Where to stay on a Rwanda Safari
Where to stay on a Rwanda Safari: Where you choose to stay while away from home matters and usually top the experience you will have in the country. The choice is majorly influenced by your interests, your budget and also your preferred service. All destinations have hotel options of all ranges and class that is the budget class, the midrange class, the luxury class and the top notch luxury class.
Rwanda has been identified as a luxury travel destination majorly because of the top luxury hotels in a number of destinations. Each of the 3 national parks of Rwanda that is the Volcanoes national park, the Akagera national park and the Nyungwe forest national park have top class hotels that luxury clients can opt to stay. These parks also have the more affordable yet great options that fall in the middle class standards and also cater for the budget clients.
The first thing to consider when looking for a hotel in Rwanda on your Rwanda tour is the accessibility of this accommodation from the airport or from the destination and back. You may opt to stay at a hotel and yet it becomes very hectic to reach your destination and this may affect your activity of the day if you fail to reach in time. It is always advisable to opt for accommodation near the park. There are a number of accommodations around the park which you can choose from depending on your preference.
For Volcanoes national park, the home of the Rwanda gorillas, if you are looking for a budget option and yet good choice you may look at Muhabura hotel. Hotel Muhabura is a long time standing hotel located in the middle of Musanze town and is easily accessible from the main road and is about a 20 minute drive to the Volcanoes national park as it is 13 kilometers away. This is also one hotel that Dian Fossey stayed in for a couple of days. You can also enjoy the Musanze town scenery when at this hotel.
For a more affordable midrange accommodation, you can check out Le Bambou Gorilla lodge which is a 10 minutes’ drive to the Volcanoes national park and a 2 and a half hours drive from Kigali international airport. This hotel is a great option and you get to enjoy the views of Mount Sabinyo and a number of the other Virunga Mountains as a backdrop from the lodge. For a luxury experience while in Volcanoes national park, you may opt to check out the 5 Volcanoes boutique hotel that is a bit more affordable than the top end luxury hotels in Volcanoes the likes of Bisate lodge, Amakoro songa lodge, the One and only Gorilla’s nest which are situated in the park but a night goes for over a thousand USD but could be worth the experience if you can afford it.
For the travellers looking at spending a night or more in the Akagera national park, you can check out the Akagera game lodge. This is a favorable hotel for both the budget and the midrange guests as it has rooms for both and are priced differently. The Akagera game lodge is located inside the game park so you may spend a night in the wild in a lodge.
For the guests looking for a camping experience you may look for the Karenge Bush camp or the Muyumbu campsite where you can set up your tent in the park and camp within the park. This camping experience is organized by the park and the camping sites are moved regularly to avoid permanent damage on the area.
Akagera national park Rwanda also has top luxury establishments that are ready to host the luxury guests accordingly. You may opt to book a night in the Rusizi tented camp which is the oldest luxury camp in the park or take on a night at the Magashi Tented camp for the 5 star luxury treat. These are all located inside the park which makes game drives easier and reduces on the park entry fees charged upon every entry and exit.
The Nyungwe forest national park is also a top destination in Rwanda as it is a home to the Rwanda primates and the famous chimpanzees. Nyungwe forest national park has a limited number of accommodations as compared to the Volcanoes national park. When planning a visit to Nyungwe forest, you may check out the Gisakura visitor center or the Gisakura Guest house that are about 5 kilometers away from the park reception. These are budget hotel options when in Nyungwe forest.
You may opt for a higher class accommodation that is the Nziza Eco lodge and the Nyungwe top hill view hotel for the midrange accommodation option. Nyungwe top hill view is surrounded by the tea plantations and is just outside the park headquarters and is a perfect start to explore the Nyungwe forest. There is a top luxury hotel option in Nyungwe known as the One and Only Nyungwe house that was previously known as the Nyungwe house. On your stay at the one and Only Nyungwe house, it will be very easy to access the Isumo waterfalls, trek the chimpanzees, take on a tea plantation visit or even go on the Nyungwe canopy walk.
Besides the major national parks being tourist destinations there are also a few tourist hot spots that have set up hotels for travellers like Kigali. Kigali has a number of hotels you can opt from all depending on the experience you are looking for. Be sure to check out the Radisson Blu hotel, Kigali Serena hotel, Marriot Hotel, the Heaven Boutique hotel for the luxury experience in Kigali or Des Milles Colline hotel, Onomo hotel for a midrange option or the likes of Step town motel for a budget experience.
Tourists tend to want to visit Lake Kivu to relax and cool off from the hectic mountain gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes national park or mountaineering. There are a few hotel options you can check out in Gisenyi or Kibuye like the Kivu Serena lodge for luxury option, the Comoran lodge in Kibuye or the Le Palme Beach hotel resort for the midrange option. We can book all these accommodations and more that have not been mentioned above. All you have to do is reach out, let us know your interests and your budget and let us get you the perfect hotel to compliment your Rwanda safari.
