The Ubumwe Grande Hotel is a long-running four-star hotel in Kiyovu, on KN 67 Street, with about 153 rooms and a good range of facilities for the price. It is a practical choice for visitors who want a pool, several places to eat and drink and a central location at a mid-range rate. There is an outdoor pool, a fitness centre, an on-site restaurant, a coffee shop and deli, a bar and a rooftop terrace with barbecue grills. Guests can borrow bicycles at no charge, and the hotel has a business centre, meeting rooms, a concierge who can arrange tours and tickets, a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, in-room safes, an ATM and laundry and dry cleaning. Free Wi-Fi is available in all rooms and in some public areas, with wired internet in the rooms as well. Parking on site is free, though guests should contact the hotel in advance to reserve a space. Breakfast is not included in every rate, so check your booking, and an airport shuttle is available around the clock for a fee. The hotel has no spa.
Location and getting around
The hotel is a few minutes' walk from the Union Trade Centre, a modern shopping and dining complex, and a pleasant walk from the Kandt House Museum of Natural History. The Kigali Convention Centre is a short drive away, as are the main stadiums, and the airport takes roughly twenty-five minutes by car depending on traffic, so confirm the transfer time and price when you book. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are cheap and easy to find, and operators will collect you from the lobby for tours.
Rooms and who it suits
The rooms are straightforward, comfortable and well equipped, and the hotel's appeal is in the combination of facilities and price. It suits budget-conscious couples, solo travellers, families who want a pool and free parking, and groups who need meeting rooms. The rooftop terrace is a good place for an evening drink, and the free bicycles are a friendly touch if you want to explore the neighbourhood.
Good to know
Because breakfast is not part of every rate, add it when you book if you have an early start for the parks, and ask the kitchen about packed breakfasts. Early check-in and late check-out may carry a fee, so confirm the policy. The lack of a spa is the main gap, so if treatments matter to you, choose the Marriott or the Serena.
How it compares
It is similar in price band to the Park Inn, with a more local feel and a rooftop terrace rather than a spa. It is cheaper than the Four Points or the Radisson Blu and less atmospheric than the Hôtel des Mille Collines or Heaven. If you want a reliable, central, good-value base with a pool for a week of tours, the Ubumwe Grande is a sensible choice, and it works especially well as a first and last night either side of a trip to the parks.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool
- ✓Fitness centre
- ✓Restaurant, coffee shop and deli
- ✓Rooftop terrace with barbecue grills
- ✓Free bicycle rentals
- ✓Free on-site parking
- ✓Business centre and meeting rooms
- ✓Free Wi-Fi in rooms
Good questions
Where is the Ubumwe Grande Hotel?+
It is on KN 67 Street in Kiyovu, a few minutes' walk from the Union Trade Centre and close to the centre of Kigali.
Does it have a pool and a spa?+
It has an outdoor pool and a fitness centre, but no spa.
Is breakfast and parking included?+
Parking on site is free, but guests should contact the hotel in advance to reserve a space. Breakfast is not part of every rate, so check your booking.
