Reviews of Nyungwe Top View Hill
Wildlife sightings and reviews
15 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Nyungwe Top View Hill and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

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"Great place for exploring Nyungwe"
The views from the hotel (especially the roof terrace) were excellent. The room was nice, but could do with a bit of updating.
Staff were very friendly and helpful." See all these reviews: 9n in Rwanda

Chimpanzee
1 sighting
"Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel review"
I read the reviews for the hotel and was a little worried. But the staff were amazing, the food and rooms were very good.
I had a fire in the room every evening. I don't see how the more up-market lodge can be worth the substantial additional cost." See all these reviews: 4n in Rwanda

Chimpanzee
Multiple sightings
"Needs an upgrade to bring it up to scratch"
This curtain was grubby/mouldy because it was repeatedly wet.When I first arrived there was no water from the taps but the staff rapidly sorted this out.
There was a long printed list of do's and don'ts in the room including advice that you weren't allowed to wash any clothes and if you did you may be charged!
It was cool in the evenings. The staff would light a fire in the sitting area of the room if required and each night I had two hot water bottles placed in the bed, I think that was standard practice.
However the view from the restaurant terrace over Lake Kivu is stunning." See all these reviews: 12n in Rwanda

Chimpanzee
1 sighting
"Nice hotel in forest but limited electricity."

Chimpanzee
6 sightings
"Excellent first stop in Rwanda"
The food was actually pretty good but it was disappointing that the buffet style was let down by the warming devices which were just not good enough leaving the food tepid." See all these reviews: 9n in Rwanda

Chimpanzee
1 sighting
"Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel review"

Chimpanzee
8 sightings
"Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel review"
"Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel review"
The room was fine. It was clean and tidy, but a bit tired looking. The bath was cracked and the lounge windows let in water when it rained, but neither things bothered us. We liked the fact that there was a separate seating area in the room. We didn't use the balcony as the view was just of overgrown bushes and there were only 2 dining room chairs there, so not too comfy. Loungers would have been useful here as they would have been on the terrace of the main hotel building. Lots of beautiful views but nowhere comfortable to sit to enjoy them.
The food was buffet style and there was always plenty of choice and plenty of it.
Wifi was available in the lobby and main building and was fairly reliable.
This wasn't the hotel that we originally booked, but as they were renovating the other one, this was the best available." See all these reviews: 11n in Rwanda
"Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel review"
The cabins are arranged on a strict linear grid, two rows facing what was intended to be a formal garden, which is elevated by a stone retaining wall as tall as a human being and basically inaccessible. Inside each cabin is a useless large entry way and a sitting room with a single lamp and a large fireplace surrounded by shelves filled with West African (not Rwandan) wooden figurines. There is a wood-burning fireplace, which we did not use, not in small part due to the fire screen that was framed in.....wood.
The beds are okay, and we were grateful for hot-running water and a flush toilet. Each room has a safe, but they are not wired and so you can't use them as intended (combination code). You have to have a key from the front office. How many keys do they have? One. So only one cabin out of 12 can utilize the safe -- hope you are the lucky one when you stay there. We demurred and just left our valuables at the front desk whenever we left the premises.
Food was just okay. The staff is skeletal. I honestly don't know how this place manages to stay afloat. Well, yes, actually I do. It's because of Tito the manager and David the head waiter/bartender/whatever else is required. Those two worked their fingers to the bones. Tito worked such long hours that he sometimes had to sleep on a mattress on the floor of the office instead of being able to go home for the night. Without the two of them, I think the whole operation would have just fallen apart.
Part of my disappointment may be due to the fact that originally we were supposed to stay at the very well-reputed Nyungwe Forest Lodge. Unfortunately, it was closed for renovations at the time of our trip, and so we had to be rebooked at Top View (and the view from the western balacony is nice).
In spite of all of my seeming negativity, we never really went without. There aren't many accommodations at Nyungwe, so I think this lodge has to be measured, at least in part, on that basis. That said, if you have flexibility in the timing of your trip, I might consider waiting until Forest Lodge is (hopefully) back up and running. Without that benefit, we nevertheless had a serviceable enough time at Top View (4 nights) and we're glad to have the opportunity to visit Nyungwe National Park." See all these reviews: 13n in Rwanda
"Nyungwe Top View Hotel"
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