Hotel Rwanda

Some of us are staying at the Hôtel des Mille Collines as most others were full because of the Congress. Having watched the film made about this place many times, it feels eerie to be in such a renowned spot, made famous as ‘Hotel Rwanda’ where a thousand refugees were protected during the Rwandan genocide by the brave hotel manager and staff.

There are some very moving scenes in that film, notably the one in the hotel car park where a group of nuns was forcibly separated from orphaned children in their care when all Europeans were ordered to leave Rwanda.

Mille Collines refers to the ‘land of a thousand hills’, the label given to Rwanda due to its elevation and topography. Clearly completely remodelled since the genocide, the hotel has lovely grounds which are a nice place to savour the early morning with a cup of strong Rwandan coffee.