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Traveler (761)
Room & Suite (236)
Dining (16)
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About

#1 of 1 lodge in Sunzu
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.8
Value
4.3
Travelers' Choice
The magnificent Virunga Lodge is the premier luxury gorilla lodge of Rwanda and one of Africa’s finest and most renowned lodges. The lodge is perched high on a ridge with stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes and the Musanze valley to the west and Lake Bulera and Ruhondo to the east. It offers the finest views in Africa, uniquely decorated rooms in the Rwandese style, fantastic food and exceptional and personalised service by our carefully trained staff. It is the first accommodation choice for the luxury traveller tracking the endangered mountain gorilla. Each of our ten luxurious bandas has a private terrace from which our guests can watch the sunrise over the dramatic landscape of mountains and lakes. Luxuriously appointed, with the accent on vibrant Rwandese fabrics and stylish locally inspired furniture. Virunga Lodge won Africa’s Most Romantic Hotel at the 2016 World Boutique Hotel Awards.
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Property amenities
Public wifi
Free breakfast
Hiking
Airport transportation
Spa
Concierge
Mosquito net
24-hour front desk
Bar / lounge
Special diet menus
Massage
Non-smoking hotel
Sun terrace
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
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Room features
Fireplace
Private balcony
Safe
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Languages Spoken
English

