Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge

Our experience at the Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge was disappointing, to say the least. While the location is undeniably beautiful, the accommodations fell far below our expectations. The rooms are very basic and sparsely furnished, giving off a camping-style vibe rather than an eco-lodge experience. The shower and bathroom facilities were uncomfortable, and the overall hygiene, particularly the bedding, was concerning—there was a lingering smell that made our stay quite unpleasant. To add to the disappointment, the first picture on the TripAdvisor page is misleading as there is no swimming pool at the lodge. Accessibility was another major issue, as the rooms were not easily reachable. Although the staff was friendly and did their best to accommodate us, it couldn’t make up for the subpar facilities. We ended up cutting our trip short due to these issues and would not return to this hotel. Unless you are specifically seeking a rustic, camping-style experience and prioritize location over comfort, I cannot recommend this accommodation.

We had drinks here. I would love to stay but we already had reservations. The hotel dog Milo is so sweet. They also have a gift shop. The staff was very professional and attentive. The credit card machine didn’t work when we settled the bill so bring some back up cash.

It was an extremely unpleasant experience. The manager with French roots had an arrogant attitude towards non-French customers. The kitchen was exceptionally slow and had a poor menu. The servers are a bit lazy and ignorant of table manners. The rooms are dirty, the lamps are broken, there is no hot water pressure, the toilet flush box is broken and the wifi is only in the restaurant but not at night. The prices are abnormally high for this mess.

Amazing views, good food, and an excellent location. We booked two cabins with fireplaces. Beds were warm and comfortable. Bathrooms were a little odd, but they were clean and there was hot water and good lighting. You could also have a cabin without a fireplace or tents. There is a fire pit and a restaurant. They also offer room service. The restaurant was very good, but they make (and sometimes source) as ordered, so feel free to order your meals ahead of time, e.g. "We will eat dinner at 8:00, here is our order." before you leave for the day. Otherwise, expect about an hour to hour and a half to prepare the meal. The restaurant is comfortable with a tv and fireplace. WE didn't mind the wait. The food was very good. And our family enjoyed the hot chocolate. There is no wifi in the rooms and they were having some issues with the wifi in the restaurant, but hopefully that's resolved. We weren't there to be connected anyway. The location is great for visiting the park as you are right on the edge. It's about 40 minutes to the park entrance.

It is true that this lodge is strategically placed. Ecological, I would not call it. (Plastic bottles, individually wrapped soap in plastic, plastic brushes,...) Our stay here was not great. Communication beforehand was not fluent: difficult to get clear answers via email, had to call, ... The rooms are basic and a bit run down. The matras was the only good thing. Food was not good. This place can be nice with a group as there are places to sit/chat/ foosball/ bonfire. Has a nice view of the forest, but that's all.

Rooms are at the top of a steep walkway, which was a challenge for our grandmother! Comfortable cabins, beautiful views, excellent service. We had our meals brought to our cabin to spare grandmother the steep walking path. Great tour of the tea plantation, thank you Josie! Buy the local Nyungwe honey from the little shop just down the road!