VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Virunga Lodge

Set on a high ridge near Volcanoes National Park, this property looks across Lakes Burera and Ruhondo with the Virunga volcanoes rising in the distance. The setting brings together cultivated highland slopes, volcanic relief, and cool mountain air, giving the site a strong sense of altitude.

The lodge has a straightforward mountain lodge character that suits this part of the Virunga region well. Guest bandas run along the ridge, each positioned to take in the surrounding topography and the cooler conditions that come with elevation. Interiors use timber, woven detailing, and fireplaces to make the rooms functional and comfortable after early starts for gorilla trekking. The main lodge brings dining and shared spaces together at the centre of the property, while the bandas keep enough separation for privacy.

Inside the Lodge

Location

The property is located near Kinigi in Rwanda’s Musanze District, around 45 minutes from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters by road. This ridge position supports access to gorilla trekking and gives clear views across Lakes Burera and Ruhondo toward the Virunga chain.

Rooms

Accommodation consists of ten bandas positioned along the ridge, each with a bedroom, sitting area, fireplace, and private veranda. En suite bathrooms include flush toilets and showers, while larger deluxe bandas provide additional interior space and wider views over the lakes.

Amenities

A central lounge and dining room open toward the volcanoes and lakes, with a bar and terrace used throughout the day. Guests also have WiFi in the main areas, massage treatments on request, laundry service, and staff support for trekking schedules and road transfers.

Unique Experience

What stands out here is the ridge itself. Guests look one way to the Virunga volcanoes and the other to Lakes Burera and Ruhondo, a combination that gives the property a distinct sense of altitude and geographic context within Rwanda.

Nearby Experiences

Gorilla Trekking

Multiple habituated groups occupy different sectors of the park, with permits issued daily for each family. Rangers locate the gorillas before trekkers depart, and the hike takes you through bamboo and montane forest to reach them. One hour with a gorilla family allows observation of feeding, infant care, and silverback behaviour at close proximity.

Golden Monkey Tracking

Habituated troops occupy the bamboo zone, moving fast through dense vegetation where visibility drops and positions shift quickly. Following them means pushing through stands where the monkeys feed on young shoots and leap between stems. The experience runs shorter than gorilla trekking but brings you closer to a species restricted to the Virunga-Bwindi region

Bisoke Crater Hike

 The trail to Bisoke’s summit climbs through vegetation zones that change with altitude, ending at a crater lake enclosed by the rim. Steep sections pass through mud and dense growth, demanding full-day commitment and reasonable fitness. From the top, the crater opens below while neighboring peaks line the horizon in clear conditions.

Karisoke Research Station

A half-day trek brings you to the site where Dian Fossey lived and worked until her death. The station sits in a saddle between Bisoke and Karisimbi, accessible through gorilla habitat. Fossey’s grave lies beside those of gorillas she studied, maintained as part of the conservation history of this park.

Dian Fossey Grave Hike

The trek to Fossey’s burial site passes through forest where gorilla groups range, combining historical interest with wildlife possibility. Guides explain her research methods and the threats that gorillas faced during her years at Karisoke. The grave sits within a small cemetery where several gorillas, including the silverback Digit, are also buried.

Our Immersive Safaris

7 Day Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari
A well-paced Uganda safari combining chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, classic wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari
A seamless cross-border gorilla safari using Kigali as the gateway to Uganda’s southern Bwindi region. Travel through Rwanda’s green hills, cross into Uganda, and continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking.
10 Day Best of Uganda Safari
A complete Uganda safari connecting Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Track chimpanzees, enjoy savannah game drives and boat safaris, trek mountain gorillas, then rest in Bwindi before exiting through Kigali.