High above Kigali on Rebero Hill, The Pinnacle offers sweeping views across the city, bringing contemporary luxury together with a strong sense of place. What began as a private family retreat has evolved into a destination that celebrates Rwanda’s culture, creativity and community.
Here its founder, Sheila Kyarisiima, shares the story behind the hotel and her vision for creating a new kind of luxury destination in Kigali.
Take us through the beginnings of The Pinnacle Kigali.
The Pinnacle began as a private family retreat in Kigali – a place where my family and I could come home to, spend time together and create something that felt distinctly ours. However, a few years into construction, we began to realise that what we were creating was too beautiful to keep to ourselves. We saw an opportunity to contribute something to the Kigali hospitality space: an urban luxury destination that could stand confidently alongside the finest properties anywhere in the world, while remaining unmistakably African.
Describe where we are – the landscapes, the culture and dynamics specific to the area.
Kigali is fondly known as the city of hills. The Pinnacle sits high on one, Rebero Hill, so the landscape is very much part of the experience, with sweeping views of the city. It is green, peaceful and beautifully ordered, but beneath that calm is a city that is becoming increasingly dynamic.
In Kigali, the stage is set for a wonderful intersection of tradition and ambition. Rwanda has a very strong sense of identity and community, while Kigali itself is increasingly cosmopolitan. We have entrepreneurs, artists, designers, chefs, creatives and business leaders shaping a new generation of African culture.
This is something we wanted The Pinnacle to actively participate in. We don’t want guests simply to see Kigali from afar. We want to be a doorway into the city, its people, its creativity, its food and its stories.
What makes a good hotel for you?
For me, a good hotel is rooted in its place. You feel the culture in the care, the language in the details. Of course, there has to be beautiful design, exceptional food, comfortable rooms and impeccable service. But those things, on their own, don’t necessarily create a memorable hotel. What makes the difference is the intention behind them and the people who bring that intention to life.
A great hotel should have a soul. It should have a point of view and it should make you feel something. You should leave feeling that the hotel gave you something you couldn’t have received anywhere else.
For me, luxury is felt in a space that holds you, a welcome that anticipates, and a warmth that lingers.
What feeling did you want to create at the hotel as guests walk through the spaces?
I think what speaks to people is the feeling that someone has thought about their experience before they’ve even arrived. It’s in the warmth of the light, the texture of the materials, the art that catches your eye when you least expect it – the story behind each room. It’s the sense that the space is yours to explore, at your own pace and on your own terms.
With The Pinnacle, we wanted people to feel at home, but a more extraordinary version of home. Somewhere they can relax, reconnect, be curious, and create memories. A place with drama and beauty, but also warmth, playfulness, and intimacy. We wanted to celebrate African creativity without reducing it to a visual theme, something contemporary and luxurious, but deeply rooted in where we are.
What do you think sustainability looks like today?
Sustainability today has to be part of how we think about the entire life of a property. It should be thoughtfully woven into the entire guest experience.
For us, that means being thoughtful about what we build, what we consume, where things come from and what happens to them afterwards. We have a kitchen garden that supplies some of our fresh ingredients, and we have incorporated composting and waste-reduction practices into the operation. But sustainability is also about the people and the community around us: creating opportunities for local talent, working with African artists and craftspeople, and ensuring that value is retained within the communities and ecosystems that make a place special.
I also think there is an important cultural dimension to sustainability. Preserving and celebrating local knowledge, craftsmanship, food traditions and creative expression is part of preserving a place for the future.
How do you see The Pinnacle Kigali evolving in the next 5-10 years?
I see The Pinnacle becoming a platform for African creativity, hospitality and entrepreneurship, and a place where people from different parts of the world can meet, exchange ideas and experience Kigali in a meaningful way.
The Members Club is an important part of that future because it allows us to build something beyond a hotel. It creates a community and a sense of belonging, connecting local and international people across business, culture and creativity.
