Nestled in the heart of Kigali’s central business district, Hôtel des Mille Collines blends a rich legacy with contemporary comfort and warm hospitality. The hotel offers a collection of elegantly appointed rooms, suites, and junior suites designed as tranquil retreats above the vibrant city, many showcasing captivating views of Kigali’s rolling hills. Guests can savour local and international cuisine in its inviting dining venues, where flavours, atmosphere, and attentive service come together to create memorable culinary experiences. Beyond the guestrooms, the hotel features a large swimming pool, wellness and spa facilities, and versatile meeting and event spaces, creating an inspiring urban sanctuary where relaxation, culture, and the energy of Rwanda’s capital meet seamlessly.
The magnificent Virunga Lodge in Rwanda is one of Africa’s most loved lodges. Perched high on a ridge with dramatic views overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes, Musanze valley, Lake Bulera and Lake Ruhondo.
The iconic property has defined Rwandese Afro-chic since the lodge was built by Praveen Moman in 2004. The timeless, hand-made style makes it the first accommodation choice for tracking the endangered mountain gorilla.
Exceptional hospitality, locally-inspired food and a private butler are hallmarks of the guest experience.
Each of the ten elegant bandas has a private terrace overlooking the dramatic landscape. The three deluxe bandas offer a private suite.
Images
Video
Rooms
Units
Facilities
Activities and Services
Volcanoes SafarisCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisVirunga Lodge
Volcanoes SafarisCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisVirunga Lodge
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisLounge
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisMain Lounge
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisDeluxe Room
Virunga Lodge Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisDeluxe Roomm
Virunga Lodge Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisBathroom
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean ProductionStandard Room
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean ProductionStandard Room
Virunga Lodge Credit: Blackbean Productions Standard Twin Room
Virunga Lodge Credit: Blackbean Productions Family Compound
Virunga Lodge Credit: Blackbean Productions Family Compound room
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisBanda
Virunga Lodge Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisGarden
Virunga Lodge Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisTerrace
Virunga Lodge Credit: Blackbean Productions Lake view
Virunga Lodge Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisSpa
Virunga Lodge Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisSpa
Virunga Lodge Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisSpa
Virunga Lodge Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean ProductionSheep Project
Volcanoes SafarisCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
Volcanoes SafarisCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean ProductionWater Tank
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisMap Room
Virunga Lodge Credit: Gael Vande WegheMap Room
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisMap Room
Virunga LodgeCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes SafarisDian Fossey's grave
Volcanoes SafarisCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
•10 luxury bandas. 6 doubles, 2 twins, 3 deluxe, all with a fireplace in the room and a terrace overlooking the volcanoes or the twin lakes. 1 guide/tour room available at the lodge.
•3 larger deluxe bandas perfect for honeymoon couples or families.
•All rooms are complete with en-suite bathrooms with flushing toilet, double vanity
•and shower with hot & cold running water.
•Sun terrace overlooking the Virunga
•Volcanoes with scenic panoramic views.
•Personal butler service for all guests.
•The Ikirunga Spa is available to every guest.
•One 50-minute complimentary massage per guest per stay. Extra massages are available at
•$50 per 50-minute massage.
•Full board accommodation including all soft drinks and regular and premium alcoholic
•beverages including cocktails, cellar collection wines and single malt whiskies. Guests pay for
•French champagne only.
•Complimentary laundry service.
•Power sockets/charging facilities and hair dryers available in the rooms. No air
•conditioners.
•Wi-Fi is available in the main lodge and all guest bandas.
virunga_lodge_standard roomCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
virunga_lodge_standardruhondo_bandaCredit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
•3 deluxe, all with a fireplace in the room and a terrace overlooking the volcanoes or the twin lakes.
•Perfect for honeymooners or a family
Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
•10 luxurious bandas (6 Doubles, 2 Twins, 2 Deluxe). Each banda has a private terrace from which our guests can watch the sunrise over the dramatic landscape of mountains and lakes. Luxuriously appointed, with the accent on vibrant Rwandese fabrics and stylish locally inspired furniture
•All rooms are complete with a fireplace, en-suite bathrooms with flushing toilet, double vanity and shower with hot & cold running water.
•Wifi access in the main lodge building and Dian Fossey Map Room.
•Ikirunga – Spa & Sauna
• Community projects
• Dian Fossey Map Room available for private events and conservation lectures
•Full board accommodation including all soft drinks and house alcoholic beverages. Premium beverages paid at consumption.
•Complimentary laundry and boot cleaning service.
•Personal butler service for all guests.
•Guide cottage available.
•Bandas are individually named after lakes in the area.
•Power sockets/charging facilities and hair dryer in the rooms. No air conditioners.
