How to Find Luxury Hotels in Kigali, Rwanda

Rwanda, once known for being the home of the mountain gorilla, gained worldwide attention thanks to the film "Hotel Rwanda." The movie depicted the actual events surrounding the 1994 civil war and subsequent slaughter more than a million people. Kigali, where the film was partially shot, is now a city on the mend. Kigali, Rwanda's capital and largest city, is situated in hilly country sprawling across about four ridges and valleys. Due to the country's political and economic struggles, luxury accommodations are hard to come by.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Passport
• Telephone

Find Accommodations

1. Stay at the InterContinental, Rwanda's only five-star hotel. Situated on the Rue de Revolution in the heart of Kigali, fit eatures world-class services and well-appointed rooms and suites. Rates are moderate to expensive. Book your reservation online (see Resources below) or by phone at 011 ([phone].

2. Visit the Web site for the Rwanda Tourism Board, where you'll find a comprehensive list of accommodations in Kigali and the rest of the country (see Resources below). The list includes links to the hotels' respective Web sites.

3. Select a Ruhengeri lodge, where you can track gorillas by day and relax in style by night.

Explore

4. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center or any number of memorials, museums and centers dedicated to the recent civil war.

5. Stop by the Hotel des Mille Collines, which became famous for taking in over a thousand people seeking refuge during the genocide of 1994.

Getting Around

6. Grab a minibus (called a "matatu"). Most routes operate on a very small flat fare, though they wait until each van is full before leaving, so are not the best option if you're in a rush.

7. Hop in a taxi (also called "special hire" or "taxi voiture"). Fares are inexpensive.

Tips & Warnings

• 011 is the dialing prefix used for telephoning abroad from the United States. If you're calling from another country, check which international dialing prefix to use. All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a “+” sign.
• The Rwanda Tourist Board doesn't have a booking feature on its Web site or a central accommodations booking phone number.
• Visas are not required for stays of less than 90 days.
• Proof of yellow-fever immunization is required.
• Looting and street crime are common and civilian law enforcement may be limited.
• Sporadic attacks by insurgents still occur in the northwest.