ACCOMMODATION WITHIN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Magnificent attractions and comfortable accommodation facilities are what make a tourist destination complete in addition to rewarding visitors with memorable experiences. Volcanoes National Park, situated in North-western corner of Rwanda offers all these at the same time. Phenomenal attractions include the eye-catching Mountain gorillas, the exceptional golden monkeys, bird species, the Dian Fossey grave, Musanze Caves, the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo and Virunga Volcanoes (Karisimbi and Bisoke) as well as unforgettable places to stay will make you come back for gorilla safaris in Rwanda. When you visit any of the accommodation facilities within this Park, you will agree that the ideal place to visit is the Land of a thousand Hills.
Therefore there are comfortable Budget, midrange and luxury places to stay within and around Volcanoes National Park and they include;
Virunga Lodge
At around 30 minutes drive from Kinigi Park Headquarters, Virunga Lodge is one of Volcanoes’ top luxury Lodges worth visiting on gorilla safaris. Nestled on a ridge, it offers a backdrop of interesting attractions including Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera and boasts of being one of the phenomenal locations of any Camp in Africa.
This Lodge features 10 large stone guestrooms with wooden floors, vast balconies and furnished with thick and heavy furniture. Each of the rooms is attached to the private toilet and bathroom by a short covered walkway. This eco-friendly Lodge has eco-toilets that are low-flushing and the showers have solar heated hot water. It is relatively a companionable place to stay because guests have dinner at one large table. Besides gorilla trekking, visitors are entertained by the local Intore dance troupe in addition to getting massages at the Lodge.
Bisate Lodge
This facility is one of the newest luxury safari Lodges (launched on 1st September 2017) situated in the Natural Amphitheatre of an eroded Volcanic Cone within Volcanoes National Park. Bisate derived its name from a Kinyarwanda word meaning “pieces”, relating to how the cone was once whole but now worn out into pieces due to natural erosion. It is made up of 6 large forest Villas with each measuring about 91 meters in size, and has 12 cozy guestrooms. The intricate architectural design inspired by the traditional building of Nyanza King’s Palace is one thing that makes Bisate Lodge to stand out from the crowd. Not only that, the breathtaking views of the towering Virunga Volcanoes especially mount Karisimbi, Mikeno and Bisoke can be relished from this exquisite Lodge. Some of the facilities found at Bisate Lodge include a large dining area, a lounge, wine cellar, a well stocked bar and a restaurant to enjoy mouth-watering meals.
La Palme Hotel
La Palme is a three-star Hotel situated within Ruhengeri in Musanze district and offers an opulent place for leisure and business tourists. Before you even visit the facility, you need to know that an outstanding dining experience awaits you within this one of a kind and prominent restaurant that enchants your senses with International dishes prepared in the Oriental and French kitchens. Nonetheless, local dishes can also be prepared on prior request. The adjacent mini bar will make your evening complete with the drinks carefully sorted for your taste and preference. Each of the rooms has a satellite TV, a veranda, a dining area, private bathroom, a chair and table. Other facilities available include conference rooms, luggage storage, enough parking space, shared lounge, a garden and free Internet access (Wifi) to guests.
Sabinyo Silverback Lodge
Situated within Musanze district near the Park Headquarters is the luxurious Sabinyo Silverback Lodge. It is found at the foothills of the magnificent Virunga Volcanoes offering breathtaking views of the Volcanoes and the countryside. This Lodge is made up of 8 well spaced cottages, all rewarding guests with the astonishing views of the Virunga Volcanoes and offer utmost privacy. These large cottages feature a sheltered balcony for relaxation or enjoying meals, private bathroom with cold and warm shower as well as a bathtub, a sitting area with a fireplace lit during cold evenings, a bedroom and a dressing area.
With the sheltered balconies, guests can just sit and enjoy the views of the surrounding areas including the Virunga Volcanoes or enjoy a meal while surrounded by nature. Other important facilities at the Lodge include a game room, a library and another common eating area within the main lodge, a restaurant for your meals and a well stocked bar to enjoy all kinds of drinks but most importantly friendly and standby staff to handle all your needs.
Garden Place Hotel
Garden Place Hotel is a place you would rather be while on Rwanda gorilla safaris. It is an exceptionally spacious place to stay with comfortable and stylish rooms for both holiday and business guests. This spectacular Hotel is strategically located within Ruhengeri, approximately 90 minutes drive from Kigali International Airport hence making it a perfect place to relax after your gorilla trekking adventure.
