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About

5.0
#1 of 3 campgrounds in Akagera National Park
Location
5.0
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.9
Value
4.5
This tented lodge is the first of its kind in Rwanda. Ruzizi is built on the forested shores of Lake Ihema, Rwanda’s second-largest lake. With only 9 tents, a maximum of 20 guests, the camp is a quiet and intimate retreat. A thatched central lounge area is accessible by boardwalks from each tent, and a large deck under a shaded fig tree. Entirely powered by solar.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Parking
Free breakfast
Bar / lounge
Massage
Baggage storage
Gift shop
Laundry service
Restaurant
Kids' meals
Special diet menus
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
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Room features
Safe
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
3.5 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Lake View
Family
Languages Spoken
English, French, Swahili

Location

Akagera National Park Rwanda
5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles290 reviews
Reviews Summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Nestled in a wildlife-rich area, Ruzizi Tented Lodge is lauded for its serene and secluded ambiance that guests find enchanting. With well-appointed and impeccably clean accommodations, the lodge's personalized service and friendly staff receive high marks from many travelers. The value is deemed excellent, considering the comfortable amenities, exceptional food, and nature-immersive experience that have guests longing for longer stays. Moreover, the authenticity of the rooms, which mirror their online images, contributes to the romantic allure of the lodge.
Atmosphere
Serene
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Cost-effective
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Detailed Reviews
amanda w wrote a review Jul 2023
East Haddon, United Kingdom85 contributions26 helpful votes
+1
Property's Favorite Review
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We have just had the most wonderful 2 night stay at this lodge and have some very special memories. The staff are really wonderful, the tented cottages are comfortable and beautifully situated surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. The food was absolutely excellent, credit to the chef and his team. Getting up early to watch the sunrise over the lake from the dining deck was very special. Akagera is a beautiful park and we were lucky with some great sightings on land and on water. Thank you to all the team for making our stay so special you did a really great job and David and Wilson we were sorry we didn’t get to say goodbye and thank you 👏👏 if you can stay 3 nights you won’t regret it!!
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Date of stay: July 2023
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Make sure you do the boat trip too. And seeing the sunrise is very special.
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.
Response from Clarisse UMUGWANEZA, General Manager at Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Responded Jul 10, 2023
Dear Amanda, On behalf of the Ruzizi team, thank you for visiting Akagera national park, for coming to stay with us for two nights and for sharing your experience here for the world to see. You are very welcome, it was a joy looking after you with the family and we couldn't agree with you more that Ruzizi is really surrounded by mother nature - we are so lucky to call it home. We are proud that the food was excellent and glad that you have enjoyed sighting in the park. we have shared your feedback with the whole team, and I'm sure David, Wilson, Kitchen chef and the whole team have an extra spring in their steps today. We look forward to welcoming you back, and perhaps to our sister bush camp Karenge. Best Regards, Clarisse
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Sunshine815132 wrote a review Sep 2021
37 contributions1 helpful vote
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We spent two nights at Ruzizi at the end of a long safari in Tanzania and a visit to Volcanoes National Park to see the gorillas. Ruzizi was amazing. Phenomenal location on Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park. The dining area on a deck out over the lake is superb, and I could spend the rest of my life eating sunrise breakfast there and moonlit dinners without ever getting bored. Hippos always surfacing nearby, and an eagle fishing next to the deck. Birds everywhere! We were in the Rhino tent at the very end, and it was a good 5 minute walk along a raised boardwalk from the main dining and main lodge / bar area. Along the boardwalk the resident monkeys follow and entertain. Each tent appears to have a bit of a "beach" in front (but don't ever go off the boardwalks since alligators and hippos abound!). Tents are spacious with a large bathroom and storage area, and everything is solar powered. The bedroom could be better lit with a light that is more centrally placed in the main area of the tent. That being said - it was the only "fault" we could find. Comfortable beds and an amazing chorus of hippo grunts and crickets to "sing" you off to sleep. I spent the first 5 minutes in bed giggling about this. The food was excellent. There is a choice of breakfast and they supply a large boxed lunch for the safari or if you are at the lodge for lunch, a larger selection of food. Always a vegetarian option too. If you visit Akagera, this lodge is highly recommended. We traveled here during the Covid 19 pandemic, and masks here are mandatory unless seated and eating or drinking. Upon arrival back to the lodge, there is a handwashing station prior to entering the lodge.
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Date of stay: July 2021
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
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.
A lot to digest? Read a summary of these reviews, created with our new AI-powered tool.
Raphaelalm wrote a review May 2021
Denver, Colorado10 contributions13 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I’m a vegetarian, and was blown away by the quality and options of the food - I can’t for the life of me think of how anyone could find anything to complain about. The food was perfect, and my husband (who eats meat) and I kept marveling over how delicious everything was. The setting is also so special, overlooking the lake (and the resident hippos!), with monkeys jumping from tent to tent and crowding around the boardwalk. The staff was perfectly attentive and made sure every detail was taken care of. It was just the right amount of luxury for being in such a remote area - more amenities than its (equally incredible!) sister lodge Karenge. This lodge was on par with much more expensive lodges we’ve stayed at elsewhere in Africa, and we highly recommend it.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip 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.
Heather O wrote a review May 2021
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
I booked my stay based on the raving reviews but my non-dairy & no meat diet was a problem right from the start. When I arrived they were very polite (as is the case everywhere in Rwanda) and handed me menus asking what I wanted for dinner. Given there was only 1 vegetarian option and it needed to be modified not to contain cheese, there really was no point in giving me a menu to see the far more interesting meals the other guests would be enjoying. I booked and paid for 2 nights and left after 1 night to enjoy the far better food and lodging at Akagera Game Lodge. Ruzizi is great if you're a couple and you've never stayed in a wilderness lodge before, but it's really bare bones (not even warm water in the shower and the towels smelled like mildew) and pales in comparison to other similarly priced lodges in the neighboring countries.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip 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.
Michi W wrote a review Jul 2021
Egg, Switzerland132 contributions144 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This review is written by a person that did not pay, so no money will influence this review.