•The two deluxe bandas, Ibirunga and Ibiyaga, were added in 2014 and have their own private separate sitting room and more refined interiors
•Perfect for honeymooners or a family
Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
Credit: Black Bean Production and Volcanoes Safaris
Property Facilities
Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Internet Access (Complimentary), Library, Mobile Connectivity, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Balcony , Dressing Gowns, Fireplace, Hairdryer, Hand Towels, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Lounge, Mosquito Nets, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Verandah
Tracking mountain gorillas through the dense African forests is a magical experience. Only eight visitors are allowed per gorilla group each day, and to minimize possible transmission of human diseases, visitors are asked to maintain a distance of 7m (about 22 feet) from the gorillas. Typically, tracking can take from 3 to 8 hours and requires some agility and fitness; however, all fitness levels can be accommodated and no one should feel deterred from missing this once in a lifetime experience.
This exclusive experience allows a total group of 8 guests to track a gorilla group in the forest on their own. This enables guests to have a deeper connection with these fascinating animals, accompanied by their own guide who can give them personal briefing. The cost is 15,000 USD per trek per day, for a maximum of 8 guests.
With only a small number remaining in the world, the Golden Monkey can be found in the foothills of the volcanic mountains of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Characterized by its bright golden body, cheeks and tail, with contrasting black limbs, crown and tail end, these playful primates are a pleasure to watch. Whether you choose to do this on the Rwandan or Ugandan side, the walk will take you from the bamboo stands and forested gorge on the lower levels of the volcanoes, to the elevated heath and moorland higher up.
The group of Intore Dancers is made up of 24 dancers and two dance trainers.
The troupe perform the traditional Rwandan ballet called The Intore, also known as “The Heroes” for Volcanoes Safaris guests, which is based on the courtly victory dance of the Rwandan Mwami (kings). Being selected as an Intore in times of old was a great honour – they would receive a privileged education, intensive combat training and they held a high status within the court. Today, the dancers use traditional weapons such as spears and bows and wear brightly coloured clothes and long flowing white hairpieces.
Located in a beautiful meadow nestled between the Karisimbi and Visoke volcanoes are the graves of Dian Fossey and some of her beloved research gorillas. For anyone interested in gorilla conservation in Rwanda, or interested in Fossey’s personal story, the trek to her grave is highly recommended. This trek starts early in the morning, can take 6-8 hours and is operated by the National Park.
Rwanda offers some of the world’s best bird watching, with a vast diversity of bird species. Rwanda has over 700 bird species and is home to the second highest number of Albertine endemics in the Albertine region. Each of our lodges offers the chance to see a number of different birds, with the vast majority endemic to the Region.
Guests of Virunga lodge have easy access to the Virunga chain of volcanoes, which offer challenging hikes and stunning panoramas. The three most popular volcanoes to climb are Mt. Gahinga, Mt. Sabyinyo, and Mt. Muhavura. These hikes are of varying difficulty and typically take a full day. The treks starts at 7:00am from the park headquarters, from where visitors will have to drive / be driven to the base of the volcano.
On a free afternoon at Virunga Lodge we recommend taking advantage of the lodge’s unique position by meandering down the mountain slope, through local villages, and to Lake Bulera, which sits at its foot. Passing through the local communities offers a colorful peek into village life and opportunities to visit local schools and community centers.
Although it rains heavily around Virunga Lodge, there are very few facilities for water catchment and storage and in the dry season there is an acute shortage of water. The villagers in Sunzu village around the lodge, where 138 families live, do not have enough clean water for drinking or for growing crops.
Starting in 2016, Virunga Lodge has been providing plastic water tanks to the local community and with the support of our guests,
In June 2014 Virunga Lodge launched the “One Sheep per Family” project, to provide one sheep to each of the 140 families in the Sunzu community. The sheep manure provides natural and effective fertiliser for growing crops. As well as providing manure, selling lambs provide income for the family.
For the project to work effectively, the community is divided up into 14 groups and each group is given nine females and one male. After all females produce an offspring, the breeding males are rotated to a different group for genetic diversity. A new family takes over caring for the male and donates one female offspring back to the previous ram caretaker.
The Dian Fossey Map Room at Virunga Lodge has been built in honor of Dr. Dian Fossey, the pioneer primatologist who set up the Karisoke Center high in the Virunga volcanoes in 1967. The exploration and conservation of the Virunga volcanoes is a very interesting and unique story and has been brought together for the first time in the amazing exhibition at the Dian Fossey Map Room at Virunga Lodge.
The Dian Fossey Map Room was opened on 2 March 2017. A permanent exhibition has been set up in the Map Room charting the ‘Conservationists and Explorers of the Virunga Volcanoes’ from 1850 to 1985 when Fossey died.
Your Stay
2 Nights
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Fast Facts
7 Stars
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English, French
No. Rooms: 10
Special Interests: Adventure, Birding, Flora, Hiking, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
.png)
.jpg)
.png)