There are currently more than 25 rooms within this stunning Hotel including 9 standard rooms with King-size beds and classic linen and 7 double rooms each with 2 double beds. Each of these two types of rooms features a flat screen satellite TV, enough store for clothes, hair dryers, large balcony for relaxation and relishing the views of the surrounding areas and a telephone. There are also 2 Executive rooms spacious enough with a separate large seating area, a desk and chair (study area) and 1 kitchenette featuring a small fridge, sink, microwave and coffee/tea pot and 2 spacious VIP rooms with separate living area and a kitchenette with a small fridge, microwave, sink and coffee/tea pot.
The Interesting thing is that the room rates paid includes continental breakfast as well. Besides the rooms and the amenities, Garden Place Hotel features other services and facilities that include ample and secure parking space, adaptors, free internet in all the rooms and public places, a spacious dining area although in-room dining can be provided on request and conference space with PA systems, state of art furniture, 24 hour generator, business center, meeting hall, Wifi connectivity and full catering services.
When it comes to food, you will enjoy local and International mouth-watering foods prepared by highly qualified chefs and served by well trained and friendly waiters and waitresses. Garden Place Hotel also features a well stocked bar that opens 24/7 with both non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks such as wines, soft drinks, spirits, Vodka, tequila, whisky, beer and Gins at affordable rates.
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Located within Musanze at the outskirts of Volcanoes National Park, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel is a five-star place to stay nestled along the road leading to Kinigi Park Headquarters. It’s about three-hour’ drive from Kigali International Airport/City at the edge of this Mountain gorilla Park.
This exquisite Hotel offers guests with a serene luxury accommodation with dazzling views of the rolling Hills of Rwanda-the land of a thousand Hills. Accommodation within Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel is made up of 13 guestrooms in twin and double rooms in addition to 1 vast VIP Cottage found in verdant gardens with the views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Each of the rooms is air conditioned and features a flat screen TV, kettle and a small refrigerator.
The main Hotel building is grass-thatched and is where you will be welcomed and enjoy your dinner while the rest of the guestrooms are found in stone cottages, built around the gardens and the swimming pool.
Besides that, this Hotel features a bar where you can get all kinds of drinks, swimming pool, restaurant, steam sauna and a traditional sauna that all await guests on gorilla trekking safaris.
Hotel Muhabura
Hotel Muhabura is a budget accommodation facility situated within Northern Province of Rwanda opposite Musanze district and North of Kigali City. It is made up of 30 self-contained guestrooms categorized into single, double and twin rooms and apartments that provide a serene environment for unwinding after the exciting gorilla trekking adventure as well as a day visit to Musanze. Besides the rooms, there is a small veranda, well stocked bar with all kinds of drinks, direct access for guests to the garden, free Wifi, a handcraft and gift shop known as La Boutik as well as laundry service among others.
Garr Hotel
Nestled within the verdant suburbs of Kigali at around 600 meters from Yego Arts studio and La Galette Supermarket, Garr Hotel provides a tranquil environment to tourists intending to enjoy comfortable accommodation while on Rwanda gorilla safaris. It is strategically situated at approximately 5 minutes walking distance to Kigali’s Golf Club making it an ideal place for golfers and other sports passionate visitors.
For leisure and business tourists, Garr Hotel is the perfect place to be to relish the exceptional adornment and aura of this secluded Hotel. It takes pride in the state of the art guestrooms that are furnished with all essential facilities that ensure the maximum comfort of guests. It is near several major restaurants and in the vicinity of a number of foreign embassies and interestingly Rwanda Parliament Building.
Some of the amenities to expect include a Spa center, a Hammam, a swimming pool and a stocked bar where guests can enjoy different drinks. There is also free private parking and free Internet access in most public places and the guestrooms.
Each room within Garr Hotel is furnished with a large luxurious and comfortable bed, en-suite bathroom with toiletries (soap, shampoo and lotion) as well as slippers, a flat-screen TV with satellite Channels to keep visitors updated of current affairs and some rooms have seating areas for unwinding while others have balconies that provide clear views of the garden or the verdant Kigali City.
Jack Hanna’s Guesthouse
Jack Hanna’s Guesthouse is a first-class and up-market Safari Lodge situated within the Northern Province of Rwanda in Musanze district and sits in a forest of eucalyptus trees hence offering a cool ambience for relaxation. It offers family-sized phenomenal cottages with jaw-dropping views of the thousands of Rwanda’s rolling Hills and the magnificent Volcanoes National Park.