Location

Lake Bulera, Sunzu, Kinoni Rwanda
Virunga Lodge
Getting there
Kigali Intl. Airport
45.4 mi
See all flights
Goma Airport
38.3 mi
See all flights
5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles565 reviews
Reviews Summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Nestled in a picturesque setting, Virunga Lodge is lauded by guests for its culturally immersive atmosphere and exceptional service. The attentive staff, including singing butlers, contribute to the lodge's charm, enhancing the guest experience with personalized care. Reviewers are consistently impressed with the spotless rooms and well-maintained facilities, which complement the serene environment. The spacious, locally-styled rooms with stunning views, coupled with unique cultural experiences, ensure that travelers find the lodge to be of excellent value.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Exceptional
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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565Reviews5Q+A100Room tips
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Popular mentions
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Larry R. wrote a review Mar 15
3 contributions1 helpful vote
Love, Love, Love the Virunga Lodge! Best place on the planet to stay for gorilla trekking. The accommodations are spacious with breathtaking views, the food absolutely delicious but the best part is the service, genuinely warm and attentive. Special thanks to the amazing Elie, outstanding server Pacific and hands down (pun intended) the best massage therapists JoJo and Jennifer. So if you’re looking for the best of everything, stop looking, here it is!
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Fearless737373 wrote a review Jan 2024
2 contributions1 helpful vote
Property's Favorite Review
My wife and I just completed a fantastic 3 day stay at Virunga Lodge. Although the view and accommodations were stellar, it was the staff and service that were most exceptional. Our butler Dan was so attentive; he provided personalized assistance including morning coffee, arranging the cleaning of our trekking gear/boots, providing after trek beverages, arranging pack lunches, setting up massages, lighting our in room or patio fireplace, getting our daily laundry cleaned, and essentially arranging any need we had. It was so impressive to see a staff work so well together to literally attempt to solve any issue that you might have, They were so kind and so willing to make your stay special. Also, you will not be going hungry here. The meals are excellent with multiple great choices. The evening happy hours on the patio overlooking the valley and volcanoes were really memorable. You really felt a connection to this special place. The optional communal dinners were really enjoyable. We met such interesting travelers from around the world. All in all, we give the lodge our highest recommendation. We will always remember the lodge, the magnificent mountain gorillas, and Rwanda.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A lot to digest? Read a summary of these reviews, created with our new AI-powered tool.
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Annie H wrote a review Mar 14
London, United Kingdom10 contributions
+1
One of the best places I’ve ever stayed - pictures won’t do the setting justice, the views are breathtaking and the service is so kind and personal. From the early morning coffee deliveries to the hot water bottles in our bed at turn-down, we’ve never been so well looked-after (thank you Ezra!). The cottages are beautifully appointed, and the food was spectacular. I hope we’re lucky enough to return one day.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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simoncaymandodd wrote a review Mar 13
Christchurch, United Kingdom19 contributions1 helpful vote
Wonderful hotel, the rooms and service are outstanding and the food very good. The gorillas experience can be hard work on the intermediate walk but the easy one is just a pleasant stroll. I thoroughly recommend this hotel and would recommend two gorilla walks and the golden monkey walk and 4 or 5 nights stay
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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kkocher wrote a review Mar 12
Seattle, Washington14 contributions11 helpful votes
The Virunga Lodge in Rwanda was a truly exceptional place to visit at stay at. Our experience was beyond compare including in comparison to top-notch places like the One and Only. I would recommend this place to everyone. And make sure to get a massage from Jennifer and Abu, they are terrific. And I hope you have Elie as your butler, amazing!!
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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D J wrote a review Mar 10
29 contributions26 helpful votes
Our time at Virunga Lodge at the end of 3 weeks on safari was like a delightful dessert after a delicious multi-course meal - perfect in every way! The climb up to the lodge sets the stage for what’s to come - vast views of the lakes and volcanoes. From the initial greeting upon arrival to the last warm goodbyes, service is exceptional. The team is genuinely committed to making your stay memorable. From packing lunches for gorilla and golden monkey treks to cleaning hiking shoes after those treks, all your needs are met. Staff is present, but not obtrusive. Meals are delicious and plentiful. Love the soups and the varied choices of starters and mains - something for everyone. Thanks Chef! Reviewing the menu boards is a fun memory for us. There’s no better place to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. It’s a party with cake, song and dance! We especially appreciated the service of Dan, our butler. He always shared a smile. He kindly escorted our friend (traveling solo) to her room without being asked. He could teach classes in customer service. We missed him the minute our jeep drove down the mountain. Thank you Virunga! You do it right!
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Merops wrote a review Mar 9
London, United Kingdom85 contributions116 helpful votes
+1
It is hard to put into words how wonderful this lodge is. The location is simply stunning. The service is personal, instantaneous and delivered always with a smile. The food is excellent. The accommodation - in bandas - is beautiful, each banda enjoying views either over Lake Burera, over which the sun rises, or the volcanoes, with their layers of mist (think Dian Fossey), where the sun sets. The entire set up provides what feels like an authentic taste of Rwanda - décor, food - unlike some other lodges which err on the side of international. The wake up call is delivered by your butler singing local songs outside your door, carrying hot drinks for you - we went for the delicious hot chocolate. Returning from gorilla trekking you are fed and watered, your boots and gaiters taken away to be cleaned and dried and then you can enjoy a 50 minute complimentary massage. Try the African massage if you dare! Dan, our butler, was superb. Thank you, Dan, for making our stay so memorable. Alexis gave us a birdwatching tour of the grounds soon after we arrived: it was great! We left after three nights with heads full of treasured memories and eyes wet with emotion that we had to leave at all. Come to Rwanda - it’s an incredible country - and when choosing a high end lodge for the volcanoes part of your tour, come to this one. I doubt it can be bettered for all round experience.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Czilling wrote a review Mar 8
292 contributions63 helpful votes
+1
Fabulous stay atop of mountain with spectacular views. Rooms were very spacious and clean and staff was friendly and attentive. Meals were plentiful and delicious. Spa was a welcome bonus after a day of trekking. Surprise visit from local teen dance team was a wonderful surprise. Lovely culture and great overall experience.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip: a bit of a distance from the Trekking area, but worth the trip for the view.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Fritha K wrote a review Mar 7
1 contribution
We just had the astounding pleasure of staying at the Virunga Lodge for 4 nights as our base for gorilla trekking. The rooms are spacious, spotless and very comfortable, including an outdoor shower and fireplace. The bar and dining rooms served warm and delicious meals and wrapped us in comfort every day. They also created a memorable birthday dinner outdoors overlooking the ring of volcanic mountains with heat, flowers, cake and candles. Beyond all that, there is the most glorious staff. Our butler Clement was a treasure. He made every challenge his pleasure to solve, from a broken hat band to mud covered boots. It delighted us to greet him every day but made us very sad to finally say goodbye. The manager Emmanuel was always there to graciously greet us and insure our comfort and well being. Do not miss this opportunity to experience the gorillas and the Virunga Lodge in the magical skies of Rwanda.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Otieno O wrote a review Mar 5
Signal Hill, California5 contributions1 helpful vote
+1
Climbing out of the city in a decked out classic Land Rover, you know you are in for a treat. Once at the lodge with panoramic views, you are greeted by the General Manager and your choice of beverages. The experience only gets better with plush amenities, a healthy mix of time alone and social gatherings for meals. It was truly a very well thought out and skillfully executed experience. The staff are so attentive yet out of the way. The food is so delicious and the presentation reveals a skilled chef to be on site. The Virunga Lodge is worth every star.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Be mindful of the travelers you find on the gorilla treks. People come from all over and not...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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There are more places to choose from in the Sunzu area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
virunga hotel ruhengeri
LOCATION
RwandaNorthern ProvinceKinoniSunzu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
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VIRUNGA LODGE - Updated 2024 Reviews (Sunzu, Rwanda)

Frequently Asked Questions about Virunga Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Virunga Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo (1.6 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Virunga Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a lounge, and a spa.
What food & drink options are available at Virunga Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast and a lounge during their stay.
Does Virunga Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Virunga Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Virunga Lodge located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.6 miles away from the center of Sunzu.
Does Virunga Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.