Sabyinyo
Set on the edge of the Parc National des Volcans in a lush green property of 11 hectares, Wilderness Sabyinyo enjoys fabulous and dramatic views of the surrounding volcanoes.
All guest cottages are discretely situated in the folds of the hills and amongst the verdant vegetation of the Sabyinyo property. Each beautifully appointed ensuite cottage, with its country-chic style and open log fires, is a perfect haven of warmth and luxury. The main lodge building is designed with the guest in mind. Assorted seating areas in the main lounge, reception and entertainment room provide for intimate privacy, or the opportunity to meet other guests, and open-log fires throughout create a luxuriously warm and inviting atmosphere.
Wilderness Sabyinyo is an exciting combination of a world class lodge and financial source driving socio-economic development and conservation initiatives in the areas adjacent to the Parc National des Volcans.
The idea of Wilderness Sabyinyo was to develop a lodge whose revenue streams would improve the lives of local community members and directly support gorilla conservation. In partnership with The African Wildlife Foundation ("AWF") and The International Gorilla Conservation Program ("IGCP"), it was decided that the ownership of the lodge would rest with a Community Trust, "SACOLA". Lease rentals and a community development levy paid by every guest staying at the lodge are received by SACOLA. These income streams, now totalling over $3.1Million, are the driving force behind the socio-economic development projects undertaken by SACOLA and have directly benefited some 5,000 households and had a very positive impact on the lives of local people and gorilla conservation.
Cottages
Wilderness Sabyinyo has six cottages. All are stone buildings with Rwandese terracotta tile roofs, and feature sitting areas, fireplaces and stylish en-suite bathrooms. Space heaters supplement the log fire to create a haven of warmth. A verandah invites you to relax and enjoy the lush bird-filled gardens.
Family Cottage
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge has one Family Cottage. The family Cottage is a stone building with Rwandese terracotta tile roofs. The double room comprises a large sitting area, fireplace, stylish en-suite bathroom with bath and shower, and a dressing room. The twin room enjoys an ensuite bathroom with shower. The rooms are connected via an expansive deck that invites you to relax and enjoy the views.
Suites
Wilderness Sabyinyo has two suites. These extra spacious cottages enjoy an expansive sitting area, two verandahs, ensuite bathroom with shower and bath. Log fireplaces are set every night, and space heaters beside the beds create a haven of warmth in the cool mountain air.
Gorilla Trekking
For those interested in seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat Rwanda offers one of the best locations for Gorilla trekking. In the Park National des Volcans in Rwanda there are eight families of Mountain Gorilla living on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes that you can trek to see. For many, seeing gorillas in the wild offers a wildlife experience of a lifetime.
Gorilla treks take place in the morning and depart from the Park Headquarters at around 07:30am. Prior to departure you are given a briefing by park staff, assigned a gorilla family to visit and rangers to guide you. The treks take place on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes and clients should be in good physical condition as some of the trek can be physically demanding. The treks normally start in the cultivated land on the base of the volcanoes and then you are guided up into the beautiful dense misty forests. The trek normally lasts between 2 and 5 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family and a maximum of eight visitors is allowed per gorilla family. Once you reach the gorillas you are permitted to stay for one hour to view them. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years. A maximum of 80 gorilla permits are issued per day and during high season these sell out far in advance, it is therefore important to book gorilla permits as early as possible. Gorilla Permits currently cost USD$ 1500 per person per trek.
For those interested in seeing the Mountain Gorilla in its natural habitat, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Rwanda offers the perfect location to base yourself. Sabyinyo Silverback lodge is located only a 15 minute drive from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, the starting point for the Gorilla treks.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Trekking to see the golden monkeys is another highlight of Volcanoes National Park. The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti) is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the “Blue Monkey” and is endemic to the high-altitude forests of the Volcanoes National Park area. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive and often spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor.
