - Engineered Oak
Practical - Safe, desk, and phone
Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping
Non-Smoking
Practical: One villa has Private Back Entrance for VIP/Exclusivity, one villa is wheelchair accessible
Room rate for Luxury Pool Villas is inclusive of the following amenities:
1 welcome complimentary 30mins massage (valid once per client per booking), Fruit Basket, Snack Jar, Welcome Amenity, Complimentary Minibar on a daily basis. 1 onsite cultural activity - cocktail making, cooking demo, banana wine demo, neighborhood walk (valid once per booking; additional activities at cost)
Room size 60 m²
This room features:
1 King Bed (Emperor King size - 2 meter x 2 meter)
(4 rooms can be configured as Twin; 2 rooms can be adjoining)
Furnished front balcony & private back deck with garden & outdoor rain shower
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - Plasma TV with Netflix
Food & Drink - Refrigerator, minibar, coffee/tea maker, complimentary unlimited purified water and 24-hour room service
Sleep - Pillow top bed, Organic UK Naturalmat mattresses, British linens, a duvet, a pillow menu, and turndown service
Bathroom - Private bathroom with indoor and outdoor rain showers, organic amenities (shampoos, conditioner, body lotion), double Duravit sink, teak wood vanity
(2 rooms have a bathtub and showers)
Practical - Safe, desk, and phone
Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping
Non-Smoking
Room rate for Superior King Suite is inclusive of the following amenities:
1 welcome complimentary 30 minute massage (valid once per client per booking), Fruit Basket, Snack Jar, Welcome Amenity. 1 onsite cultural activity - cocktail making, cooking demo, banana wine demo, neighborhood walk (valid once per booking; additional activities at cost)
Room size 40 m²
This room features:
1 King bed
Furnished patio
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - Plasma TV with Netflix
Food & Drink - Refrigerator, minibar, coffee/tea maker, complimentary unlimited purified water and 24-hour room service
Sleep - Pillowtop bed, Organic UK Naturalmat mattress, British linens, a duvet, a pillow menu, and turndown service
Bathroom - Private bathroom, rainfall showerhead, organic amenities (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion), single Duravit sink, teak wood vanity
Practical - Safe, desk, and phone, wheelchair accessible
Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping
Accessibility - Wheelchair accessible
Adjoining - 2 rooms adjoining (KING beds only; cannot be setup as Twin)
Non-Smoking
Room rate for Superior King Suite is inclusive of the following amenities:
1 welcome complimentary 30 minute massage (valid once per client per booking), Fruit Basket, Snack Jar, Welcome Amenity. 1 onsite cultural activity - cocktail making, cooking demo, banana wine demo, neighborhood walk (valid once per booking; additional activities at cost)
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Activity Desk, Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Conference Centre, Disability Services, Eco Friendly, Gym, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Available), Meal on Request, Pool, Private Vehicle (Available), Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa, TV Room
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Detached Private Bathroom, Disabled Rooms, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Fan, Fridge, Hair Dryer, Internet Access (Complimentary), Iron / Ironing Board, Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Lounge Area, Mini Bar, Mini Bar (Complimentary), Mosquito Nets, Outside Shower, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Satellite / Cable Television, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Television, Verandah, Wheelchair Friendly
Available Services
Airport Shuttle (Available), Chauffer Service, Credit Card Facilities, Foreign Exchange, Room Service, Room Service (24 hours), Travel Desk
Activities on Site
Bird Watching, Cooking Courses, Fine Dining, Garden Tours, Massages, Walks (Guided), Walks (Self Guided)
Activities Nearby
Animal Encounters, Art Galleries, Beach, Big 5, Bird Watching, Boat Cruises, Canoeing, Child Friendly Activities, Cooking Courses, Cultural Tours, Cycling, Fine Dining, Fishing, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Garden Tours, General Sightseeing, Golf, Gorilla Tracking, Health and Fitness Centre, Helicopter Rides, Helicopter Scenic Flights, Hiking, Historical Tours, Horse Riding, Horse-back Safaris, Hot Air Ballooning, Jet Skis, Kayaking / Paddling, Massages, Mountain Biking, Museums, Natural History Tours, Quad Biking, Rhino Tracking, Safaris, Scenic Flights, Squash Court, Tennis Court, Tree-top Canopy Tours, Walks (Guided), Walks (Self Guided), Wildlife Tours
Banana Beer Presentation & Tasting - $25 per person, 30 minute activity:
Guests learn the history and process of banana wine making and enjoy a tasting.
*Note: A 30 minute banana beer presentation with tasting is one of the onsite cultural activities included in The Retreat rate. Guests are welcome to book 1 complimentary onsite cultural activity, valid one time only per booking. Please book in advance of arrival.
