Destination of the Week: The Pinnacle Kigali
Photo courtesy of The Pinnacle Kigali
This week, Daily Travel Source spotlights Kigali, Rwanda, where contemporary design and cultural authenticity converge at The Pinnacle. Set in the tranquil Rebero Hills, the property captures the essence of modern African luxury — elegant, sustainable, and deeply rooted in community. We spoke with Sheila Kyarisiima, Founder and Owner, about how her new urban retreat is redefining Rwandan hospitality ahead of its international debut in January 2026.
The Pinnacle introduces a new era of luxury in Kigali. How does the property capture the spirit of modern African luxury while remaining authentically rooted in Rwanda’s culture and community?
We’ve embodied modern African luxury by creating a space with all the comforts and the touches true to a modern family home, while delivering an experience that is abundant in elegance. The virtue of warm African hospitality is deeply rooted within Rwandan culture. A guest can visit a home unannounced and not only be warmly welcomed but leave fed and pampered. This authenticity in Rwandan culture is something we have embraced in our Corporate Social Responsibility through our NGO partnerships. We have partnered with two NGOs, one that has a farm that feeds patients at a nearby hospital with a mission to use food as a part of healing, and another that provides under-privileged kids in Kigali with a safe space to build confidence through dance. Through these partnerships, we are looking to serve in our community, just like we do in our homes, a hallmark of Rwandan hospitality.
Located in the serene Rebero Hills, The Pinnacle feels like both a city retreat and a gateway to Rwanda’s natural wonders. How did you envision this balance between urban sophistication and the country’s wild beauty?
We pride ourselves in the versatility of both the design and amenities of our urban retreat and its location. An ideal itinerary that would balance an urban experience with a wild-life excursion includes a two-nights stay city stay that is focused on culture and exploration, while leaving enough time to truly relax and renew with our wellness and SPA amenities, followed by a gorilla-trekking getaway or even a safari in the savannah, both of which are easy to get to, from The Pinnacle Kigali.
The private Members Club and “Departure Amenity” are unique concepts for Kigali. What inspired these offerings, and how do they reflect the kind of hospitality The Pinnacle aims to define?
Our kind of hospitality anticipates our guests’ needs even before they are voiced and preemptively addresses needs that might not have even been predicted. Once we understood that many of our international guests come off a long flight with a short overnight stay in Kigali before heading out to see the mountain gorillas but often return to Kigali with a day to spare, offering a departure amenity at no additional cost is consistent with warm African hospitality. We understand the need for a place to decompress after a mountain hike while waiting on another long-haul flight, and what better way to do this than to come full circle to the place that welcomed the guest to bid them farewell? It’s like visiting an old friend. Moreover, the departure amenity allows our guests to make use of all our incredible amenities and member programming they did not get a chance to use on their first night in Kigali.
Sustainability is clearly woven into The Pinnacle’s design — from solar power to electric transfers and the kitchen garden. Can you share how sustainability shaped the guest experience from the start?
We believe that our guests share in the belief that it is our collective responsibility to do what we can to leave the earth in a better shape for the next generation. With this in mind, when we think of the guest experience, we think about how we can collectively minimize our environmental waste. This started during construction where we used left over pieces of tile to make plant pots on property, and we continued this with the use of electronic menus, making our own drinking water on property to minimize single use plastic, composting and recycling our wastewater for gardening.
As you prepare to officially open to the international market in January 2026, what do you most hope global travelers will discover — or rediscover — about Kigali through The Pinnacle experience?
I hope to augment global travelers’ experience of Rwanda so that in addition to our amazing conservation story, they also learn more about our history, and the stories of our people and culture. Through our two-nights itinerary at The Pinnacle Kigali our guests will also have the opportunity to support incredible small business in the city from bars and restaurants to art galleries and stores, and to also visit one of our NGO partners. With our offerings and positioning, we provide the opportunity for a more diverse travel experience for our guests.
