Governers' Camp - Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge located in the foothills of the mighty Virunga's, a chain of 15,000ft volcanoes stretching through Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Lodge is some 3 kilometres from the main entrance to the Volcanoes National Park in Northwest Rwanda near the border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is a comfortable 2-hour drive from central Kigali International Airport. The site itself is approximately one kilometre from the Park boundary on the gentle foothills of Sabyinyo, one of the most impressive of the five volcanoes visible from the site.

From the Lodge, guests are offered magnificent views of the verdant slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes to the North and over the agricultural lowlands to the South. Guests can make the short journey to the Park Headquarters each morning for their gorilla trek in only 15 minutes, and the Lodge is a perfect base from which to explore this unique and fascinating corner of Africa.

The accommodation at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge boasts six cottages, two suites, one family cottage. All are stone buildings with Rwandese terracotta tile roofs and feature large sitting areas, fireplaces, stylish en-suite bathrooms finished with Venetian plaster a dressing room and a sheltered veranda. Heat exchangers in the fireplaces provide a plentiful supply of hot water. The family cottage comprises two independent ensuite rooms connected by a shared verandah. The main lodge building offers a reception, sitting room with snug area, dining room, library/games room, a responsible tourism/community awareness room, shop and bathrooms. Three large fireplaces provide warmth and all rooms are finished with a polished wooden floor. Two patio areas afford wonderful and dramatic views of the Virunga Volcanoes and the surrounding lowland farmland.

Experiences and Attractions

• Gorilla Trekking
• Golden Monkey Trekking
• SACOLA Dancers
• Buhanga Sacred Forest
• Climbing Mount Bisoke
• Climbing Mount M'Gahinga
• Climing Mount Muhabura
• Bird Watching
• Mountain biking
• Gisenyi Lakeside Resort
• Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village
• Musanze Market

About the Volcanoes National Park

Situated in northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Since reopening in 1999, it has experienced a growing number of visitors each day, thanks in large part to its role as the world’s most popular mountain gorilla sanctuary. With fewer than 700 of these species left, tourists can catch a rare glimpse of the gorillas as they can nowhere else in the world. Beyond gorilla trekking in Rwanda, the park is also able to offer some of the country’s most spectacular scenery and diverse vegetation. It is part of the Virunga Conservation Area and covers more than 125km2, including five extinct volcanoes: Muhabura, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Karisimbi and Bisoke. The latter two can be climbed during one or two-day treks.

Against this backdrop, tourists can hike through the lush bamboo and Hygenia rainforest, open grassland and swamp of Volcanoes National Park to discover golden monkeys, bush duiker, buffalo and spotted hyenas. You will not have to listen too hard before you hear one of the 178 recorded bird species in the park. Look through the gaps in the dense forest canopy and you will also see the breathtaking peaks of the volcanoes standing tall at over 4,500m.