Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge | A Luxurious lodge in a Superb location
Nestled on the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, Sabyinyo Silverback lodge is one of the best luxury properties to stay at while on safari in Rwanda. The luxury lodge is a blend of tranquility and privacy making it the perfect base for visitors visiting Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Known for its exceptional service and spectacular views of the Virunga Mountain Ranges, Sabyinyo Silverback lodge is a gem that has been beautifully decorated with African inspired décor and with amazing colors that blend into the environment. The lodge features beautiful gardens, lush surroundings and for the keen bird watcher the lodge gardens are a perfect place to spot some species. Sabyinyo Silverback lodge is located in North-west Rwanda in Musanze district and is easily accessible from Kigali city on a paved tarmac road, the car ride is just two and a half hours drive.
Accommodation at Silverback Lodge
The lodge features six en-suite cottages beautifully decorated with African inspired décor pieces, the cottages are spacious and situated far apart from each other which makes your stay even more private. Of the 6 cottages two are luxurious large suites with king sized poster beds and the lodge also has one spacious cottage that mainly caters to families with a unit having two separate bedrooms. The suites are slightly larger than the cottages.
Each of the 6 cottages at Sabyinyo Silver back lodge consists of;
A large bed with clean linen bed sheets and comfortable pillows.
En-suite bathroom with double bowl sinks, a flushing toilet, shower gel, hand lotion, hand wash, bathing soap, towels, bathrobes, bathroom sandals and clean towels.
Hot and cold showers.
Bedside table and lamp on each side of the bed.
An ottoman bench.
A minibar.
A safe.
Coffee/tea making station.
Plug sockets.
A dressing room that has provision for hanging and storing your clothes.
Mosquito net.
Complimentary drinking water.
A fire place and private veranda with comfortable lounge chairs.
Large windows that let in enough light, perfect way to be woken up by the sun rays peeking through in the mornings.
Facilities and Services at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Dining Area – The lodge features a beautifully decorated dining area with rustic and stone décor with a touch of African inspired pieces. The dining area serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks and tea/coffee are served in the dining area. Sabyinyo Silverback lodge has professional chefs committed to preparing delicious and fresh meals, in addition the staff always set up nicely for the meals so you can have dinner by the fireplace or breakfast/lunch at the outdoor deck as you enjoy the breath-taking views of the Virunga Mountain Ranges.
Bar and lounge– The hotel features a well-stocked bar with an array of alcoholic drinks. The bar has different types of beers, wines and spirits, one can order a glass of wine, cocktail or a local beer brand. Fizzy drinks and non-alcoholic drinks are also available. The lodge also features a comfortable lounge area where guests can sit back and relax after a long day of activity.
Curio shop – Dubbed with beautiful and unique pieces, the curio shop is a perfect feature at the lodge. Here you will find stunning sculptures, unique décor pieces, Rwandan art pieces, beautiful home ware and jewelry. Most of the items are made by the local craftsmen and you will be sure to walk away with perfect pieces for yourself, friends or family.
Information room – Sabyinyo Silverback lodge is owned by the community trust – Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA), the association was established in 2024 and the lodge has contributed greatly to conservation projects in the Kinigi Area. The information room at the property is a great place to stop by during your stay and get immersed in learning about the incredible conservation efforts by SCOLA and the lodge. The information room is equipped with a large TV where documentaries about Rwanda’s wildlife and conservation are played, nature books in the library, information on the gorilla groups in Volcanoes national park and information on the community conservation initiatives.
Reception – The reception area is dotted with beautiful African inspired decor and the reception desk has a staff member who typically welcomes you to the lodge and takes you through a short briefing session before you are taken to your room. The reception area is the best place to go if you have any inquiries during your stay.
Other services include ample parking space, Wi-Fi and maximum security available 24 hours a day.
Attractions and Activities
Gorilla Trekking – This is the most popular tourism activity in the Park. The Gorilla Trek is a worthwhile memorable adventure that brings you closer to the mountain gorillas spending up to one hour watching them and taking photos. The gorilla trek starts with a briefing from your ranger guide at the park headquarters after which you are transferred to the starting point of your gorilla trek. There are 12 habituated groups of gorillas and only 8 visitors are allowed to visit a gorilla family per day.
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 golden monkey 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.
Dian Fossey Tomb Hike – The Dian Fossey hike is one of the activities around park and the 4 hour hike takes you to where she was buried. Dian 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. A visit to the Dian Fossey tomb is an opportunity to learn more about her conservation work and incredible contribution to the mountain gorilla population.
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.
Getting to Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
By Flight
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 the lodge. Flight arrangements work best for travelers who would like to avoid many hours on the road, your ground handler tour company can book the flight for you on your behalf.
By Road
Sabyinyo Silverback lodge can also 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 – Sabyinyo Silverback 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.
From Uganda
The 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.
