Kigali

The Retreat by Heaven

Eco-friendly comfort in Kigali

A charming boutique hotel

The Retreat by Heaven is a charming and inviting small boutique hotel, recognised as Kigali’s first entirely solar-powered resort, as well as maintaining countless other eco-friendly credentials throughout its make up, including locally crafted sustainable teak wood furniture. The hotel enjoys a great location on a quiet and peaceful, tree-lined street in the Kiyovu neighbourhood of the city, and is just minutes from the city centre, ensuring it’s in a prime location for discovering Kigali.

At the centre of everything The Retreat does is its people, and support and development of the local community are important parts of its operation. Through various programmes they hope to help develop future leaders in Rwanda’s fast-growing hospitality industry.

Guests will have a choice of 11 expansive rooms, with features such as peaked ceilings, front and rear private patios, bathrooms with indoor and outdoor rain showers, and air conditioning. The interior of each room is light, airy and spacious, featuring plenty of wood for a natural vibe, as well as touches of local art and decoration to add an element of tradition.

There’s a fantastic on-site restaurant in which to indulge, known as Fusion. Blending international cuisine with local Rwandan and African flavours with a focus on quality local ingredients, the restaurant is set beside the hotel’s inviting saltwater swimming pool. Guests can find further relaxation in the shape of the hotel’s spa, giving them the chance to nurture themselves across a range of skincare or massage treatments, as well as relax in the Jacuzzi or sauna.

Highlights

Entirely solar-powered

11 rooms with outdoor rain showers and private patios

Indulge on international cuisine combined with Rwandan and African flavours

Relax at the hotel's spa

The Retreat supports and develops the local community through various programmes

The impact of your stay:

The hotel is part of the Heaven portfolio, a purpose-driven social enterprise founded by Josh and Alissa Huxin, who, captivated by Rwanda during their honeymoon, envisioned contributing to the development of its most crucial resource: its people. Originating as a restaurant and hospitality training facility in 2008, they have since trained over 3000 Rwandans and expanded to include two hotels and restaurants, including The Retreat.

Custom-built by local craftspeople, The Retreat showcases Rwandan arts, photography, experiences, and agriculture. Central to its operations is the empowerment of the local community, with a focus on sourcing locally.

At present, The Retreat assists several staff members in ongoing education programs and offers crucial support to vulnerable youth, covering their education, food, and housing.

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Places to combine The Retreat by Heaven with

Akagera National Park

Wilderness Magashi Camp

In the north-eastern section of Akagera National Park you’ll find Wilderness Magashi Camp overlooking the stunning Lake Rwanyakazinga. The camp is surrounded by some of East Africa’s most beautiful savannah, lakes, swamps and rolling grasslands. The camp, with design and interiors inspired by traditional Rwandan culture, boasts six spacious tents with lake views. When you’re not enjoying the solitude of your airy tent, relax in the luxurious lounge, enjoy a meal in the dining and bar area. The pool is the ideal place to cool off after a busy day of game viewing and birdwatching, and evenings are best spent on the deck around the fire pit. The region is also home to one of the continent’s largest hippo populations, as well as crocodiles. You’ll also find the rare sitatunga and other plains game here as well as over 520 different species of bird. After a 20-year absence, lions were reintroduced to the area in 2015, and the population today is thriving. Black rhino were reintroduced in 2017.

Mara Conservancies

Towering high on the Rift Valley’s Oloololo Escarpment with direct and private access to the Mara Triangle, this lodge's name was inspired by the Swahili word for ‘suspended in mid-air’. It's not only its location that makes it stand out, but also its commitment to education, health and conservation in the region.

Nyungwe National Park

One&Only Nyungwe House

Low and wide amid the leaves of its very own tea plantation surrounded by ancient rainforest, Nyungwe House’s modern architecture is a wonderful contrast to its verdant setting. There are 22 rooms and suites split between six wooden villas, with vast windows and private decks opening up into the forest. There are open fireplaces in each and every room and suite, with interiors and artwork inspired by the nature and traditions of Rwanda. The main lodge building is home to lounge areas, bar and dining space where you can enjoy sun-rise breakfast (or, for late risers, all day à la carte brunches in your room) and mouth-watering, organic, garden-to-plate menus at dinner, with lunches usually enjoyed while out exploring. Nyungwe Forest, an ancient place of majestic mahoganies, giant ferns and delicate orchids, is renowned for its wide diversity of animal species and the lodge has a variety of treks available for those wishing to see chimpanzees, white colobus, grey-cheeked, golden and rare Mangabey monkeys. You can also take to the heights of the nearby canopy walk, ride mountain bikes, take a day trip to the waters of Lake Kivu or immerse yourself in the local culture on a range of tailored experiences that will give you an insight into crafts, cuisine and more.

forest-villas-bisate-lodge-rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Wilderness Bisate Lodge

Utterly unique in its design, six sumptuous forest villas are luxurious while retaining environmental principles and reflecting the culture of the surrounding country. Each has a generous yet intimate combination of bedroom, reception space and bathroom, heated by a central fireplace and a private deck looking out to Mount Bisoke. The spherical stone and thatch architecture, said to be inspired by the Royal Palace of traditional monarchs, continues through to the communal areas such as the dining room, bar and spa, detailed with a variety of woven materials, local crafts and more modern touches. Wilderness Bisate is a short drive to the national park’s headquarters, from where gorilla treks depart daily, and you can also embark upon forest hikes to see rare Golden Monkeys and other wildlife. Visit the site of Dian Fossey’s research camp and grave, meet the community on guided village walks, plant a tree as part of the Wilderness Bisate’s reforestation project or perhaps tag along with the chef to the local market to buy ingredients for dinner.

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