Bisate Lodge is a beautiful new luxury lodge located on the edge of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the famous rainforests that are home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Wilderness Safaris have chosen a natural amphitheatre created by an eroded volcanic cone as the setting for this eco-lodge. Bisate is within sight of three ancient volcanoes, Bisoke, Mikeno and Karisimi. The six thatched forest villas are a modern take on traditional Rwandan style with vaulted conical thatched roofs and curving reed mat walls. These amazing constructions are supported on stilts, appearing like grass baubles woven into the dense foliage of their surroundings.
Inside, stone fireplaces offer warmth and plush furnishings promise sublime respite. Each pod has a large double or twin bed as well as a daybed and comfy sofas placed around the fireplace. The large en-suite bathroom boasts a shower and freestanding bathtub. Huge floor to ceiling windows and spacious verandas complete the picture, offering magnificent views of the peaks and forests.
The communal areas mimic this understated rustic elegance. Enjoy a drink at the bar, dine on amazing local cuisine, and sip on internationally renowned wines while gazing out at your magnificent surroundings.
Each lodge is equipped with an iPad filled with information to help you plan your days at Bisate Lodge. There’s a bird list for you to tick off during your stay and information on all the activities in the area.
The main reason most people travel to this piece of paradise in the green lung of Africa is to get up close to the gorillas. Once permits have been obtained (advance booking for permits is obligatory) guests are guided up through the rainforest to one of 12 habituated gorilla families. The visit is restricted to an hour. But it will be the most life-changing hour of your life!
Other activities on offer at Bisate include:
A visit to the local village with the lodge chef gives insight and enjoyment as you shop for fresh produce which will emerge come dinnertime. Take a trip to the nearby Iby’wacu cultural centre to brew banana beer, make pottery, or learn about local medicinal plants. Afterwards, have a bash at playing the drums, or sit back and listen to the song of the gorillas while watching the Intore dance. It’s a fascinating journey into the lives and culture of the local people.
Go on a walking tour to see the golden monkeys. These very photogenic primates are endemic to the bamboo forests in the Volcanoes National Park. Spot a wide range of exotic birds on the way.
Visit the magnificent blue waters of the twin lakes, Ruhondo and Burera, in the shadow of the Virunga high hills. Amble along on an emotional journey to the site where Dian Fossey lies buried alongside her beloved gorillas, or explore the lush greenery and fascinating lava tunnels of Musanze Caves.
Go on a guided trek to the summit of Mount Bisoke in Volcanoes National Park and experience the stunning views of the crater lake and the rainforest.
At Bisate, you get a chance to contribute to the biodiversity conservation activities and community upliftment projects which are at the heart of this Wilderness Safaris lodge. Each guest is invited to leave a piece of themselves behind by planting a tree in support of the lodge’s ongoing reforestation project. In return, you’ll receive a certificate with the GPS location of your tree to remind you about your little piece of Africa.