There are two habituated groups of Golden Monkey, one group comprises around 80 - 100 members and has its home at the foot of Mt Sabyinyo. As with treks to see the Mountain Gorillas, treks to see the Golden Monkeys take place in the mornings and visitors are permitted to stay for 1 hour with the monkeys. Departure for the Golden Monkey trek is from the Park’s Kinigi Headquarters at 07:00am. The number of visitors is not limited and the fee for a Golden Monkey permit is currently USD$100 per person per trek. Permits can either be arranged in advance or booked at the park headquarters on the morning of the trek. Porters can be hired at the entry point of the park.
Wilderness Sabyinyo is conveniently located 15 minutes drive from the park headquarters and is the perfect base to trek to see both the Mountain Gorilla and Golden Monkeys.
Escorted Bird Watching Walks
Wilderness Sabyinyo property extends over some 7 hectares (about 17 acres) and is a heaven for all kinds of local birds that do not easily thrive in the surrounding agricultural plots, where natural shelter is rare and disturbance by human activity high. Over 40 species of birds (of which a few species and or subspecies are endemic to the Albertine Rift forests) have been identified on and around Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
Some of our staff members are interested in birds and will be pleased to escort you around the lodge’s property to observe the local birdlife. The staff members speak English and have a genuine knowledge of the birdlife around Wilderness Sabyinyo.
If you have a special interest in birds and would like a more professional guiding service, we can arrange the service of a professional, ornithologist who is resident in the area and has an excellent knowledge of the local birdlife. There is a small charge for this service and our receptionists will be happy to advise you of rates and book the bird walk for you.
Escorted Mountain Bike Rides
We have four good quality and well serviced mountain bikes available at the lodge for guests to use. We can arrange for one of our staff members to take guests on an escorted mountain bike ride to explore the local area. The staff members are keen mountain bikers and share their enthusiasm and knowledge of the local area during the excursion. The biking excursions take between one and two hours, and this activity is offered free of charge to all guests staying at Wilderness Sabyinyo. Please note that due to the very hilly terrain and the poor general conditions of most local tracks, biking in the area can be tough and physically demanding and as it is easy to lose one’s way on the small rural tracks in the area, all bike rides must be accompanied by a member of the the Lodge staff.
Escorted Cultural Walks
We can arrange escorted walks in the area around the Lodge. These walks are lead by our staff members and provide a fascinating introduction into daily rural life in the Volcanoes area. The walk typically takes between one and two hours, is free of charge to guests staying at the lodge and normally takes place in the afternoon.
Iby Iwacu Cultural Village
Iby’iwacu cultural village is located 15 minutes drive from Wilderness Sabyinyo and is an interesting cultural excursion. The village convinced ex poachers to turn their back on poaching and instead perform for visitors.
Visiting the village, you can discover the traditional house of a local king, watch an authentic medicine man prepare herbal mixtures, try your hand at bow and arrow shooting or enjoy cultural dances and drumming performed by people from the local area.
The guided walk of the village takes around an hour and you can freely take photographs. A tip of USD$ 20 minimum is normally expected.
It is also possible to walk to the village from Wilderness Sabyinyo. The walk is downhill all the way, takes around an hour.
Trek to Dian Fossey Research Camp
For those interested visiting Dian Fossey’s original scientific base Karisoke, a trek is available from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters. Karisoke scientific base was established by Dian Fossey in the saddle area between two volcanoes; Mt Visoke and Mt Karisimbi (from which the name Karisoke is derived). The camp site stands at an altitude of around 3000m (over 9000 ft) and was abandoned during the unrest of the 1990’s. All that remains today is the graveyard where several of Dian Fossey’s favourite gorillas were buried. Dian Fossey is also buried near the graves of her beloved gorillas.
The trek to the Karisoke research camp takes around 3 - 4 hours and takes you through some of the most beautiful stretches of Hagenia - Hypericum forest in the Volcanoes National Park.