The Ruzizi tented lodge was beautiful. On our day of arrival the lodge asked us for lunch. The food was extraordinary and the service was also extraordinary. I soon as we ate our lunch deaf staff called us that to water from the tap is not drinkable and that they put glass bottles in the homes that you can use for teeth cleaning and drinking. The bed is well super comfortable and the staff went into our room to close the mosquito nets. That lunch deck even dinner and breakfast deck are on a super location and you can watch a beautiful sunrise sunset all even sometimes the hippo .

Keep up the good work and thank you very much
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Stay there, you will not regret it
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.
VGriet wrote a review Feb 2023
Leuven, Belgium187 contributions28 helpful votes
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
On my third visit to Akagera, we decided to stay at Ruzizi tented Lodge. It was a nice experience and you can have monkeys on your terrace /boardwalk. Hippos are hearable, but won't come near.

Very friendly, attentive and helpful staff. Even when my partner was feeling sick unfortunately , they did their best to bring tea and toast.

Also, lunches are packed in reusable boxes end they don't give plastic bottles. They communicated this clearly in advance.

And I loved they took into consideration food allergies such as lactose intolerance, I got my own special desserts. :)
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Bring fillable water bottle as they don't provide plastic bottles. Although the path/,boardwalk...
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.
hungrytotravelandeat wrote a review Oct 2022
Acton, Massachusetts35 contributions30 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I stayed at Ruzizi Tented Lodge with my husband and grown son for one night. The Lodge sits at the edge of Lake Ihema and blends in an eco-friendly way with the surroundings. The staff is wonderful! They all made sure we had an excellent experience there. The food was very good too, and we ate both dinner and breakfast on the deck that literally was built over the lake. The view from the eating area and our tents was magnificent. The tents are not luxurious, but very comfortable. The Lodge has wifi, but there is no heat or air conditioning and the lighting is very dim. Listening to the wildlife at night while we slept was indeed wild. I would highly recommend that you stay at least one night in this special lodge.
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Date of stay: September 2022
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
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.
Timfmerriman wrote a review Apr 2022
Captain Cook, Hawaii27 contributions6 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I have stayed at Ruzizi Tented Lodge a total of more than 25 days since they first opened and I wrote a glowing review many years ago. However, they have just continued to improve. Service levels are amazing and Jado, the manager, and dedicated camp staff work to accommodate special needs and interests in every way. The rooms are beautifully appointed, comfortable with flush toilets, showers and lavatories. Treetop is amazing with an outdoor shower and large bathtub and a great view of Lake Ihema. You can recharge at electrical sockets in several locations in each room. Weʻve seen hippos and elephants in the front yard of tent cabins, though elephants stayed behind the electrical wire that discourages their entry. Meals on the deck at Lake Ihema are wonderful. We bring groups of ten on ecotours and they love the amazing birdwatching from the deck, not to mention hippos surfacing, crocodiles cruising by and fish eagles catching fish in close proximity. On our night drive we saw lions and a leopard, amazing. The boat trip on Lake Ihema is wonderful with bush buck, Cape buffalo, hippos, African darters and more. Kudos are due African Parks Foundation, RDB, and the amazing staff of Akagera National Park for this great support of Ruzizi and the unique camp experience, the best we have seen during dozens of stays at remote bush camps.
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Date of stay: March 2022
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Room Tip: Great views of water and wildlife, but Treetop is the bridal suite, an upgrade from the others,...
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.
Natassa R wrote a review Nov 2023
New York City, New York6 contributions1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Ruzizi Lodge is a great place to spend a few days by the lake in the south of Akagera park. It is secluded, quiet, romantic with excellent service from the staff. The rooms/tents are very well kept, clean and with all the amenities you can find in any top tier hotel room. Being so close to wildlife is unique. Monkeys were brushing off the sides of our tents, we could hear the roar of the hippos below. The tents are elevated from the ground so there is no risk with wildlife from the river. The dining space is set on a spectacular deck that overlooks the lake, and it is a perfect spot to watch sunrise. Sadly, we missed going out on boat-ride that the lodge organizes, and we heard that it is exquisite. Next time!
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Date of stay: October 2023
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Do not miss the boat-ride organized by the lodge.
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.
Response from Clarisse UMUGWANEZA, Other at Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Responded 4 days ago
Good day Natassar, we are delighted to hear that your experience and time with Ruzizi tented lodge, and we appreciate that you took the time to share your feedback. We are thrilled to hear that the service from staff were excellent, that food, tents and lodge atmosphere has created unforgettable moment for your visit. Guest's safety and satisfaction is our priority. We look forward to your next visit to Rwanda and Akagera National Park. Regards, Clarisse & Ruzizi team
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Shen_Jackson wrote a review Jun 2023
Los Altos, California296 contributions173 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A tented camp like this in Kenya or Tanzania would cost at least twice as much. You'll share your space with monkeys and unaggressive baboons, so don't leave things lying around. The breakfast and dinner are quite good, as is the drink selection. I can't compliment the staff enough, we were well taken care of.

The room was exactly as pictured, so no surprises. Bring a book, the WiFi is spotty at best. Also, remember that Mother Nature is loud, so earplugs might come in handy.

Highly recommend!
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip 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.
Response from Clarisse UMUGWANEZA, General Manager at Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Responded Jul 3, 2023
Dear Jackson, We appreciate the time you have taken to leave such a fantastic review. Needless to say, that it was a real pleasure hosting you during your time in Rwanda. We are delighted to read that your stay was memorable in all aspects of the guest experience, Ruzizi is in the middle of the bush, where Baboons and vervet monkeys find most of their favorite fruits and trees as shelter, however, they are not aggressive and they stay wild by feeding them selves. We are also glad that tents were exactly the same as picture to satisfy your expectations. we hope you have also enjoyed staying connect with mother nature around the lodge. Hoping to have you again in the park. With warmest regards, Ruzizi team.
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Merops wrote a tip Mar 13
London, United Kingdom85 contributions116 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"If you fancy communal dining, ask for it. If you need something done, ask Clarisse."
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Yael N wrote a tip Mar 2
Miami Beach, Florida90 contributions26 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Stay maximum 2 day."
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Natassa R wrote a tip Nov 2023
New York City, New York6 contributions1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Do not miss the boat-ride organized by the lodge. "
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Jessica M wrote a tip Nov 2023
Boulder, Colorado4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"My converter did not work to charge my phone in the tent so I was REALLY glad that I brough a battery pack! "
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Peter W wrote a tip Sep 2023
Claygate, United Kingdom50 contributions45 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Get to bed early - as you will be rising with the dawn chorus. And do go on a boat trip on the lake..."
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LOCATION
RwandaEastern ProvinceAkagera National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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RUZIZI TENTED LODGE - Updated 2024 Campground Reviews (Akagera National Park, Rwanda)

Frequently Asked Questions about Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Ruzizi Tented Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Akagera Live Tour (2.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Ruzizi Tented Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Ruzizi Tented Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Ruzizi Tented Lodge?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Ruzizi Tented Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, French, and Swahili.
Does Ruzizi Tented Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the lake view available here.