Town & Country and The New York Times call The Retreat in Rwanda one of the top new hotels in the world in 2018.  The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 12-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport.  Due to great success in our first 2 years, we are expanding! 8 new luxury pool villas and a new wine lounge are under construction and will be open by October 2020. 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, large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness center.  Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer 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 1 night or several days as it offers innovative, curated cultural experiences and exciting activities in and around Kigali. Josh Ruxin is the author of the book “A Thousand Hills to Heaven: Love, Hope & a Restaurant in Rwanda” which shares the whole of the Ruxin family story.

EXPLORE KIGALI

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

FASHION TOUR

With international accolades and a New York Times writeup, fashion in Rwanda is a bright example of hope and creativity coming together. On this Fashion Tour, our guests have the chance to visit the best local Rwandan fashion boutiques and often enjoy the unique opportunity to meet with designers and artisans. Our guests can 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 their stay with us! Guests enjoy a coffee or tea and snack en route to see artisans in action at their workshops. Return to Heaven & The Retreat for visit to our own Made in Rwanda retail boutique and the onsite AZIZI Life Fair Trade Crafts Boutique!

ART & CULTURE TOUR

Art has not only been an essential part of Rwandan history, but it remains a vibrant part of modern life. We customize every Art & Culture tour based on each clients’ interests. Clients 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

As important as it is to see the sights of a city as energetic as Kigali, it’s equally important to get out into nature and explore. Take an easy hike up one of the Thousand Hills of Kigali through lush forested hills with our guides and enjoy tropical birdlife, flora, spectacular views and a picnic lunch provided at the top! Sample Itinerary: • Hike Mt. Kigali – spend a few hours hiking up the hillside and enjoy expansive views of Kigali. • Extra Activities – 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

Delve into a Rwandan culinary extravaganza! 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 our Chef featuring some of our signature recipes. Our bartenders may teach you how to make one of our innovative cocktails.. shush it’s top secret!