Virunga Lodge
Musanze, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Location
On a ridge above the lakes
The lodge is perched on a ridge overlooking the Virunga volcanoes and the Musanze valley to the west and the twin lakes Bulera and Ruhondo to the east — what many call the finest views in Africa — around three hours from Kigali.
Transfer
A Kigali transfer
Around three hours by road from Kigali, then around 40 minutes to an hour up a steep road to the Volcanoes NP HQ — further from the trek start than the other lodges; treks depart early.
Villas
Ten bandas
Ten hand-built stone-and-tile bandas — four deluxe and six standard, each named after a lake — in Rwandese Afro-chic style, with a private terrace, panoramic views and a fireplace; the deluxe bandas are more spacious private suites.
Best For
Who it suits
Couples, honeymooners and families after Rwanda's original gorilla lodge — ridge-top bandas with the finest views in Africa, a generous all-inclusive and gorilla trekking — with deluxe bandas for honeymoons.
Board Basis
All-inclusive
All-inclusive and generous — meals, soft and alcoholic drinks, cocktails, cellar wines, single malts, laundry, lodge activities and massages — with a private butler and the Dian Fossey Map Room; gorilla permits are a separate cost.
About the Resort
Ridge-top bandas with the finest views in Africa
Virunga Lodge is Rwanda's original gorilla lodge, open since 2004, and it is famous for its views — perched on a ridge with the Virunga volcanoes and the Musanze valley to the west and the twin lakes Bulera and Ruhondo to the east, a panorama many call the finest in Africa. The ten stone-and-tile bandas, each named after a lake, are hand-built in Rwandese Afro-chic style with private terraces and fireplaces, the deluxe bandas more spacious private suites. The all-inclusive is generous, covering meals, soft and alcoholic drinks, cocktails, cellar wines, single malts, laundry, activities and a complimentary massage, with a private butler and the Dian Fossey Map Room for the lodge's history. Beyond gorilla trekking there is golden monkey tracking, the Dian Fossey grave hike, Intore dancers and community visits. One honest practical note: it sits around 40 minutes to an hour from the park HQ, up a steep road — further from the trek start than the others. Around three hours from Kigali; gorilla permits are a significant separate cost.
Accommodation
Bandas
Ten hand-built stone-and-tile bandas — four deluxe and six standard, each named after a lake — in Rwandese Afro-chic style, with a private terrace, panoramic views and a fireplace; the deluxe bandas are more spacious private suites.
Entry
Standard Banda
Sleeps two. A stone king banda with a fireplace and a private terrace, over the volcanoes or lakes.
FireplaceVolcano/lake outlook
Deluxe
Deluxe Banda
Sleeps two to three. A more spacious private-suite banda, over the volcanoes and twin lakes.
Private suiteTwin-lakes view
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining runs to the main lodge with fireplaces and locally inspired food, served with a private butler, and the Dian Fossey Map Room for events.
Signature
The main lodge
The main lodge, with fireplaces and locally inspired food.
Butler
A private butler
A private butler.
Events
The Dian Fossey Map Room
The Dian Fossey Map Room, for events.
Wellbeing
Wellness & views
There is a complimentary massage in the massage room, and the lodge's defining feature — the ridge-top views, volcanoes one way and the twin lakes the other — with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
A complimentary massage
A complimentary massage in the massage room.
Ridge-top views
The ridge-top views — volcanoes one way, the twin lakes the other.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
Gorilla trekking, and some of the finest views in Africa. Track gorillas and golden monkeys, take in the ridge-top panorama, hike to Dian Fossey's grave, and watch the Intore dancers.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey tracking, and the Bisoke and Karisimbi climbs.
Ridge-top views
The iconic ridge-top views — the Virunga volcanoes one way, the twin lakes Bulera and Ruhondo the other, what many call the finest views in Africa.
The Dian Fossey grave hike
The Dian Fossey grave hike.
Intore dancers
Intore dancers, and community visits to the Mwiko School.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By road
From Kigali
Around three hours by road from Kigali.
To the park HQ
Up a steep road
Around 40 minutes to an hour up a steep road to the park HQ.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Virunga Lodge. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- All-inclusive and generous — meals, soft and alcoholic drinks, cocktails, cellar wines, single malts, laundry, activities and massages.
Gorilla permits
- Gorilla permits are a significant separate cost per person, with limited daily numbers, so book well ahead; the minimum age is 15 and reasonable fitness is needed, as treks can be steep, long and muddy at altitude — but sightings are near-certain.
Getting there
- Around 40 minutes to an hour from the Volcanoes NP HQ, up a steep road — further from the start than the other lodges — with treks departing early.
From Kigali
- Around three hours by road from Kigali.
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