Hôtel Des Mille Collines

The staff are what turned this into a five-star stay for us. Everyone we met was kind and upbeat, and the grounds were immaculate and green, with a good-sized pool that made us glad we’d chosen the hotel. Breakfast had plenty of fresh options, and the restaurant food was good and reasonably priced. We stayed at Des Milles Collines in early January 2026 for three nights on the way to South Africa. After seeing Hotel Rwanda, we wanted to stay at the famous hotel. The grounds looked lovely, though the building itself felt a little underwhelming when we arrived, almost like it could have been a Holiday Inn. Reception was impressive, and service was top-notch. Our room was clean but a bit dated. We felt safe, and the Rwandan people we met were friendly and warm. Judging only by the hotel and value, we’d say four out of five, but the staff’s enthusiasm pushed it to five.

I enjoyed running in the neighbourhood in the mornings, and my room had lovely views of the surrounding hills. The pool is beautiful, so bring your swimsuit. The hotel is also conveniently placed in the CBD. I’d be careful about relying on the hotel transfers. My arrival pickup, despite being included in the booking, never came. They offered a free return transfer, but I still waited 20 minutes for the car to arrive at the hotel. Aside from that, everything was very nice.

The staff at Mille Collines were so helpful and kept such positive spirits. I had an incredible stay, and the poolside area was a lovely place to relax.

The food was great, and most of the staff were really friendly. I found the manager’s way of checking on things a bit uncomfortable, though. She kept walking close by and watching the tables without speaking to guests or asking anything. It felt more like supervision than service. A quick, friendly question about the food or whether everything was okay would have made guests feel more welcome.