Name: Villa Gorilla
Address: Kinigi, Musanze, Ruhengeri, Ruhengeri, Ruhengeri, 0001, Rwanda
Rating: 9

Smoke-free property

Heating

Garden

Television in lobby

Terrace

Reception desk

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Non-smoking rooms

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Wheelchair Accessible

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Safe-deposit box

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Luggage storage

Telephone

Ironing accessories (by request)

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Coffee/tea for guests

Breakfast

Restaurant

Kitchen

Microwave oven

Bottled water

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Multi-language staff

Languages Spoken

Free parking

Parking

Location

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Gisenyi Airport

Goma Airport

Villa Gorilla

Likely the best food in country!  If you want a quirky unique family feeling experience this place is for you.  I’m a foodie and loved the personalized food safari.  The gardens and view are also fantastic.  The hosting couple is working hard to bring this place forward to rival it’s surroundings.

Villa Gorilla is an ideal resort with its beautiful gardens (worth the stay alone), breathtaking views of the mountains (which feel right next to you) and fantastic customer service (you feel like family there). While most will stay to see the nearby gorillas, I went just to relax. The environment in which it is in makes you feel connected to the surrounding nature. The rooms are excellent in making you feel connected to the local culture rather than a Western interpretation of luxury. Don't misinterpret that the rooms are extremely luxurious (with perhaps the more comfortable beds in all of Rwanda) but not for one minute do you forget that you are in the middle of Africa with the beautiful decorations, art works and textiles made out of local Kitenge. Once again, I highly recommend staying here.

Rwanda and the gorillas has always been a bucket list trip for me . Our stay at Villa Gorilla gave us the perfect spot to fulfill that dream. Villa Gorilla has spectacular gardens to start and end you day in. Their cottages allow you the privacy to sleep in or snuggle up in the evening with the warm fire on a chilly  night . The  hosts Lisa and Andrew are world class chefs who bring such passion to their culinary creations. Every meal was a delight that was customized to (my dietary restrictions )and our culinary preferences. Their 12 course culinary Safari was outstanding. Staying at Villa Gorilla felt like staying with friends who went out of their way to allow us to experience authentic Rwanda: the local markets and shops, they arranged treks with a knowledgeable local guide who made our Rwandan adventure with the gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees truly incredible.💎💎💎💎💎truly a gem!

We spent two nights with my wife in Villa Gorilla and had an  excellent experience. The gardens and the views from the yard are amazing, the food is wonderful, and the rooms are full of local charm. However, the most significant advantage of staying in that place is that the two owners, Lisa and Andrew, are extremely knowledgable of the character and customs of the local community and gave us the opportunity to interact with the locals and get a small taste of life in Kinigi. They arranged for us a visit to a local community center, where we took a cooking lesson from members of a women's cooperative and had the opportunity to learn about their customs and their everyday lives. I went food shopping with Andrew at the local market, where he was greeted warmly by many merchants and he showed me the varieties of local grown products. This type of experience goes beyond the beauty of the place and the excitement of the gorilla hike, and it happens because of Lisa and Andrew's real care for the well being of their adopted community.

My husband and I stayed at Villa Gorilla in October 2023 for a few days and had the chance to hike the Virungas and trek gorillas which are only a 10 minute drive away. We visited local markets, met artists and enjoyed authentic food. It was a fascinating, unique experience. The location and the setting of the villa is stunning. The entire house is immersed in beautiful well kept gardens with amazing views of the mountains. The individual rooms are very tastefully decorated with local art, have fireplaces, which, I did not expect it, were welcome in the coldish nights. The hosts at Villa Gorilla, Lisa and her husband chef Andrew, were very helpful, accommodating, and gracious. Chef Andrew prepared some delicious fusion african-western or african-asian food for us everyday, while Lisa,  with her infinite knowledge of everything, organized a series of events and activities for us to experience the local nature, culture & people. It was overall a memorable experience, very worthwhile the time and cost.


