Lodge · Wilderness
Wilderness Bisate Lodge
About the lodge
An overview of Wilderness Bisate Lodge .
Wilderness Bisate is a sustainably luxurious rainforest-based lodge offering Africa's most thrilling wild primate experience.
Highlights
- A top destination for unforgettable mountain gorilla encounters.
- An award-winning, sustainable lodge with stunning views of six volcanoes, located near Volcanoes National Park.
- Rwanda’s first day lounge, Bisate Kwanda, provides comfort for early arrivals or late departures.
You Should Know
Bisate Lodge accommodates guests aged 15 and older. All guests are charged the adult rate.
The Details
Since its opening in 2017, Bisate Lodge has received 34 awards and continues to captivate guests. Its six elegant en-suite forest villas honor Rwandan royal heritage and offer breathtaking views of the Bisoke, Karisimbi, and Mikeno volcanoes.
The lodge includes a wine cellar, library, spa, restaurant, and a tree nursery, all complemented by warm and welcoming service.
Accommodation
Elevated among the trees like giant bird nests, the six Forest Villas of Wilderness Bisate provide a unique and luxurious stay on the edge of Volcanoes National Park. This is one of the best locations in Africa to start your trek to see the iconic mountain gorillas of the Virungas.
Dining
Bisate’s menu emphasizes sustainability, featuring seasonal produce from the lodge’s garden and locally sourced ingredients, such as red-skinned potatoes and free-range eggs from nearby farms.
Experiences
Beyond the mountain gorilla trek, activities in Volcanoes National Park include golden monkey treks, hikes on Mount Bisoke, and visits to Dian Fossey’s research center and the Ellen DeGeneres Campus.
At the lodge, guests can enjoy birdwatching, tree planting, and engaging with local communities, all while supporting conservation efforts.
Wildlife
Volcanoes National Park is home to endangered mountain gorillas, as well as golden monkeys, jackals, buffalo, elephants, and over 200 bird species, including several endemic to the Virunga region. These natural treasures are further safeguarded by the lodge’s ongoing conservation initiatives.
Price Includes
- Full-board accommodation
- All local beverages
- Access to the Bisate Kwanda day lounge
- Guided birding and nature walks
- Guided nursery visit and indigenous tree planting
- Guided visit to the community-supported beehive project
- "Gym in a basket" provided at the villas
- Wine tasting experiences
- Guided explanations of the property's biodiversity
- Documentary film screenings
- Guided visits to the Bisate reforestation site (off-site, accessed on foot)
- Visits to the nursery school in Bisate Village
The same as booking direct
Rates and pricing.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 28 Feb 2027
Why book through us
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup. What you get on top is a specialist who knows Wilderness Bisate Lodge personally, looks after every detail of the trip, and stays reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you enquire to the day you come home.
By season
Peak / migration
1 Jun 2026 – 31 Oct 2026
All Inclusive — All meals, all drinks (excludes reserve wines and champagnes) and lodge activities.
$3,795
Shoulder
1 Nov 2026 – 15 Dec 2026
All Inclusive — All meals, all drinks (excludes reserve wines and champagnes) and lodge activities.
$2,865
Festive
16 Dec 2026 – 28 Feb 2027
All Inclusive — All meals, all drinks (excludes reserve wines and champagnes) and lodge activities.
$3,795
Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Wilderness Bisate Lodge: minimum ages, activities, family rooms and child rates, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
Minimum ages
- Stay
- 15+
- Game drives
- 15+
- Walking safari
- 15+
Programmes & care
No dedicated kids' programme.
Accommodation
Family unit available.
Child rates
Bisate Lodge: children 15+ pay full adult rate. Bisate Reserve: children 6+ pay 65% of adult rate; infants under 3 free. Children occupying a villa alone pay the single supplement.
