In the heart of Africa, in the northwest of Rwanda, between the Volcanoes National Park and the surrounding fertile fields, suspended in the natural amphitheatre of an ancient volcanic cone, lies a small 5-star hotel: Bisate Lodge. This small grand hotel offers guests 6 beautifully appointed villas, each with a reception area, a bedroom and a large bathroom, each with a central fireplace and a private balcony opening onto the views of the site. These views are dominated by the towering craters of the extinct Visoke and Karisimbi volcanoes, which rise into the sky a mere 2 kilometres away and, crowned by lush forests, overlook the neighbouring Volcanoes National Park.
Decorated with interiors in the style of African craftsmanship and character of rural Rwanda, yet with the traditional luxury of Rwandan royalty, the villas transport guests to an adventure and safari setting. Yet, beyond the safe and somewhat exotic comfort and seductive warmth of the interiors, guests cannot help but feel, upon entering the villas, a kind of excitement at finding themselves in an almost temporary camp, as if at any moment the attendants are going to dismantle it and move it elsewhere to explore the wilderness.
In fact, one of the activities for which Bisate Lodge is most prized is exploring the wild forests inhabited by the mountain gorillas. If travellers make the effort, they can even imagine the long hours of observation and study of the famous primatologist Dian Fossey. Everyone in the region knows the story of the scientist who established her research laboratory, Karisoke, where she dedicated herself to the conservation of the magnificent animals. The black lands on which a recovered population of more than a thousand primate specimens now live, now house her remains at an altitude of 3,000 metres.
Since opening in 2017, Bisate Lodge has received 34 awards, the latest being the Travel+Leisure World’s Best Awards 2o22. The hotel offers its guests, in its commitment to the environment and environmental protection, in addition to respectful excursions and encounters with the mountain gorillas, the possibility for them to collaborate directly in their reforestation. At the same time, travellers enjoy cultural interactions with the community through visits to villages and local markets, or through native cuisine.
You can get an idea of Bisate Lodge and its surroundings with this video:
