About this hotel
General information
Wilderness Bisate is a six-villa lodge on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in north-west Rwanda. It sits in a natural volcanic bowl ringed by rainforest beneath the chain of the Virunga Mountains, and hosts no more than 12 guests at a time. Mountain gorillas are the reason most people come, with golden monkeys, mountain trails and montane-forest birdlife close at hand.
The circular villas, raised above the hillside, are shaped like giant birds’ nests and draw on traditional Rwandan architecture: volcanic-stone walls, tall thatched roofs and warm, layered interiors with a fireplace. Shared spaces include a restaurant, bar, wine cellar, library, The Sanctuary wellness centre and the Kwanda day lounge in the organic vegetable garden. The lodge is open all year. Stays include accommodation, all meals, local drinks (except reserve wines and champagne), laundry, lodge activities and use of The Sanctuary.
Location
The lodge stands on its own land bordering Volcanoes National Park at the foot of the Virunga Mountains, with views from the villas to Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi, and the park within walking distance. Kigali International Airport is about three hours away by road via Musanze. As flights into Kigali often land very early or late at night, a first night in Kigali is recommended. Helicopter transfers are also available.
Spa
The Sanctuary is the lodge’s wellness centre, set at the forest edge and facing Mount Bisoke. It is built from volcanic rock from Bisate’s own land, with woven grass and reeds and mountain bamboo rising from floor to ceiling, while curved walls and softly lit corridors give it the feel of a cave or cocoon. It has single and double treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy lounge with a fireplace, hot-rock sauna, steam room and outdoor ice bath, four heated meditation pods, and a station for hair washing, styling and scalp massage. Use of the centre is included in the stay, as is a 20-minute neck and shoulder massage; massages can also be taken in the villa.
The menu features the Bisate Signature Experience with warm Himalayan salt poultices, lavender and ginger; the Volcanoes Sanctuary Experience with an olive and shea butter balm; the African Vigour Back Massage with essential oils and optional volcanic hot stones; the African Fusion Body Massage with marula-infused oils; and separate hand and foot rituals.
Sports & leisure
Beyond gorillas and golden monkeys, the surrounding forests are home to bushbuck, buffalo, the occasional elephant and chameleons, and more than 200 bird species have been recorded. Activities at the lodge:
- gorilla trekking: guests are assigned to one of 12 habituated groups in Volcanoes National Park; treks take two to five hours over hilly, sometimes steep and muddy ground, followed by an hour with the gorillas; porters are available; trekkers must be at least 15;
- golden monkey trekking in the bamboo forest on the same trails;
- a hike up Mount Bisoke — four to six hours, with a crater lake at the top;
- guided nature and birding walks on the trails around the lodge, plus marked routes for self-guided hikes;
- an air-conditioned gym with treadmills and weights, and a yoga deck at The Sanctuary; each villa also has a basket of exercise equipment;
- biodiversity briefings and documentary screenings.
Children aged 6 and over are welcome to stay; guests under 15 remain at the lodge while the rest of the party goes trekking for gorillas.
Restaurants & bars
Menus follow the seasons, with most of the produce grown in the lodge’s own organic garden and free-range eggs and red-skinned potatoes bought from neighbouring farmers.
- Restaurant — seasonal cooking built on the garden’s produce;
- Bar — the guests’ bar at the lodge;
- Wine cellar — the lodge’s own wine collection;
- Kwanda — the day lounge in the vegetable garden beside The Sanctuary, with garden-fresh meals, showers after a trek, late check-out, massages and a boutique of hand-crafted Rwandan pieces.
Swimming
The Sanctuary has a heated, ionised salt-water indoor lap pool looking out to Mount Bisoke, and its hydrotherapy lounge adds an outdoor cold plunge pool.
Rooms
Six freestanding circular forest villas are raised above the wooded hillside; the higher the villa number, the higher it sits and the wider its view.
King-size bed, fireplace lit every evening, en-suite bathroom, private deck with volcano views, a basket of exercise equipment and Wi-Fi.
Forest Villa
A freestanding circular villa under a tall thatched roof, raised above the hillside, with volcanic-stone walls, a king-size bed, fireplace, en-suite bathroom and a private deck looking out to Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.