Guests are welcome to book more than one cultural activity at additional cost.
Banana Beer Making Workshop - $50 per person, 1.5 hour hands-on workshop
Banana beer, or “urwagwa” in Kinyarwanda, is a traditional beer made from fermentation of mashed bananas. In our hands-on workshop, guests learn the step-by-step art of making traditional banana beer, from mashing bananas to grinding and toasting sorghum, to the fermentation process, which ends with a tasting!
NEIGHBORHOOD WALK - $25 per person, 45-60 minutes
Our neighborhood walk offers guests an authentic fun, informative and uniquely personal insight into Rwandan culture and local life in Kigali. A hotel guide will walk with guests through our residential neighborhood called Kiyovu, pass by the presidential compound, walk up the tree-lined streets to the famous Hotel des Milles Collines (Hotel Rwanda), and continue to Camp Kigali Memorial which offers insight into the genocide history in Rwanda.
*Note: A 45 minute neighborhood walk is one of the onsite cultural activities included in The Retreat rate. Guests are welcome to book 1 complimentary cultural activity, valid one time only per booking. Please book in advance of arrival.
Guests are welcome to book more than one cultural activity at additional cost.
LOCAL COOKING CLASS - $50 per person, 45 minutes
At Heaven and Fusion Restaurants, we work closely with local farmers, use quality ingredients, and cultivate our own onsite organic gardens. Enjoy an interactive cooking class and learn how to make a modern African recipe!
*Note: A 45 minute cooking class is one of the onsite cultural activities included in The Retreat rate. Guests are welcome to book 1 complimentary onsite cultural activity, valid one time only per booking. Please book in advance of arrival.
Guests are welcome to book more than one cultural activity at additional cost.
COCKTAIL MAKING CLASS - $25 per person (30 minutes)
Guests enjoy the variety, freshness and creativity of our cocktail recipes! Engage in an interactive cocktail making class with our expert baristas, and learn how to make one of our signature cocktails in this hands-on class.
*Note: A 30 minute cocktail making class is one of the onsite cultural activities included in The Retreat rate. Guests are welcome to book 1 complimentary onsite cultural activity, valid one time only per booking. Please book in advance of arrival.
Guests are welcome to book more than one cultural activity at additional cost.
Guests enjoy meeting our onsite tailor, being inspired by our visually enticing Look Book, and ordering custom made clothing and accessories! We have two Made in Rwanda Retail Shops onsite, one at The Retreat and another next door at Heaven Restaurant.
Our hotel concierge may arrange for a half day Fashion Experience, whereby guests have the chance to visit the best local Rwandan fashion boutiques and enjoy the unique opportunity to meet with designers and artisans.
Price per person: Request Rates
Our hotel concierge may organize an Art & Culture experience, to explore art galleries and cultural venues around Kigali.
Price per person: Request Rates
The Rwandan government has restored the natural wetlands in the valley of Kigali City! Bird watching, nature walks and hiking are all highlights in Kigali! Our hotel concierge may plan outings to explore the eco parks and Kigali's best preserved nature reserves.
Price per person: Request Rates
This remarkable community visit covers the history and amazing progress achieved in Rwanda. Owners Josh & Alissa Ruxin moved to Rwanda in 2006 to work on poverty reduction projects and started this work in Nyamata, which was an area hardest hit during the genocide and by famine after the war. Visitors meet with survivors of genocide to hear testimony and reflect on the past, and then visit various locations that demonstrate the incredible hope and progress we see in Rwanda today. Through innovative interventions in health, agriculture, education and micro enterprise, this area is now quite prosperous and is the chosen site for the new Kigali International Airport.
Price per person: Request Rates
Fusion - our restaurant at The Retreat - takes culinary traditions from around the globe and Rwandan ingredients and blends them into a single harmonious offer.
Perched beside The Retreat's glorious saltwater pool, rock gardens and native plantings, Fusion is the most elegant spot in Kigali to explore new flavors and experience first-class hospitality. In addition to our a la carte menu, Fusion also offers an exquisite 8 Course tasting menu with wine pairing or a festive Urban Bush Dinner with Rwandan Live Cooking and optional Traditional Dancers for groups of 6+ guests (with advanced reservation).
Heaven Restaurant is known as a hospitality training facility and cultural venue serving a unique modern African menu! The owners, Josh and Alissa Ruxin, custom built and opened Heaven in 2008 (1 16 years ago) to offer vocational training and employment for Rwandans to become leaders in hospitality. We have trained over 3,000 Rwandans in culinary and customer service skills and continue to train interns and others with a passion to build a career in hospitality. We are known for our famous guacamole and signature Cassava Leaf Beef Filet and also for our incredible homemade cocktails! We host cultural events from art exhibits to dance performances, we support Made in Rwanda products in our retail areas, and we have our own organic onsite garden!