Trip to Twin Lakes
Between Musanze and the Ugandan border are two scenic lakes usually referred to as the twin lakes; Lake Bulera and Lake Ruhondo. They are fed by rivers and a lake in Uganda. The twin lakes area is very scenic, with steep and intensively farmed hills surrounding the pristine dark blue waters. They offer magnificent views over the whole of the Virunga Volcanoes (weather permitting). Walking and birdwatching are possible in the hills and at some points around the lakes, but due to the very steep character of the landscape most visitors prefer to drive up the small track leading to a lodge situated on the top of the hill overlooking both lakes to enjoy the scenery and have a refreshing drink.
The twin lakes are located about 45 minutes by car from the Lodge. They can be reached by driving on good tarmac roads south to Musanze and then back north towards Cyanika or alternatively along a picturesque small dirt road that follows the contour of the Volcanoes Range.
Buhanga Sacred Forest
Buhanga Sacred Forest is a true hidden gem. Despite its small size (around 31 hectares) the forest is a site of tremendous ecological importance and astonishing beauty. The forest takes on a different dimension depending on the time of day, season of year and weather conditions. Visitors walk beneath the cover of tall majestic trees and are rewarded by the sights of many different birds and colourful butterflies. A surprising network of trails made entirely from cut lava stones crisscrosses the forest and leads to various observation platforms and enables visitors to easily discover what the forest has to offer. The patches of open and closed forest provide excellent opportunities for watching the usually secretive birds and enjoying the almost magical atmosphere.
The best time to visit the forest is in the early morning or late afternoon when the birds are at their most active and the birdsong fills the air. Visitors are requested to book the trip the day before at Wilderness Sabyinyo as permits need to be obtained through the Park’s Headquarters at Kinigi. If you would like to visit the Forest then please advise the manager who will make the necessary arrangements.
Gishwati Forest
Long ago the mid altitude mountain range that extends in a North - South orientation all along Lake Kivu (generally referred to as the Congo - Nile divide) was covered with dense forests, most of which have now vanished. Around 30km outside the lakeside town of Gisenyi a remnant of this great forest still survives; Gishwati Forest. An ambitious project has been approved by the Rwandan authorities, aiming at re-foresting a much larger area of the Congo - Nile divide around Gishwati and in the longer run at re-connecting Gishwati forest with the Nyungwe Forest National Park through a natural forest corridor of more than 50km.
A small relict population of Chimpanzees still survives in the Gishwati forest and is the focus of the most urgent conservation efforts. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is suporting the Gishwati Forest Conservation project in the development and promotion of nature orientated eco-tourism in the forest.
Two very scenic hiking trails are now open to visitors. They give the opportunity to discover the forest habitats; primary forest, degraded forest, and regenerating forest and to understand better the formidable challenge at stake. And for the lucky visitors there is the chance of observing wild chimpanzees in their natural environment.
Lake Kivu
Located at around 80 km from Wilderness Sabyinyo (2 hours by car), the lakeside resort of Gisenyi offers a pleasant contrast to the high altitudes of the Virunga Volcanoes. The atmosphere is tropical and the climate is mild, making it seem like the never ending springtime. Gisenyi rests in the nostalgia of its opulent past. Rich, colonial mansions surrounded by lush tropical gardens fringe the lake shore. With Lake Kivu as an ever-present back drop and the impressive Nyiarongo Volcano (one of the most active volcanoes in the world) as a sentinel, Gisenyi offers a scenic day out. Visitors can enjoy a pleasant and relaxing day strolling down the palm-tree fringed lakeside promenade, enjoy the sunshine on the sandy beach on the lakeshore or take an energetic swim in the lakes cool waters.