We had a fabulous long weekend at Villa Gorilla made extra enjoyable by the beautiful garden and the outstanding food - the food safari was a delicious experience. 
The welcoming environment created by Lisa and Andrew made our stay very special, and felt like being on holiday with old friends. 
Walking with the gorillas, and the golden monkeys was a fantastic, once in a lifetime experience. 

I can’t rave enough about Villa Gorilla and what an incredible place this is.  The hospitality is over the top.  Lisa and Andrew are wonderful owners and hosts and take great pride in making sure we felt at home and giving my cousin and me a very memorable stay.  They are amazing chefs and the food is over the top deliciousness….just wow!!! They offered a food safari based on a very extensive and thorough questionnaire done before our visit and are both amazing chefs.  You will never leave the table hungry!  

We had some beautiful weather and Lisa and Andrew set a table outside on several occasions and we enjoyed the view of their beautiful secret garden and the stunning Virunga Mountains.  

The rooms are beautifully decorated and comfortable with beautiful kitenge bedding and are very spacious.  Andrew and Lisa are always available should you need anything and are very kind, friendly and responsive.  Staying at Villa Gorilla is a very personalized experience.  You will be made to feel like family!

Thank you Lisa and Andrew and all the staff at Villa Gorilla for an amazing time!

We spent a wonderful and relaxing time in Villa Gorilla. The gardens are beautiful and the rooms spacious, clean and with a warm african style deccoration. The food is just amazing, and definitely go for the afternoon tea, best one we have ever had. We came with our rental car and they had it washed right before our departure for our surprise.  

My husband and I stayed in Gorilla Villa for two nights. We went for the gorilla trekking, Lisbet and Andrew treat us like family. We had the best meals of our trip by far, they welcomed us with an incredible high tea after the trekking, celaned our clothes and helped us with very useful tips and recommendations.  The villa is surrounded by a beautiful garden, you can even ask them to lit the fire pit and enjoy the stunning views of the volcanoes. 5 stars experience.

We have traveled all over the world, but our time in Rwanda generally and Villa Gorilla specifically was far and away the most magical two weeks of our lives! 

The grounds at Villa Gorilla, brilliant with local flora, and with the Virunga Mountains as our backdrop, were simply breathtaking – like walking into a fairy tale! The accommodations, themselves, while not “luxury” in the classic sense of the word, were respectful of period and place and full of personality. Our hosts, Lisa and Andrew, went above and beyond to make our stay extra-extra special, from curating two safaris for us to introducing us to hidden gems throughout the country to bringing local dancers and musicians to our door to arranging for a tailor to come on-site and sew duvets and tablecloths out of the gorgeous kitenge Lisa and Andrew helped us purchase. 

Oh, and lest we forget – THE FOOD! Lisa and Andrew are accomplished chefs with many years in the food service business, and it shows! Every meal was creatively conceived and exquisitely presented, with flavors that danced in our mouths. The crescendo of our “food safari” was a twelve-course dinner that left us swooning. Don’t forget to request Chef Andrew’s handmade ricotta! 

When we started out on our journey to Rwanda, we thought this was a one-and-done kind of trip, but thanks to Lisa, Andrew, and the wonderful staff at Villa Gorilla (not to mention the thrill of gorilla trekking and golden monkey sighting), we cannot wait to go back!

Ruhengeri

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lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

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6 bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

park access

Connect with lush Gardens under the Mountains

Villa Gorilla an Amazing Place with spectacular  gardens and Incredible Hosts!

Owners who know and care about the local community

Excellent, inspiring, heartwarming.

Food and gorilla safari

Delicious food, incredible hospitality

Villa Gorilla offers an amazing Food Safari, which included a more than 10-course gourmet meal.  The food was delicious and I highly recommend it to foodies who want an Rwandan-fusion luxury experience.  We were also treated to traditional Rwandan dance by a local troupe, which was well situated with the volcanoes in the background.  Although the rooms need a bit of upgrading, the food experience was fantastic; Lisa and Andrew were terrific hosts and fun to discuss with.  

Villa Gorilla

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