Bisate Lodge in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Bisate Lodge is a luxurious retreat, with 6 forest villas in a secluded location just outside the southern boundaries of Volcanoes National Park.

The lodge is close to the town of Musanze, and only a 20-minute drive from the headquarters of the park, making Bisate a perfect place to stay during your gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda.

Some of the villas do have a view of the other two prominent volcanoes, Mikeno and Karisimbi. In fact, the lodge itself is located within a very small volcanic cone of its own-which, thankfully, has been extinct for a long time-the word ‘Bisate’ means ‘pieces’ in English.

Accommodation At Bisate Lodge Includes;

• Each of the six forest villas at Bisate Lodge has a small cloakroom in which to leave your boots (inevitably muddy after a morning trekking!), before opening into a spacious lounge and bedroom area.
• The rooms are very modern in design
• They have a large double or twin beds,
• Rooms also have a seating area which can be used as a daybed, and a big fireplace.
• There is a mini bar and tea/coffee station
• Rooms have a writing desk and a tablet loaded with lodge information, and details on local community projects, the resident gorilla groups; Rwanda in general; the country’s history; and bird and local wildlife species checklists.
• Rooms have spacious en-suite bathrooms each have twin sinks, a shower and a freestanding bath tub,
• Many of the extra little touches you’d expect from such a high-end lodge, including bathrobes, slippers and Africology toiletries are also available.
• Each villa has an outside balcony seating area.
• In-room massages can be provided, and may be welcome after trekking!

Facilities And Services At Bisate Lodge Include;

Main Area Of Bisate

• This is built in the same thatched style, with three large ‘nests’, featuring a restaurant on one side, a lounge bar to the other and a reception in the center.
• In the reception area guests are able to learn about the lodge’s involvement in local projects and initiatives, and also about the local flora and fauna.
• Here you will also find a small selection of souvenirs and curios for sale, all locally made and sourced.

Restaurant Area

• The restaurant area has an indoor and outdoor seating area.
• A wine cellar has been built beneath the restaurant, with wine tastings an additional feature of the lodge.
• There is a library with one of the world’s largest private collections of primate reference books.
• In the library there is also a television, which is used for showing nature documentaries.

Food & drink

Food Quality

• The food at Bisate is of a very high standard, wonderful flavors, a variety choice and well presented.
• There are no strict set meal times, and guests are encouraged to be as relaxed as they wish, although meals largely follow the standard ‘trekking times’ of the Volcanoes area.
• An early continental buffet breakfast, will accommodate trekkers, and packed snacks will be provided for trekking days if guests wish.
• If you are not trekking and have time for a more leisurely breakfast you can choose from a selection of hot dishes cooked to order, from the à la carte menu.
• Lunch is usually à la carte and is served between midday and 3.00pm, but this will be flexible, again to accommodate trekkers, as the length of treks can vary greatly.
• Dinner is a three-course affair and is also chosen from an à la carte menu, with a couple of options for each course. During our stay we enjoyed a blue cheese salad, a delicately flavored pea risotto and bread and butter pudding.
• Vegetarian options are readily available, and with advance notice special diets and requests can be catered.

Power Supply Notes

• There’s a generator as back-up.

Communications

• Wi-Fi is available in each forest villa, though not in the main area.
• There is limited cellphone reception, but a phone is available at reception if guests need it.
• Each villa is provided with an iPad, filled with documentaries, extra info on the gorillas, the groups, other wildlife, birds and wildlife species checklists, as well as any additional guest information.
• Each villa is also provided with a handheld radio to communicate with management if necessary.

Security Measures

• Guards are on site 24-7 and the lodge has trained up local community members for much of their security work.

Laundry Facilities

• Same day laundry service is included.

Health facilities

Fitness and health facilities like sauna, massage, and gym