Notable exceptions
- Minimum age differs by property within the Bisate offering. Bisate Lodge accepts children from age 15 only. Bisate Reserve (opened 01 September 2024) accepts children from age 6 when booked into interleading rooms — two of its four guest rooms can be converted into an interleading family unit. Gorilla Trekking (the primary activity) is restricted to ages 15+ regardless of property, so younger children at Bisate Reserve cannot join the trek; it is recommended that families travel with a nanny so younger children are cared for while parents trek. No triple-share accommodation is available at either property.
Walking safari
Built for walking.
Documented walking safari options at Wilderness Bisate. Distinguishes short bush walks from dedicated walking trails and overnight wilderness journeys.
Short walk
Guided Nature. Birding Walks in Forest on Property
Guests at Wilderness Bisate can join guided nature and birding walks through the lodge's surrounding forest. This is an included lodge activity, allowing guests to explore the indigenous forest environment with a knowledgeable guide.
Included in lodge stay. Takes place in the forest on the lodge property. No additional cost stated.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- subject to availability
Short walk
Guided Walk & Vegetable Picking at Organic Fields
A guided walking activity at Wilderness Bisate that takes guests through the lodge's organic vegetable fields, combining a gentle walk with a hands-on agricultural experience including vegetable picking.
Included in lodge stay. On-property activity. No additional cost stated.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- subject to availability
Short walk
Guided Walk to Pyrethrum Fields
A guided walk from Wilderness Bisate to the nearby pyrethrum fields, offering guests insight into this locally grown natural insecticide crop and the surrounding agricultural landscape of the Volcanoes region.
Included in lodge stay. On-property activity. No additional cost stated.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- subject to availability
Short walk
Guided Visit to Bisate Reforestation Site
A guided off-property walk from Wilderness Bisate to the lodge's reforestation site, where guests can learn about the lodge's conservation and reforestation efforts in the Volcanoes National Park buffer zone.
Included in lodge stay. Off-property activity accessed by walking. No additional cost stated.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- subject to availability
Short walk
Guided Village Walk – Bisate Village
A guided walking excursion from Wilderness Bisate into the local Bisate village, offering guests an authentic community experience and insight into everyday Rwandan life near Volcanoes National Park.
Included in lodge stay. Off-property activity accessed by walking. No additional cost stated.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- subject to availability
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Cultural
Beyond the game drive.
Community visits, cultural walks, and dining experiences documented at Wilderness Bisate.
Cultural walk
Community Walk
A 2–3 hour guided community walk starting with panoramic views of Volcanoes National Park, then visiting local village homes. Activities include traditional food preparation (from lighting a fire to finished dish), playing traditional music instruments (Inanga zither, umuduri music bow, one-stringed fiddle), a weaving experience, traditional dance and Intore, and grinding sorghum on a grinding stone. An optional stop at Gasura Kindergarten — a community project funded by the tours — is included along the route.
Duration: approximately 2–3 hours. Includes visit to local village homes, food preparation, traditional music, weaving, traditional dance and Intore, grinding sorghum. Optional stop at Gasura Kindergarten community project. Referenced as available to guests staying at/departing from Bisate Lodge.
- Availability
- subject to availability; can be done on day of departure before 15:30 latest departure from Bisate Kwanda
Community project visit
Gasura Kindergarten Community Project Visit
An optional stop at Gasura Kindergarten, a community project supported by tour funds, integrated into the Community Walk route near Volcanoes National Park. Guests can see firsthand how the lodge's tours give back to local communities through this early-childhood education initiative.
Optional stop during the Community Walk. Part of the broader 2–3 hour community walk experience. Funded through tour proceeds as a community give-back project.
- Availability
- subject to availability; optional stop within the community walk
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Imagery
A closer look.
9 photographs · click any image to expand
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at Wilderness Bisate Lodge .
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Wilderness Bisate Lodge : multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Ready when you are
Let's design your stay.
Your specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours with availability, exact pricing, and suggestions for what to combine it with.