Jack Hanna’s Guesthouse takes pride in its large cottages that contain 2 spacious bedrooms that can accommodate up to 4 guests. Surprisingly, each of the bedrooms has its own vast bathroom with a bathtub and showers and also rewards guests with the stunning views of the golf course. Available is also a central area made up of a very lovely living area with a fireplace, flat-screen TV, a kitchen and dining area hence offering a real feeling of being home away from home. There is also a porch with entry to the living room and also offers views of a verdant golf course and the mind0blowing hills of Rwanda. Besides the luxurious rooms and other facilities, another reason to visit this Lodge is because it is in a serene and secluded environment.
When it comes to customer care and hospitality, Jack Hanna’s guesthouse will blow your mind because the staff members are very friendly, attentive, professional and always willing to attend to the needs of the guests for memorable experiences. When it comes to food, you will be treated to a three-course menu of mouth-watering home-cooked meals prepared within the cottage by the private chefs.
Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Located within Kinigi in Musanze district is the stunning Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, a well renovated Safari Lodge providing mid-range accommodation and luxury services to visitors to the Volcanoes National Park for gorilla safaris. It is found within the park, around 20 minutes from the Park Headquarters.
This Lodge takes pride in its five (5) self-contained cottages nestled in the shadows of Mount Karisimbi and are decorated in natural settings hence providing guests with an authentic feeling of the environment. These cottages also stand-alone hence offering visitors with enough privacy or allow them to enjoy their Holiday in seclusion.
The rooms are categorized into single, double and triple rooms, with each of them featuring a sitting area for unwinding, comfortable beds with clean linen, an ensuite bathroom with both warm and cold water as well as slippers and bottled water, a reading table, fireplace, hair dryers and hot water bottles (for the extremely cold evenings during the rainy season). One of the things that will leave unforgettable memories about Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge is the delicious local and International foods served alongside wine and other beverages. Other amenities and services to enjoy include the lush gardens, free 3G Internet access, secure parking, laundry services and a foreign exchange bureau to mention but a few.
Gorilla Volcanoes Hotel
Gorilla Volcanoes is a classic hotel with an exceptional appearance and charming ambience situated within Musanze district in the Northern Province of Rwanda. At just 25 minutes drive from Kinigi Park headquarters, it is made up of 31 commodious and cozy rooms with en-suite bathrooms containing showers and bathtubs. There is a well stocked bar adjoined with a restaurant that serves the most delicious meals that you have never tasted in a lifetime.
Mornings at Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel start with a hefty breakfast served from 6:30am to 10:30am hence making it an ideal place to stay for tourists heading for gorilla trekking within Volcanoes National Park. If you intend to wake up earlier and have breakfast before 6:30am, you can inform Hotel management to have your breakfast ready at the time needed. Every single day especially from noon to evening, you can order anything (mainly snacks or juice) from the a la carte menu provided at the restaurant.
Each of the rooms within Gorilla Volcanoes Hotel has twin or double beds, an outdoor balcony, ideal for relaxing and socializing but most importantly overlooks the garden and swimming pool. Other facilities and services available include a swimming pool, a restaurant named Urugano as well as a well stocked bar, free Wifi, an event room and a fitness center (gym).
Villa Gorilla
Situated at Kinigi, just 5 minutes from the Park headquarters is the small Villa Gorilla Hotel, an ideal place for tourists travelling to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking. It boasts of four cozy en-suite double-occupancy bedrooms in a Villa, 3 excellent en-suite garden bungalows and an outstanding dining area and admirable service from their well trained staff. This Hotel is the ideal place for small groups or family travelers yearning for comfort and direct contact/attention from the management in addition to enjoying privacy and impressive views of the Virunga Volcanoes.
For more information and bookings, contact them on +250 788 592924 or send an email to info@villagorillarwanda.com
Gorilla Solution Lodge
This luxury facility is located in Kinigi, Musanze district a few minutes’ walk to the Park Headquarters and around 2 hours drive from Kigali International Airport. It overlooks the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes, especially Gahinga, Karisimbi, Muhabura, Bisoke and Sabinyo.
This Lodge offers exquisite amenities that meet and exceed the guests’ expectations thus providing unforgettable experiences. It takes pride in its 10 cozy cottages that were cautiously built, with each of them featuring a private porch rewarding guests with the stunning views of the three Virunga Volcanoes. The interior of these large cottages is where you will find comfortable beds, hot water bottles because the area tends to be extremely cold during rainy seasons, en-suite bathroom with warm and cold showers, clean towels and hair dryers, flash toilet as well as a vast lounge area complete with chairs and a table ideal for relaxation and interactions. Besides that, free internet is available as well as a fireplace where guests gather to share stories or interact with one another. Other facilities include a restaurant with an a la carte menu and several African buffets as well as a well stocked bar where guests enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
For more information and bookings, call Reservations office on +250 787 295758 and +250 789 319286 or send an email to reservation@gorillasolution.rw.
