Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Features & Highlights
- Amazing views of Mountains and Forest
- A small and intimate lodge
- Exceptional Gorilla Trekking experience
- Golden Monkey Trekking
- Ultra luxury rooms with exceptional views
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Summary
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is situated on the edge of the Parc National des Volcans in North Western Rwanda. The lodge sits perfectly in the foothills of the mighty Virungas, the chain of 15,000 ft volcanoes stretching through Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge affords wonderful views of the volcanoes and the surrounding countryside. All guest cottages are discretely and privately situated in the folds of the hills, and each has its own unique view.
The altitude of the lodge is approximately 7,000 feet above sea level so the climate is generally cool, and the volcanoes rise to a height of almost 15,000 feet. The lodge has been designed and built by Governors Camp but is owned by a community trust called SACOLA. Governors Camp leases the lodge from SACOLA, and SACOLA will use rental and other income from Governors Camp to finance its socio-economic development and conservation objectives in the area.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Description
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is therefore an exciting combination of a top quality lodge and a power for driving socio-economic development and conservation in the areas adjacent to the Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda. The lodge comprises of a central building, with reception, bar, dining room, library / games room, community awareness centre, client washrooms and shop. Both the bar and dining room have extensive outdoor decks from which our clients can enjoy the spectacular views.
Client accommodation comprises 5 cottages, 2 suites and one family suite. All client accommodation rooms have at least one private veranda, a sitting room with fireplace, bedroom, dressing room and a large modern bathroom. En-suite bathrooms with bath, shower, double basins, flush loo, hot and cold running water. The family suite has an extra bedroom and bathroom incorporated. The lodge is constructed of local stone, finished with an ochre coloured plaster. Terracotta tiled roofs give a stylish contemporary Rwandese flavour.
All guest rooms have large windows to make best use of the wonderful views. Double thickness walls maintain the warmth from the fireplaces when it is cold outside, and keep the rooms cool in the warmer weather during the day. The lush gardens have been extensively landscaped.
GORILLA TREKKING
The rainforests of the Virunga Volcanoes are the last refuge of the Mountain Gorilla. The Virungas span Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the Parc National des Volcans being the Rwandese element of this ecosystem. The lush slopes of the volcanoes provide an appropriately dramatic natural setting for what is perhaps the most poignant and thrilling wildlife experience to be had anywhere – to see the Mountain Gorilla in its natural habitat. Roughly half of the world’s wild population of Mountain Gorillas are resident on the Rwandan slopes of the Virungas.
Eight habituated families of gorillas are visited. 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$ 750 per person per trek.
Gorilla Trekking is what most people come to Sabyinyo Silver Back for, however the lodge does offer a whole host of activities for guests wanting to maximise their stay in this exceptional place. Sabyinyo offers escorted bird watching walks, escorted walks and escorted mountain bike excursions in the local area. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is located on the edge of the Volcanoes National Park and a 15 minute drive from the parks headquarters where all activities in the Park start from. Activities on offer in the Volcanes National Park include Gorilla trekking, treks to see the Golden Monkeys, as well as lots of treks and hikes to view the volcanoes and its hidden treasures. Sabyinyo Silverback lodge also offers massage treatments designed to relax refresh and re-juvinate you after a hike to see the mountain Gorillas.
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Rates may vary according to season
