Meals are served in a buffet style at breakfast, lunch and dinner, consisting of home-cooked dishes that have been prepared using fresh produce from the local community. Guests can enjoy meals in the dining room or out on the wooden decking area, with both options offering views of the surrounding mountains. There’s also a bar serving a variety of beverages.

Internet access is available in the lobby and traditional Rwandan songs and dances are performed by local Intore dancers. Your stay here will focus on exploring Volcanoes National Park as you undertake guided mountain gorilla and golden monkey tracking trips, or simply hike through the park to enjoy the scenery. Local villages can also be visited to learn about rural life in this remote area.

The main focus at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is access to one of the 12 habituated gorilla families in the Volcanoes National Park. Your trek to find them may be as short as 30 minutes or it may be several hours but the reward is an unparalleled wildlife experience shared by only a privileged few. It can be tough and muddy work trekking through rainforest so protective gloves and gaiters are provided by the lodge – a thoughtful touch, as is the complementary boot-cleaning service. There are also treks into the forest to search for the rare golden monkey as well as hikes to the grave of Dian Fossey, the late conservationist who first bought the plight of the mountain gorillas to the world’s attention decades ago.

The chalets are simple in terms of facilities and decor, but are of a generous size and their position in the grounds allows you to enjoy the mountain views from your private veranda. Each chalet features a king sized bed or twin beds, as well as a spacious sitting area with wicker chairs and a fireplace, which is lit each evening to get rid of the mountain chill. Hairdryers, umbrellas, hot water bottles and coffee-making facilities are also provided. The large en suite bathrooms feature a shower, toilet and sink, and electricity is available for several hours in the early morning, around midday and later during the evening.

The 30 cottages are built of brick, stone and tile are well positioned to provide seclusion from other rooms. The décor is simple and furniture comfortable. Each cottage has a basic, en-suite bathroom, a private veranda and a large sitting room with a fireplace to keep warm during the cool evenings. The restaurant provides an exceptional array of tasty choices from the buffet. The lodge grounds are full of intriguing birdlife and afford wonderful views of the volcanoes.

Meals at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge are served buffet or a la carte, depending on guest numbers at the lodge. Dining is at individual tables with room service available if requested in advance. Your day begins with a hearty breakfast buffet with both cooked and continental options. Lunch is an a la carte affair with choices such as quiche with fresh, locally grown vegetables and salad. Dinner is a 3-course buffet, perhaps starting with pumpkin soup followed by grilled chicken with a traditional Rwandan vegetable stew. Cakes, fruit salad and chocolate profiteroles are among the desserts on offer.

The lodge is close to the starting point of Gorilla and Golden Monkey tracking. You can also enjoy a hike up to the grave of Dian Fossey or trek up Mount Karisimbi and see the huge caldera below. A visit to the twin lakes of Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo can provide wonderful boat rides and canoeing excursions.

Accommodation at the lodge is in spacious stone and thatch chalets, which are spread across the tropical grounds to offer privacy and impressive views. The main communal building features an open-plan lounge and bar area centered around an open fire, which makes a pleasant space in which to socialize with your fellow guests. There’s also a separate dining room with large windows looking out to the volcano, and a wooden deck should you wish to drink and dine alfresco.

Traditional African décor and artwork brightens the walls, and the friendly staff provide a good service, even cleaning your boots for you after your treks.

• Gorilla trekking
• Golden monkey treks
• Guided bird watching walks with park rangers
• Escorted mountain bike trails (3 mountain bikes are available at lodge)
• Iby’iwacu cultural village visits
• Visit Dian Fossey’s grave; author of Gorillas in the Mist
• Buhanga Sacred Forest
• Village walk
• Musanze market trip
• SACOLA community visit
• Picnics can be arranged on request (never during Gorilla treks)