Volcanoes National Park is one of Rwanda’s National Parks situated in the northwestern region covering an area of 160 square kilometers of rainforests. This National Park lies in the Virunga region encompassed by five out of the eight Virunga Mountains namely Mount Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Volcanoes National Park borders Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga National Park of Uganda all lying in the Virunga region.
This National Park is a haven to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas implying that gorilla trekking is the Park’s major tourist activity. Other activities include golden monkey trekking, volcano hiking, bird watching, nature walks, cultural tours and community visits, cave adventures to mention but a few.
Volcanoes National Park has different accommodation types that range from budget, midrange to Luxury that tourists choose from according to their budget. Midrange accommodations in Volcanoes National Park include the following;
Amikusi hotel Musanze
This is a newly constructed midrange hotel found in Musanze just 25 minutes’ drive to the Park headquarters and over 19 kilometers away from Bisoke. Amikusi hotel can easily be accessed by road from Kigali city which is a 2 to 3 hours’ drive.
This hotel offers beautiful and perfect views of the Park and the entire surrounding as well as being a perfect base for activities such as gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, birding, nature walks and many more. The hotel is made up of 31 comfortable elegant rooms that are self-contained overlooking the Virunga Mountains. The rooms are of a modern blend with a high level of comfort, well decorated and furnished with flushing toilets and en-suite showers of cold and hot water.
Other amenities with the room include reading furniture, complementary bottled water, flat screens with local and international channels, free toiletries, clean linen, safety box to mention but a few. Rooms have extended terraces and balconies overlooking the magnificent views over the Virunga region and the entire surrounding area. Room types vary in size with single rooms designed for single occupancy, double or twin rooms for sharing couples and family or triple occupancy best for families. Different services offered at the Amikusi hotel include the following;
Restaurant/Dinning area
The Restaurant caters for all kinds of travelers ranging from local to international tourists. Meals include buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as serving ala carte dishes fully described in the food menu. These meals are served either in the dining area or the gardens overlooking the Virunga Mountains by friendly, well-trained and organized staff. For those that are not convenient with having their meals in the restaurant, meals can be delivered in your respective rooms.
Well stocked bar with a shared lounge
The bar is fully stocked all categories of beverages serving soft refreshments, wines, cocktails, beers of all kinds and many more. One can sip a cocktail along the balconies and terraces overlooking the beauty of the Land of a Thousand hills.
Other services include free and strong internet for visitors to keep in touch with their lovely ones and families, housekeeping and laundry services, free parking space, 24hours security, airport pickups and drop offs, front desk services to mention but a few.
Sambora Kinigi lodge
The Sambora Kinigi lodge is a midrange accommodation facility situated just 4 kilometers away from the Park headquarters, 8 kilometers from mount Bisoke and 10 minutes’ drive to the Iby’iwacu cultural village. This lodge can easily be accessed from Kigali by either road or air transport.
By road it is a 2 to 3 hours’ drive from Kigali city and by air one is required to reserve a domestic flight from Kigali International airport to Ruhengeri airstrip and then a few minutes’ drive to the lodge. According to the lodge’s location, it is a perfect base for gorilla trekking and other activities supported by Volcanoes National Park. This lodge is made up of five comfortable self-contained and elegant rooms that overlook the volcanic Virunga Mountains.
The rooms were constructed in a style that portrays the African tradition architecture decorated and fully furnished with wooden floor and ceiling, en suite showers, flushing toilets and many more. The rooms are air conditioned with complementary bottled water, coffee making facilities, flat screen, reading table and extended private balconies and terraces overlooking the Virunga region and rainforests.
Therefore one is able to capture the beautiful and spectacular views of Volcanoes National Park and the surrounding area. Room types include single, twin and family rooms that have king sized beds with clean linen. Sambora Kinigi lodge offers several different services other than accommodation which include the following;
Restaurant
This restaurant serves both international and African-inspired cuisines that suite visitors’ appetite. Meals can either be served in the dining area/restaurant or in the gardens while capturing the beauty of the Park as well as viewing some primates that often visit the lodge. The restaurant serves buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner while providing options in the menu for visitors that wouldn’t wish to have a day’s buffet.
Fully-stocked bar with shared lounge
The bar serves hard and soft drinks including mineral water, sodas, international beers, cocktails, wines, spirits to mention but a few. These drinks can be served within the shared lounge or at the rooms’ balconies overlooking the Virunga ranges.
Other services include laundry and housekeeping services, airport pickups and drop-offs, free Wi-Fi, secure parking space, room service, fireplace to mention but a few.
Fravan Eco Resort
This is a midrange accommodation facility situated in Musanze 12 kilometers away from the Park headquarters and approximately 10 minutes’ drive to Karisoke research center. It can be accessed from Kigali by either road or air transportation that lasts for about 40 minutes from Kigali International airport. The driving distance from Rwanda’s capital lasts for about 2 to 3 hours.
For adventure tourists, this is an ideal base since it is just a few minutes away from the starting point of the Park activities such as gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, birding, volcano hiking to mention but a few. This eco resort is comprised of 5 en suite comfortable rooms that were constructed in a style that reflects an African tradition building style.
It blends with the natural surrounding since it is an eco-friendly resort whose rooms have private balconies and terraces overlooking the magnificent Virunga Volcanoes and the surrounding areas. The rooms are well furnished with en suite facilities such as hot and cold water showers, flushing toilets, free toiletries, reading furniture, screen, complementary bottled water and many more. Rooms are designed according to visitors’ preference for example single rooms for lone travelers, double or twin rooms and family rooms. This resort features several facilities and services such as;
Restaurant
The restaurant serves different meal types ranging from international to African-inspired dishes that suite the clients’ appetite. The restaurant serves meals such as buffet breakfast, four course buffet menu for both lunch and dinner all served by well trained, organized and friendly staff.
Bar with shared lounge
The bar is well stocked with both soft and hard drinks such as international beers, wines, spirits, vodkas, sodas and many more. Cocktails of all types are also served in the garden or at the balconies as well as in the swimming pool while capturing the beauty of the Park.
Other services at the resort include secure free parking space, laundry and housekeeping services, airport pickups and drop-offs, free internet, swimming pool and many more.
Urugano Virunga Palace
Urugano Virunga Palace is an accommodation facility situated in Ruhengeri Musanze about 16 kilometers from the Park headquarters and 14 kilometers from Bisoke. The Urugano Virunga Palace can be accessed by driving from Kigali to Musanze which lasts for about 2 to 3 hours and by flight one can book a domestic flight from Kigali airstrip to Ruhengeri airstrip lasting for about 40 minutes and embarking on a few minutes’ drive to the lodge.
This accommodation facility is comprised of 10 spacious and self-contained rooms that overlook the Virunga ranges. The rooms are well furnished and setup with high standard en suite facilities such as flushing toilets, operational showers, coffee making facilities, wardrobe and dressing mirror, reading table, toiletries, screen, complementary drinking water and many more.
Rooms are made up of king sized beds with clean beddings and linen with private extended balconies and terraces where one can relax while overlooking the land of a thousand hills as well as an opportunity to admire nature. Services and other facilities offered include the restaurant that that serves both international and local dishes, a well-stocked bar serving drinks serving drinks ranging from juices, sodas, mineral water to hard drinks such as beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and many more, free internet for visitors to keep in touch with their families, secure ample parking space, laundry services, airport drop-offs and pickups to mention but a few.
