THE RETREAT & HEAVEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL – KIGALI

The Retreat, Fusion Restaurant, Heaven Restaurant, Heaven Boutique Hotel and Heaven tours are all located on a peaceful road near Kigali City centre with delicious African and International fusion cuisine, mid-range and luxury accommodation, a full-service spa, saltwater pools, an open-air fitness centre, yoga deck and retail boutique

The Retreat is a 12-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Centre and 20 minutes from Kigali International airport which has recently been expanded to include 8 new luxury pool villas and a new wine lounge.

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 room, spa and large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness centre.

Heaven Boutique Hotel’s 30 beautifully appointed rooms are located on 2 properties close to The Retreat on a residential street, steps from downtown Kigali, with a swimming pool, tropical gardens and expansive views of Kigali.

LOCATION

The Retreat is located in Kigali – Rwanda’s capital – and is a 20-minute road transfer from the International Airport.

HOTELS

The Retreat

All 20 rooms have Free WIFI, plasma TV with premium channels, fridge, minibar, coffee/tea maker, complimentary unlimited purified water and 24-hour room service.  Beds are furnished with a pillowtop, organic UK Naturalmat mattresses, British linens, a duvet, a pillow menu, and turndown service. All rooms have a private bathroom with indoor and outdoor rain showers, organic amenities (shampoos, conditioner, body lotion), double Duravit sink, and teak wood vanity and some rooms have a show and bathtub.  There is a safe, desk, and phone, air-conditioning and daily housekeeping in all rooms – all of which are non-smoking.

The Retreat has 3 Deluxe King Rooms which are wheel-chair accessible and 2 adjoining rooms.

There are 6 Superior Suite rooms with Emperor King size beds – 2m x 2m and furnished front balcony and private back deck and a separate seating area.

The 8 Luxury Pool Villas situated in a new wing of The Retreat have a large living area, front and back gardens and private heated saltwater swimming pools.  The room rate includes extras such as complementary massage, fruit basket, snacks and minibar.

The 3 Master King Suite features an Emperor King size bed – 2m x 2m, a furnished front balcony, a private back deck and a separate sitting area.  All Master King Suites have a pool view and a seating area in the room.

HEAVEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Heaven Boutique Hotel is a good value, 4 Star hotel with 30 rooms located on 2 separate properties on a peaceful, residential road. Heaven Boutique Hotel features local Rwandan décor, warm hospitality, delicious breakfasts at Heaven Restaurant, and access to a solar-heated saltwater swimming pool, outdoor yoga deck and fitness centre.

Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar located at The Retreat offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine, while Heaven Restaurant offers an innovative modern African menu. The Retreat and Heaven Boutique Hotel are a good choice for those looking to stay longer in and around Kigali as they offer a range of innovative curated cultural experiences and activities in and around the city.

ACTIVITIES 

The hotels offer an interesting range of unique experiences allowing you to really get to know Kigali and the surrounding area.  All the experiences are charged extra and can be booked locally on arrival or we can book the tours for you.

The Kigali City Tour – is designed to give you an intimate view of Kigali on an entertaining packed day. Tours are curated to your specific interests and the day is planned with a blend of Rwandan arts, history, food and culture. A sample day might include a drive through the old neighbourhood of Nyamirambo, visit a local market, stop by a milk bar, taste Rwandan coffee and a visit to an art gallery or fashion designer. A local Rwandan traditional lunch and banana wine making demonstration at Heaven Restaurant is included and often each tour ends with a visit to the Genocide Memorial.

Fashion Tour – fashion in Rwanda is a bright example of hope and creativity coming together and on this tour, you will have the chance to visit the best local Rwandan fashion boutiques and often enjoy the unique opportunity to meet with designers and artisans. Enjoy an optional tour of the vibrant African “kitenge” fabric markets and place a custom order with our in-house tailor to make custom clothing during your stay.  Includes a coffee or tea and snack enroute to see artisans in action at their workshops.

Art and Culture Tour – art has not only been an essential part of Rwandan history but it remains a vibrant part of modern life. Each Art & Culture tour is customised based on your interests and you will have the chance to meet with the contemporary artists of Kigali, engage with local artisans in a crafting workshop, appreciate public art and potentially enjoy a traditional dance and drumming with a stop for refreshments at a local cafe or traditional milk bar.

Nature in Kigali – take an easy hike up one of the Thousand Hills of Kigali through lush, forested hills with your guide and enjoy tropical birdlife, flora, spectacular views and a picnic lunch provided at the top.  You have the option to do archery, zipline, horseback ride in the arena or on trails, bocce ball, trampoline, badminton. If you are lucky, you might see monkeys living in the forest at the top!

Culinary Tour – taste the local fruits at a farmers’ market and look for special ingredients needed to create modern African recipes. Enjoy the hands-on experience of making Rwandan banana beer (urwagwa) and participate in a private cooking class with the hotel Chef featuring some signature recipes.  The hotel bartenders may teach you how to make an innovative cocktail too!

Local Life Kigali Walking tour – spend the day walking around a lively, local neighbourhood visiting and interacting with the owners of hair salons, tailor shops, markets, and resto-bars and enjoy lunch made by a local Rwandan family in their home.

Nyamata Genocide Site, Survivor testimony and village tour – this remarkable community visit covers the history and amazing progress achieved in Rwanda. Visit the very epicentre of the genocide – Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial – and hear directly from a survivor. Then move on to see the incredible progress and prosperity we see today in Mayange village with potential visits to a farmer’s home, the local health centre and a women’s weaving cooperative. The day is customised on your interests.

Coffee Masterclass – you will be taken through a short coffee history lesson on the entire coffee production process from growth to harvesting cherries from the trees in coffee farm to the roasting stage and then taste coffee from all over Rwanda and create a custom blend.

Rural Life Experience – Designed and hosted by artisans and artists, you will become part of a weaving cooperative for the day. The morning begins with a drive to a nearby village, where you and your interpreter will be welcomed by the ladies of the weaving cooperative. You might help out in the kitchen, collect water from the valley spring, cut grass for the farm animals and get out in the fields for a seasonal agricultural activity. At noontime, you’ll share a simple local meal with your host family, with plenty of time to chat and learn about each other’s lives. After lunch, you will join with the artisan cooperative for an afternoon of weaving. You will learn how to harvest and prepare the natural fibres, and then the artisans will teach you how to create your own piece of sisal jewellery. The day finishes back at the women’s cooperative where you can browse through some of the beautiful crafts made by the artisans and do a little fair-trade shopping.

Farm and Coffee washing station tour – travel to Kayonza district to meet coffee farmers and experience live demonstration of each step of growing coffee cherries. Tour of a coffee washing station with demonstration of each step of processing coffee. Farmers will roast coffee and serve the guests.

GIVING BACK

Heaven Rwanda is committed to supporting Rwanda’s economy by working with farmers, purveyors, artisans and organizations that contribute to the community in a meaningful way.

THE RETREAT & HEAVEN BOUTIQUE HOTELS ARE OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND 

THE HOTELS WELCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES