Bel Air Revised

Auberge Bel Air is the perfect place to unwind and recharge

BY GEORGE KAGAME


In his highly acclaimed song Thug Mansion about the rise of an urban poverty stricken black youth who rises to wealth stardom in the US show business, Tupac raps;

“a place where to spend my quite nights, time to unwind, so much pressure in this life of mine…….A spot where we can kick it, where we can drink liquor and no one bickers over trick… …, a spot where we can smoke in peace…at thug’s mansion.

For hard knock prison wardens in Kimironko prison there’s exactly the place to unwind in the little known Auberge Bel Air.

Not that prison wardens are thugs or Bel Air heaven but Tupac’s song provides a perfect recipe to describe the elegant guesthouse located in the outskirts of Kimironko.

Here prison wardens are a common patronage in the evenings as they reflect on the nature of the people that they keep in custody.
For many of the inmates that these wardens keep in custody, Auberge Bel Air provides a quite place to think and be creative.
The guesthouse is not just reserved for prison wardens, it is highly popular for back packers and other tourists fed up with the noise and begging of the city centre.

Bel Air guest house or Auberge as it is known throughout Kimironko, is a quite spacious and secluded expansive garden thrown almost at the furthest end of Kimironko, it offers guest rooms, meals, conference facilities, a sparsely stocked but well priced bar and camping facilities to backpackers.

Bel Air is the perfect place for a get away from all the noise of the city and the prison which situated about 400 metres from the guest house is conspicuous by its silence.
As early as 6pm, the night sound of the humming night birds is audible, the large and well maintained garden is laced with several trees which form canopies. Under the tress are electricity extensions which are used for reading purposes late in the evenings.
The mango trees lining the walkways are also a favourite for ‘looking in the eyes’ romantic dates.

Walking in the gardens one cannot help but wonder why such a gem is hidden this far from a larger clientele. But word has it that Auberge is a favourite venue for secret hideaways and its isolation is for tactical purposes, it is rumoured that this Kigali beauty is a favourite place for any one interested in ‘one night stands’.