Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Virunga Lodge
Eight Stylish 'Bandas' with Incredible Lake Panoramas
The lodge sits atop a 2,300-metre hilltop with panoramas of the ‘twin lakes’ of Ruhondo and Bulera and the string of Virunga volcanoes laid out in front of you.
Discover ten elegant hand built guest bandas facing either the Virunga Volcanoes or beautiful twin lakes (Four deluxe and six standard rooms) set across the property’s beautiful terraced gardens, affording each a share of the superb views and a good helping of privacy too. En suite bathrooms and running solar hot water allow you to enjoy luxurious comfort with always a minimal environmental impact too. Paved pathways converge on the property’s main lodge for dining, massages, the curio shop, bar and lounge, and all with stunning views.
Apart from the truly personable level of luxury and staff hospitality here at Virunga the lodge also excels in a wonderfully diverse and extensive menu of daily activities and local cultural excursions.
Highlights
Ten elegant hand built guest bandas
Restaurant
Bar & lounge
Gorilla trekking and tracking
Dian Fossey hike
Golden Monkey tracking
Climb Karisimbi and Visoke volcanoes
Cultural visits
Walk to Lake Bulera
Hike the Crater View Trail
Visit Lake Kivu
The impact of your stay:
- Designed with a focus on sustainability and community support, the lodge was built by an in-house team using local materials. Solar power provides energy, rainwater is harvested, and waste is recycled and upcycled. The lodge’s kitchen exclusively uses local ingredients and supplies, while hydroponic systems on the premises aid food cultivation. Ingredients sourced from local producers reduce plastic packaging and transport distances, contributing to the economic well-being of the local community.
- Virunga Lodge stands as a crucial partner in the fight to protect the endangered mountain gorilla. Agricultural and livestock activities have threatened the habitat, putting gorillas at risk of extinction. Through the revenue generated from your stay, Virunga Lodge supports the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, actively involved in safeguarding mountain gorillas and their natural habitat through research and action.
- Volcanoes Safaris created the Virunga Lodge Community Projects to enhance the lives of local communities near Virunga Lodge. The funded initiatives include donating solar panels to 25 families, providing 200 water tanks, implementing a microfinance savings scheme, gifting sheep to local families, and supporting a local dance troupe.
Trip Inspiration
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Places to combine Virunga Lodge with
Akagera National Park
In the north-eastern section of Akagera National Park you’ll find Wilderness Magashi Camp overlooking the stunning Lake Rwanyakazinga. The camp is surrounded by some of East Africa’s most beautiful savannah, lakes, swamps and rolling grasslands.
The camp, with design and interiors inspired by traditional Rwandan culture, boasts six spacious tents with lake views. When you’re not enjoying the solitude of your airy tent, relax in the luxurious lounge, enjoy a meal in the dining and bar area. The pool is the ideal place to cool off after a busy day of game viewing and birdwatching, and evenings are best spent on the deck around the fire pit.
The region is also home to one of the continent’s largest hippo populations, as well as crocodiles. You’ll also find the rare sitatunga and other plains game here as well as over 520 different species of bird. After a 20-year absence, lions were reintroduced to the area in 2015, and the population today is thriving. Black rhino were reintroduced in 2017.
