Virunga Lodge

The award winning Virunga Lodge is one of the most luxurious gorilla lodges of Rwanda. It is perched high on a ridge with panoramic views of the Virunga Volcanoes and the Musanze valley to the west and Lake Bulera and Ruhondo to the east, and it is located around 45 minutes’ drive from the park headquarters where guests start their gorilla trekking adventures.

The communal areas of the lodge are set at the top of the hill. Here guests find a cosy lounge with sofas, coffee tables and bookshelves arranged around a central stone fireplace. There’s a bar in one corner, with friendly staff on hand to serve a drink. The adjacent spacious dining area houses a large wooden dining table with guests coming together in the evenings to share a meal.

A new addition to Virunga Lodge is the Diane Fossey Map Room. This is a light, airy space with lots of windows giving panoramic views of the volcanoes beyond. The room was built in tribute to Dian Fossey, who was instrumental in establishing the gorilla conservation and research programme in the Virungas. The walls are covered in prints featuring old maps, famous explorers and gorilla conservationists. The map room functions as a second lounge, and is a great place to relax and take in the afternoon sun.

The ten spacious stone cottages have wooden floors, chunky wooden furniture and large verandas. Each is connected by a short covered walkway to a private loo and shower. The loos are low-flushing eco loos and the shower has solar heated hot water. The deluxe bandas are a little larger with a sitting room and open fireplace and larger deck from where guests can relax and soak up the endless view.