The Lounge offers all Retreat guests a lovely new space for sundowners and bites, with fireplace, cozy seating, local decor and an expansive outdoor deck!
For small groups (6+), our team may organize an Urban Bush Dinner with live cooking and traditional dancers under the stars!
On special request, we may also setup a private dining experience on The Lounge deck.
Wilderness Magashi | Akagera National Park
Wilderness Magashi is situated in the productive and phenomenally diverse north-eastern corner of Akagera National Park, overlooking scenic Lake Rwanyakazinga. Akagera comprises some of the most scenic savannah in East Africa – open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp and grassy low mountains – and is home to one of Africa’s highest hippo densities, large crocodiles, as well as the rare sitatunga and boasting an impressive 520 species of birds. Teeming with plains game, Akagera now also boasts a healthy population of lion which were introduced by African Parks in 2015 after a 20-year absence; black rhino were reintroduced in 2017, and white rhino in 2021. Wilderness Magashi – the only exclusive-use area in Akagera – also harbours a good density of leopard.
INSIDER'S TIP: Our core Purpose in Akagera is to help conserve Rwanda’s last protected savannah ecosystem, and species like black rhino and the rare and elusive shoebill; furthermore, our presence here will contribute towards enabling it to become economically self-sufficient for the first time.
- Information
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Your Rooms
Fast Facts
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 8
Special Interests: Birding, History & Culture, Nature, Wildlife
Twin/Double Tents
Magashi offers eight, spacious en-suite canvas tented rooms that pay homage to Rwandan culture.
The interiors have a traditional and elegant East African feel, and feature locally sourced artefacts. With a layout designed to maximise the glorious views over Lake Rwanyakazinga, guests may see elephants quietly wading into the lake, and graceful giraffe and other game feeding beyond, out in the open.
Rwanda’s rebirth has inspired a fusion of traditional and modern designs and art, which can be seen throughout the camp. One of these is an art form called 'Imigongo’. It originated in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, and is formally known as 'Igisaka cy’Imigongo'. It is made up of black, white and ochre patterns and linear designs, etched onto a cow-dung tile surface. In décor, these installations creates striking features.
Khaki is also used quite prominently throughout the interiors, adding a traditional safari touch. Accents of blush in the mosquito nets, cushions and chairs weave in a more contemporary feel.
Property Facilities
Bar, Pool
Room Facilities
Electrical Outlets, Fan, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Mini Bar, Mosquito Nets, Safe, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Available Services
Credit Card Facilities
Activities on Site
Bird Watching, Boating, Catch-and-release Fishing, Game Viewing, Night Drives
Activities Nearby
Akagera comprises some of the most picturesque savannah in East Africa – open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp, and grassy low mountains – with Wilderness Magashi being the only private concession area in the park. Home to one of Africa’s highest hippo densities, reintroduced eastern black rhino and lion, as well as the secretive sitatunga. Guests can participate in conservation efforts, including tracking and identifying the lions and leopards of the area through the use of identikits.
After dark game viewing with filtered spotlights allow you to find intriguing nocturnal animals. Typically seen may include spotted hyaena, civet, genet, mongoose, owls and nightjars. Or even the enigmatic leopard. With day and night game drives on offer, exploring at Wilderness Magashi is truly extraordinary.
Boating in swamp cruisers, with 'double decker' seating for higher elevation game viewing, is an excellent way to view the water birds and many other aquatic animals seen around beautiful Lake Rwanyakazinga.
* Possible year round.
Fishing on a catch and release basis only, year round, with the camp providing a small stock of basic rods and reels.
After an early breakfast in camp, gear up for a thrilling bird watching experience. Akagera National Park is renowned as one of the best birding areas in the world with more than 500 species recorded here. A bird count comparable with the larger Kruger National Park. Rarities include the papyrus gonolek (restricted to the papyrus swamps), the localised red-faced barbet, and the swamp flycatcher.
Boasting a light footprint, Wilderness Magashi is 100% solar powered, and completely single-use plastic free. Besides our commitment to conservation and sustainable operations, we are delighted to have set up a Children in the Wilderness (CITW) Eco-Club at Akayange Primary School, near the North Gate of Akagera. Further community empowerment initiatives include hiring locally, with one-third of staff recruited from the surrounding communities, with ongoing training and development offered to ensure staff are able to grow into senior roles. In addition, the camp supports local community cooperatives that make lunch bags for guests, kitenge beeswax wraps, candles for the dining tables, and carved wooden shoebills.