Musanze Market
Musanze Town (formerly known as Ruhengeri, but still widely used) is the most important town in Rwanda’s Northern Province and in the Volcanoes area. Musanze serves as the area’s administrative, commercial and service capital. It is a bustling town with plenty of local character. A daily market is held in the new market compound in the center of town. All kinds of goods essential to the daily life of the local residents are sold or exchanged here and you can also find interesting souvenirs and handicrafts as well. The market is open all day and is safe to visit provided you take the usual and evident precautionary measures. It is best visited accompanied by your driver-guide who can provide you with interesting information, help you find what you are looking for and assist you in the bargaining process.
International flights:
Kenya Airways and Rwandair both fly daily between Kigali and Nairobi. Flying time is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Rwandair flies twice a week between Kigali and Kilimanjaro. Private charters from Nairobi to Kigali can be organized for clients who wish to travel at times when the international airports are less busy and can process visas and baggage faster.
Kigali to the Lodge:
2 hours by road on reasonable roads and through scenic agricultural countryside.
Lodge to Park Headquarters:
By car – 10 minutes with one rough section of road.
Location:
Adjacent to the Parc National des Volcans, north-western Rwanda, approximately 3 kms from the main entrance to the Park, and some 2 hours drive on good roads from Kigali.
Number of beds:
20 beds (6 cottages, 1 family suite, 2 suite cottages).
Facilities:
En-suite bathrooms with bath, shower, double basins, flush loo, hot and cold running water.
Cottages:
All extremely spacious and private, comprising sheltered veranda, sitting room with fireplace, bedroom, dressing room and bathroom.
Electricity:
Y220 – 240 volts. Please note, the lodge is not connected to the Electricity Grid in Rwanda and is designed to have as small a carbon footprint as possible. Therefore, generators which power the lodge only run for an average of 6 hours per day. Inverter systems (banks of powerful batteries) provide power to guest rooms 24 hours a day, but may not run high power appliances such as hair dryers and computers. These should only be used whilst generators are running.
Bar/Restaurant:
Contained within the main lodge building, the bar and dining room has fireplaces to warm them during cold weather, and outside decks for al-fresco drinks and meals during warm weather.
Room service:
Cottages are linked by telephone to the Reception desk. Room service is available on request. Tea and Coffee is served in the cottages with the morning wake up call.
Picnics:
Picnics can be organized upon request.
Community Awareness:
The close relationship between the operations of the Lodge by Wilderness and the Community Trust (“SACOLA”) that owns the lodge and is responsible for advancing socio-economic development and conservation objectives locally can be explored in the Community Awareness room in the main lodge building, or by visiting the various projects run by SACOLA.
Shop:
A well-equipped shop is situated within the main lodge building.
Laundry:
Arranged daily at no extra cost.
Credit Cards:
Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
Communication:
Telephone, Cell Phone, Fax and Email are all available in the Lodge. Limited cellphone coverage.
Time zone:
GMT + 2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate/Temperatures:
Generally temperate year-round. Be prepared for colder weather and rain.
Clothing:
Good sturdy walking boots are essential, as is a light waterproof jacket. Please see the suggested packing list on our website http://www.governorscamp.com/travel-tips-and-planning/packing-guide
Terrain:
Clients wishing to go gorilla trekking must be reasonably fit and able to handle walking for some time in the hilly and forested terrain. To reach the lodge, clients must walk 200 meters or so uphill from the car park.
Seasons:
Open throughout the year. Rates are divided into High, Mid and Green Seasons. See Gross Tariff Sheet for details.
Children:
Children are welcome in the lodge and there is a family cottage specially designed to cater for them. Please note that children under the age of 15 are not permitted to visit the gorillas.
Health:
Clients are advised to obtain professional advice on health issues. Drink only bottled water. A yellow fever vaccination is required for travel to Rwanda.
Insurance:
Clients are required to have full travel and medical insurance prior to departing their country of origin.
Visa requirements:
Please visit the Rwandan Immigration website for Visa requirement details:
https://www.migration.gov.rw/index.php?id=13
For more information about Wilderness Sabyinyo click HERE.
To see videos of Wilderness Sabyinyo click HERE
