Virunga Lodge

Virunga Lodge in Rwanda boasts one of the best views in the world, perched high overlooking Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes and the twin lakes Bulera and Ruhonda. Filled to the brim with bush-chic design and eco-luxury amenities, it serves as one of the premier luxury lodges for Rwanda safaris and gorilla trekking into Volcanoes National Park. Learn more about this Virunga Volcanoes lodge below.

Property Details

Virunga Lodge in Rwanda stands on a slice of spellbinding landscape between the untouched waters of Lake Burera and Lake Ruhonda. To preserve its perch, Virunga Lodge has been carefully constructed to echo local building techniques and design without sacrificing comfort. Its self-contained rustic bandas are individually designed and named after regional lakes. Inside and out, they have been executed out of sensitivity to their ecology and environment: solar power illuminates the spaces and heats the water, low-flush toilets hallmark the en suite bathrooms, and vibrant textiles reflect the dress of the local women. Each banda also has its own private veranda with calming yet breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes or twin lakes.

A calm sanctuary from the rest of the world, this Virunga Volcanoes lodge is almost constantly enveloped in the mists of Rwanda. The central building is a particularly lovely spot to take in the surroundings, with a bar and lounge area round an open fire, plenty of comfy chairs and books and board games for entertainment, and wraparound verandahs with commanding 360-degree views across the lakes and volcanoes. Each day at Virunga Lodge, guests are woken up with coffee and tea served in their bedrooms and the resident chef consulting their meal preferences for the day. While breakfast is usually enjoyed outside in the morning sun, evening meals are social, served around a large, candle-lit communal table, as guests share their tales about the day’s adventures in the jungle.

Virunga Lodge is one of the best lodges for gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking adventures into Volcanoes National Park, a playground to 480 endangered mountain gorillas, more than half of the world’s entire population. Gorilla trekking safaris offer a truly magical encounter that transcends almost every other wildlife experience on the planet. Aside from guided gorilla tours, Virunga Lodge also offers excursions to Dian Fossey’s grave, hikes to the top of the volcanoes, visits to nearby villages and schools, and performances by local Intore dance troupes. After every outing, guests are pampered with complimentary shoe cleanings and massages to complete their indulgent Rwandan experience.