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Situated in Musanze district bordering Volcanoes National Park, at the foothills of Mount Sabinyo is the magnificent Mountain Gorilla View Lodge previously known as Gorilla Mountain View Lodge and is around 15 minutes from the Park main entrance.
This midrange eco-lodge has 30 large stone and thatch cottages, each featuring living areas with a fireplace, en-suite bathroom and private porch. The main Lodge building is where you will find the restaurant that serves typically traditional foods and a well stocked bar.
Kinigi Guesthouse
Also known as Village Touristique de Kinigi, this budget accommodation facility is located in Kinigi, about 11 kilometers from Ruhengeri Town. It is nestled at the base of Mount Sabinyo that stands at an elevation of 4480 meters above sea level. It has 20 rooms inform of single, doubles and a VIP room and can accommodate up to 40 guests and all the rooms are connected with electricity and warm water in the bathrooms. There is also a VIP suite for tourists interested in exceptional and secluded services. Besides accommodation, this Lodge features a hall with 400 seat capacities ideal for seminars, conferences, weddings and other social events/gatherings.
This Lodge’s strategic location makes it a perfect place for tourists who wish to wake up very early to track the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park. When it comes to meals, you won’t believe how such a budget place can serve such mouth-watering food. There is also a well-stocked bar with an assortment of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Best View Hotel
Found within Ruhengeri (300 meters from Kinigi Park Headquarters), Best View Hotel is a remarkable Hotel that every tourist to Volcanoes National Park must try while on a gorilla safari. It boasts of high quality facilities and services to guests of this Gorilla tracking destination. All their rooms are large featuring seating areas with astonishing views and ideal for relaxing after a long tiring day of gorilla trekking, have flat-screen TV with satellite Channels, private bathrooms with both cols and warm showers, hair dryers as well as free WiFi in public places and the rooms. There is also a bar with local and International drinks and a restaurant that serves local and International cuisines in 3-course menu served in buffet in addition to enough parking space available within the Hotel.
Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge is a midrange place to stay found in the Northern Province of Rwanda near Volcanoes National Park, the natural habitat of the critically endangered mountain gorillas. This facility maintains unmatched record for unwinding and privacy.
Visitors are offered the crème Del a crème when it comes to facilities including splendid furnishings and the highest quality in terms of services. Barbeques are sometimes organized for guests and gorilla trekkers are offered packed lunch on request.
It has 23 self-contained cottages with individual fireplaces and the rooms were cautiously built with environmentally friendly materials like bamboo and thoroughly decorated rooms to offer utmost comfort.
Surprisingly, most of the furniture in this Lodge is handmade from bamboo hence giving tourists the intimate touch of nature. Evenings in this Lodge are filled with entertainment from the local dancing troupe that display traditional Rwandan lifestyle and culture to visitors hence promoting sustainable tourism by contributing to cultural exchange.
Faraja Hotel
Offering comfort and views of the mountain and barbeque are the common phrases you can use to describe Faraja Hotel within Ruhengeri, at approximately 100 meters from Bukane Primary school. There are over 38 rooms in this Hotel categorized into single (3), I junior suite, suites (2), King-sized rooms (12), standard singles (10) and queen size (12) and each of them has a chair and reading table, a flat-screen TV, private bathroom with clean towels, slippers and free toiletries for your comfort as well as free WiFi while some of them have balconies and seating areas.
The suites give the feeling of being home away from home because they have 2 big rooms, private bathroom, a kitchen, dining table as well as a saloon. There is also a garden for unwinding, children’s play area, a spacious restaurant to relish all your meals, a bar where you can relax as you sip a drink in the evening and free parking space for guests.
While at Faraja Hotel, you will enjoy a number of tourist activities such as gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, visit to Musanze Caves, cycling and biking among others.
Bishops House
Formerly known as Villanova Boutique Hotel, Bishops House is a new comfortable accommodation facility found in the busy Town of Ruhengeri, about half hour’s drive from Kinigi Park Headquarters.
This facility has 9 fancy rooms including 6 standard rooms, 2 junior suites in addition to one sumptuous Presidential suite and the facilities you will find in the rooms include ensuite bathrooms with a sink and toiletries, mini fridge, flat-screen TV, safe, tea and coffee maker. Some rooms have lounges while others don’t.
In conclusion, there are several places to stay in form of budget, midrange and luxury facilities within Volcanoes National Park, and they include Virunga Lodge, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Garden Place Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge and Mountain Gorilla View Lodge among others, worth visiting during Rwanda gorilla safaris.