FEB EDITION 2018

Nature’s
Glow
Rwandan Bisate resort is truly a place
where nature radiates in its full strength
says ADEDOYIN JOHNSON
THE LUXURY REPORTER
bushbuck can be seen.
A guided community walk will expose you to the
culture of the community surrounding Bisate, a
re ection cultural heritage of rural Rwanda. It will
enable you to interact with indigenes whether in the
elds, at their homes or in the local markets. You will
also experience the cultural Intore dance.
Guests can walk to the vegetable garden where
members of the local cooperative cultivate and sell
vegetables to the lodge. Your guide will continue with
you along the path to the Bisate community where you
will meet Beatrice who will tell you a bit about her way
of life and introduce you to her family.
Travel
Nature and birding walks are interesting activities to
engage in as it allows guests to explore Bisate's nature
and birds in the forest to learn more about the bird and
wildlife in the area. You may also enjoy a guided walk to
the local pyrethrum elds and end the day at sunset
with spectacular views of Karisimbi, Bisoke and
Mikeno volcanoes from the viewing deck at Bisate
Lodge. ere is a self-guided trail on the property for
those who wish to explore on their own.
You can end the day with Rwandan coffee, tea or
wine tastings. Rwanda is well known for its coffee and
tea; at Bisate you can learn a little more the special
Rwandan coffee and tea through the resident barista.
Nature’s Glow
Awalk into the famous Bisate Lodge exposes
one to the world of nest African luxury
hospit a lit y. Situ ate d in t he natural
amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone, the
lodge offers a breathtaking view of Rwanda.
e word 'bisate' which means pieces in Kinyarwanda,
one of the native languages, describes how the cone
was once whole but worn away by natural erosion.
e area around Bisate lodge has dramatic views of
the peaks of the volcanoes Bisoke, Karisimbi and
Mikeno rearing up through the Afro-alpine forests of
nearby Volcanoes National Park. It is a lodge where
nature radiates in its full strength.
Bisate is within a driving distance of Park
Headquarters, from where gorilla treks depart daily.
e trek enables guests to have a holistic view of
mountain gorillas who are commonplace in the park.
Aside from the area's iconic mountain gorillas, other
mammals that call Volcanoes National Park home
include the golden monkey, side-striped jackal, blackfronted
duiker, buffalo, elephant, tree hyrax and
bushbuck. A variety of squirrel and genet species are
also to be found here. Of the 178-bird species in the
area, at least 13 are endemic to the Virunga area such as
Archer's robin chat, mountain black boubou, strange
weaver, Rwenzori batis, mountain masked apalis and
Rwenzori (collared) apalis.
Bisate offers exclusive accommodation and services
that tell of the only sustainable luxury offerings in the
area. With six sumptuous en-suite rooms that offers
maximum comfort, warmth and views, Bisate gives
bespoke service tailor-made to meet the needs of
individual guest.
ere are so many things to do at Bisate Lodge. You
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can go on Gorilla Trek which takes place from
Volcanoes National Park headquarters, where guests
are allocated one of the twelve habituated gorilla
groups to visit for an hour. Aer a brie ng by park
rangers, the time of the trek varies depending which
gorilla group is being visited, from 45 minutes to a few
hours. Trekking is at a high altitude, but is well worth it;
the time spent with gorillas could be truly life changing
as the other side of Gorillas are seen in their natural
habitat.
e golden monkey trek is a must-have experience. It
begins at Volcanoes National Park headquarters. e
beautifully-coloured monkeys are endemic to the area
and lives in groups of up to 30 individuals in the
bamboo forest, its preferred source of food.
You can also go on a guided hike in Volcanoes
National Park. At 3 711 metres Mount Bisoke volcano
is located on the border of the DRC and Rwanda. e
guided hike to the summit is strenuous and requires a
full day to complete. However, once at the top it is
extremely beautiful and really worth the effort as you
are rewarded with sweeping views of the rainforest and
the amazing crater lake.
A visit to Dian Fossey's grave and Research Centre
gives an interesting perspective to the life and times of
Rwanda's most celebrated researcher. Late Dian Fossey
established the Karisoke Research Centre in 1967 in
the saddle of Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes at an
elevation of some 3 000 metres. e trail leading to her
remote rainforest camp and grave, which is set
alongside the graves of her beloved gorillas, and the
remains of the research centre is a spectacular yet
challenging hike up steep slopes where orchids, birdlife
and even occasional black-fronted duiker and