Hemingways Retreat Kigali | Kigali
Tucked away in Kigali’s quiet Kiyovu neighbourhood, Hemingways Retreat Kigali is Rwanda’s first eco-conscious luxury boutique hotel, a serene base from which to explore the capital’s cultural landmarks, markets, and memorials.
With just 20 individually styled rooms and suites, the property blends handcrafted Rwandan design with modern luxury, placing wellness, sustainability, and community at the heart of every stay.
- Images
- Video
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Restaurants
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
Activity Desk, Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Conference Centre, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa, TV Room, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Detached Private Bathroom, Disabled Rooms, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, Fan, Fridge, Internet Access (Complimentary), Iron / Ironing Board, Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Lounge Area, Mini Bar (Complimentary), Mini Bar, Mosquito Nets, Outside Shower, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Television, Verandah, Wheelchair Friendly
Available Services
24-hour Security, Airport Shuttle (Available), Credit Card Facilities, Disability, Foreign Exchange, Laundry Service (Available), Meal on Request, Private Vehicle (Available), Room Service, 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, 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, Jet Skis, Kayaking / Paddling, Mountain Biking, Museums, Natural History Tours, Quad Biking, Rhino Tracking, Safaris, Scenic Flights, Squash Court, Tennis Court, Walks (Guided), Walks (Self Guided), Wildlife Tours
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 6 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.
Your Stay
3 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
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
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.
- Images
- Video
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
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.
.jpg)
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.
Wilderness Rwanda is set to elevate the concept of holistic travel with the unveiling of The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate in December 2025 – a dedicated wellness centre embraced by the natural beauty of the country’s volcanic highlands. The Sanctuary has been designed to offer a grounding space where guests can re-centre and unwind. A heated, salt-water indoor lap pool provides both relaxation and quiet reflection, while a steam room and ice bath introduce the revitalising benefits of contrast therapy. Cocoon-like meditation pods offer moments of solitude and stillness. A fully equipped gym and yoga area allow guests to continue movement practices at their own pace, while dedicated body treatment rooms offer signature massages and beauty treatments, including head massages, hair washing, and blow-drying.
Your Stay
2 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Fast Facts
Lodge
No. Rooms: 6
Special Interests: Birding, History & Culture, Nature, Wildlife
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.
- Images
- Video
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
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.
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Fast Facts
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 8
Special Interests: Birding, History & Culture, Nature, Wildlife
