Virunga Lodge: Our full report

About an hour's drive from the park headquarters, Virunga Lodge is currently one the area's top lodges and certainly has one of the most spectacular locations of any camp in Africa – high on a ridge overlooking both Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo.

It has eight spacious stone rooms, all with wooden floors, chunky wooden furniture and large verandas. Each is connected by a short covered walkway to a private toilet and shower. The toilets are low-flushing eco toilets and the shower has solar heated hot water.

Virunga Lodge is quite a sociable place to be as everyone eats at one large table in the evening. Aside from gorilla-tracking, a local 'Indore' dance troupe perform here and massages are available.

Note that there is a very steep access road to Virunga Lodge.

Geographics

Location: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Ideal length of stay: Stay in this areas for four nights to have three full days in the area. Then spend your first day acclimatising, and taking a fairly gentle hike to the golden monkeys. On your last two days, do the more strenuous hikes to see gorillas – you will usually be able to see two different groups of them.

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor Dining

Central communications

Power supply: Solar Power

Health & safety

Malarial area: No

Dangerous animals: Moderate Risk

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible