Wilderness Bisate

OVERVIEW:

Wilderness Bisate is a super-high-end safari lodge on the outskirts of Rwanda’s biodiverse Volcanoes National Park, home to around half the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. Inspired by the King’s Palace in Butare, the architecture is innovative and instantly recognisable for its pod-like structures that blend effortlessly into the surroundings. With some of the most exquisite accommodations in Rwanda, and a prime location close to the park gates, Wilderness Bisate offers a superb luxury base for gorilla trekking, scenic hikes, and encounters with golden monkeys. The lodge also prides itself on impressive conservation and sustainability credentials, including a reforestation project and a tree nursery, both well worth exploring during your stay. Rates are full board and include all meals, drinks (excluding reserve wines and champagnes), laundry, and lodge activities on property.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Wilderness Bisate is located on the outskirts of Volcanoes National Park in north-west Rwanda, near the small village of Ruhengeri. Guests arrive at Kigali International Airport and can either fly by helicopter to Bistate’s helipad (30-minute flight), a 5-minute drive from the lodge, or to Musanze (20-minute flight), followed by a 30-minute drive. Alternatively, it’s a 3-hour drive from Kigali.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT WILDERNESS BISATE:

Guest accommodation at Wilderness Bisate consists of six beautifully appointed forest villas, designed in the spirit of Rwandan building tradition, resembling bird nests suspended high in the trees. Each dome-shaped villa has its own balcony with mesmerizing views of six volcanoes, including Bisoke, Karisimbi, and Mikeno, often cloaked in mist at dawn. Inside, you’ll find a spacious but cozy open-plan bedroom and living area with a small reception area at the entrance for storing muddy trekking boots. The style is contemporary and chic, favoring parquet floors, basketry, upholstered furniture, and notes of emerald green. There’s a central fireplace, an electronic heater, a writing desk, a ceiling fan, a luggage rack, a gym-in-a-basket with a yoga mat, a resistance band, a skipping rope and weights, and two-way emergency radios. Each en-suite bathroom features a luxurious freestanding bathtub with Africology bath products, a shower, double basins, heated towel rails, and a separate flush toilet. From coffee machines and well-stocked mini-bars, to the thoughtful selection of snacks, every detail has been carefully considered with maximum comfort in mind.

Wilderness Bisate’s inviting main lodge includes an indoor/outdoor restaurant where the inventive, beautifully presented cuisine deserves a special mention. Beneath the restaurant there’s a wine cellar with an impressive collection available for tastings and pairings. The cozy lounge has a roaring fireplace, perfect for the cold mountain evenings, and the bar is a great spot to pull up a chair and get to know some of the wonderful staff members, many of whom are from the local village. There’s also a reference library with an excellent selection of reading material, for those who want to delve deeper into the region and its resident wildlife. Though there isn’t a dedicated spa, in-villa massage treatments can be arranged at an additional cost. Bisate’s Kwanda is a day lounge in the organic vegetable garden where guests are invited to prepare for the next adventure at a leisurely pace. It offers a space to shower after a final trek, enjoy a delicious meal, or indulge in a massage treatment.

ACTIVITIES AT WILDERNESS BISATE:

As we would expect from a property in this location, activities from Wilderness Bisate focus on gorilla trekking, though guests may trek golden monkey too, enjoy village visits, and even participate in some of the local conservation endeavors.

• Gorilla trekking

  – The north-eastern part of Rwanda is home to a remarkable cloud forest inhabited by approximately half the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas. Within Volcanoes National Park, there are 12 habituated groups of mountain gorillas – setting off from the park headquarters, guests are allocated one of these families. Viewing is restricted to one hour per day for any group, and it can take time to find the gorillas, so be prepared to walk through steep terrain! The amount of ground covered on a trek is not excessive, ranging from 1 to 8 kilometers, but the climbs can be challenging, often with wet, muddy ground underfoot. We think this is all worthwhile, though, as a close encounter with the gorillas is one of the most memorable wildlife experiences on earth. Whether resting, grooming, playing, or fighting, these guys will captivate you. Wilderness Bisate provides trekking gear, including backpacks, rain gear, garden gloves, long gaiters, and walking boots on request. There is also a boot cleaning service available.

• Golden monkey trekking

  – Set off early in the morning for a golden monkey trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. It’s less strenuous than gorilla trekking – these delightful, habituated primates live in large groups and can often be seen swinging from bamboo trees. If you are feeling particularly energetic, you can also hike up Mount Bisoke – the views from the top are breathtaking!

• Hike to Dian Fossey’s grave and Karisoke

  – Dian Fossey was an iconic American conservationist best known for her extensive studies on mountain gorillas. Embark on a beautiful but challenging walk from Wilderness Bisate to her grave, situated amid high-altitude rainforest with an elevation of some 3,000 metres, next to the remains of her research centre and some of her cherished gorillas’ graves.

• Nursery visit and tree planting

  – During this experience, a Wilderness Bisate agronomist will show you around the tree nursery, where you’ll plant a sapling as part of the lodge’s reforestation project. The activity includes a visit to the Bamboo Greenhouse to see their indigenous tree nursery efforts.

• Meet the community

  – Although gorilla trekking is the most popular activity in this region, local villages provide an insight into life outside the national park. This activity offers guests the chance to visit a nearby community and cooperative members, including the farmers who cultivate and sell their vegetables to Wilderness Bisate.