Bisate Lodge | Rwanda’s Top Luxury Lodge
Situated at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park you find the luxurious and marvellous Bisate lodge. A perfect lodge that blends luxury and tranquility while on safari in Rwanda. Bisate lodge is one of the top places to stay in Rwanda as it features beautiful en-suite forest villas with stunning views of the surrounding areas.
Picture waking up to the sounds of birds chirping, step out to your balcony to watch the sunrise over the Virunga Mountain Ranges, Bisate lodge offers you this and so much more! The lodge welcomes visitors to Rwanda interested in gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, honey moon guests, visitors interested in doing the amazing golden monkey trek and guests looking for a place to unwind or simply relax at a beautiful lodge.
Volcanoes National Park also known as Parc National des Volcans is located in the North-west Rwanda and is famously known as the home to the endangered Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda. The diverse national park covers an area 160 square kilometers and borders Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda. The park also protects part of the Virunga ranges that are shared by three countries and on a clear day you can see the mountain peaks from the Kinigi park headquarters.
Accommodation at Bisate Lodge
When it comes to accommodation Bisate will offer you a perfect blend of luxury and privacy while in Rwanda. Staying at Bisate Lodge offers one an opportunity to have a private stay as the lodge features only 6 en-suite forest villas which means that few guests get to stay at the lodge per night. Bisate lodge strives to offer guests an exclusive experience and opportunity to quietly enjoy and reminisce on their activities while on safari.
The en-suite forest villas are carefully decorated with African inspired décor pieces and the most interesting feature about the villas is their dome shape which is almost hut like, its such a unique design that mirrors the King’s Palace at Nyanza. The villas are well equipped with all the essentials that one would need in their room.
Each forest villa at Bisate lodge consists of;
A large bathroom with a toilet, a shower, a sink, a mirror, shampoo, lotion, shower gel and bathing soap.
Bathrobes and bathroom slippers.
Hot running water is available throughout the day.
Comfortable bed with clean cotton linen bed sheets.
Bed side tables and lamps.
Two cozy sofa chairs in the villa.
Private balcony overlooking the lush greenery and the Virunga Ranges.
A side couch with colorful pillows, a perfect place to relax inside room.
A fire extinguisher.
Complimentary drinking water.
A mosquito net.
A reading desk and chair.
Facilities and Services
Restaurant – Bisate lodge features a restaurant that serves fresh and delicious meals. The meals are partly prepared with ingredients that are sourced from the local farmers in Musanze district and the neighboring areas. The kitchen at the lodge has professional chefs that cater to all diet preferences including vegan, vegetarian and to lactose intolerant guests. Be sure to let the lodge staff know before hand or write to your tour ground handler about your dietary requirements so that the information is relayed to the lodge.
Wine Cellar – Bisate is well known for its beautiful wine cellar so for wine lovers and enthusiasts the wine cellar is perfect as you will always find the perfect wine to go with your meal here. The wine cellar has an assortment of world class wines.
Library – The library at Bisate is a perfect place to stop by while on your stay, the library is fully stocked with books about gorillas, golden monkeys, wildlife and travel. Indulge in a book and learn more while enjoying the beauty of Rwanda’s best safari lodge.
Tree Nursery/garden – The tree nursery is part of Bisate lodge’s property, Bisate is committed to conservation of nature and the environment and the lodge has done a commendable job with the tree nursery. While staying here you can visit the nursery while the staff takes you through the different activities that happen at the tree nursery, the tree nursery at Bisate lodge has participated in planting of over 60,000 trees. Before you leave you get to join Bisate in their conservation efforts as you plant your own tree.
Bisate’s Kwanda (Day lounge) – This is a day lounge that is part of Bisate and is a great place to relax after gorilla trekking or other activities in Volcanoes National Park. Bisate’s Kwanda was introduced recently as a great lounge area for guests to relax and unwind during the day. The lounge area is also a great place for guests to change, shower, and have a cup of coffee after activities or before heading back to Kigali for their international flight out. Bisate Kwanda offers four en-suite relaxation rooms with all the essentials.
Bar – The lodge has a bar that is situated at the lodge’s main area serving an assortment of drinks from beers to wine to spirits to soft drinks. Guests are free to order drinks of their choice from the bar man and mixologist.
Other Services at the Lodge include ample car parking area, Wi-Fi, and maximum security.
Attractions and Activities
Gorilla Trekking – This is the most popular tourism activity in Volcanoes National Park.The Gorilla trekking activity is a worthwhile memorable adventure that brings you closer to the mountain gorillas spending up to one hour watching them and taking photos. If you traveled with a tour operator company your driver guide picks you up straight from the lodge and transfers you to Kinigi for your trek. If you are doing self-drive you can use google maps to locate the area from the hotel or even ask the staff at the hotel for directions.
Golden Monkey trekking – Golden monkeys are primate species with golden fur on their backs and interesting facial features, these primates exist in groups of up to 30 individuals and are rather active compared to gorillas. The trek which starts at Kinigi headquarters is less strenuous than gorilla trekking and requires average physical fitness. The monkeys are usually found in less than one hour of trekking with the guidance of park ranger guides.
Diana Fossey Tomb Hike – The Diana Fossey hike is one of the activities around park and the 4 hour hike takes you to where she was buried. Diana Fossey was a researcher who spent a great deal of her life time researching the mountain gorillas and pushing for the conservation and protection of the gorillas. The current population of gorillas is highly attributed to her conservation work and commitment to preserving mountain gorillas.
Volcano Hiking – For travelers looking for adventure, Volcanoes National Park offers hiking opportunities with beautiful views. Visitors can choose among 4 main peaks out of the 5 Virunga mountain ranges to hike. The most popular is the Mt. Bisoke hike which can be done in one day; the hike offers breath-taking views of the Crater Lake at the top of Mt.Bisoke. The other volcanoes to hike include Mt.Karisimbi which is a 2 day hike, Mt.Muhavura and Mt.Gahinga.
Visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village – The Iby’Iwacu cultural visit is a great way to experience the way of the life of the Rwandans as you get a look in to their culture, traditions and norms. The cultural visit can be done after your gorilla trek depending on what time you return. While at the cultural village you will visit the traditional medicine man, a craft centre and even be treated to the unique Rwanda traditional dances which you are free to join in.
Twin Lakes Visit – The visit to Rwanda’s twin lakes is a short yet rewarding trip that takes one to Lake Ruhonda and Lake Burera. The twin lakes offer you breath-taking views from the top and a glimpse in to the beautiful landscape of Rwanda. While here you can capture some great photos! This is a great attraction to visit in the afternoon.
Getting to Bisate Lodge
The lodge can be accessed by taking a flight from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes national park with Akagera Aviation which arranges charter helicopters to the park. The lodge can arrange pick up or your driver guide can pick you up at the airstrip and drop you off at Bisate lodge.
The lodge can be accessed from Kigali by road and the distance from Kigali to Musanze district in Rwanda is 96km.The journey is along a paved road and is just two and a half hours away from Kigali when using a private car. The route is Kigali – Rubavu – Musanze – Bisate lodge. The drive is scenic and offers stunning views of the panoramic landscape of Rwanda and the small busy towns along the way that are usually filled with locals busy with the day’s activities.
Bisate lodge can also be accessed via Uganda. The connection is along a paved road from Kisoro in Uganda crossing at the Cyanika border post into Rwanda and then to Musanze town at the foothills of Volcanoes national park. The distance between Kisoro and Musanze is 40km.
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