Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel is a mid-range hilltop retreat located on a beautiful hill in Buvungira Cell, Bushekeri Subdivision of Nyamasheke District, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel shows widespread views of Nyungwe Forest, Lake Kivu, and the distant volcanoes of Northern Rwanda and Eastern DR Congo. The lodge flawlessly combines modern amenities with authentic Rwandan style, offering guests a serene and memorable stay. Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel has a relaxing hill-top setting in the locality of Rwanda’s spectacular Nyungwe Forest. It offers simple accommodation in a tranquil location and is ideal for guests who want to explore the many natural attractions of this beautiful area.
You will arrive at a round two-story structure that houses the reception on the lower floor and the diner on the upper level. The bar which is creatively decorated with bottle tops, adds a unique, colourful touch to the space. Guests can enjoy meals and drinks on the sweeping veranda, furnished with durable, weather-resistant tables and chairs, perfect for soaking in the hilltop vistas. Warm, observant service and thoughtful touches like early morning packed breakfasts for forest excursions enhance your stay, while open-air dining and shared sitting spaces inspire persistent stories of the day’s discoveries.
From this hotel, you can embark on guided chimpanzee and colobus treks, plunge yourself in birding walks through an ecosystem crossing more than 1,000 km2 of protected forest, or challenge yourself on Nyungwe’s high canopy walk. The lodge’s adjacent proximity to the park’s headquarters makes these experiences easy to reach.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, and the largest span of forest in Rwanda, covering 1,019 km2 of dense Afromontane forests, bamboo-covered slopes, grasslands and wetlands. Over 1,100 recorded plant species, 345 bird species and 85 known mammal species, including 13 of Africa’s primates notably, chimpanzee, Rwenzori black-and-white colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys – are found in this exceptional landscape. This Park lies near Lake Kivu, in Burundi and Congo. It was declared a National Park in 2004 and is spectacularly situated on an area of 970 sq. km. Nyungwe is extensively composed of a lush rainforest with other diverse habitats that offer refuge to its abundant faunal & floral species.
Accommodation at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel Design
The 12 red-bricked cottages at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel are ranged in two rows, one on each side of the rondavel, along two sides of the meadow. While inspired by traditional circular huts, the rondavel joins modern design elements, including pointed modern sofas, dark tiled stairs, and mezzanine balconies. Every cottage houses a bedroom, a small lounge area at the front, with terracotta-tiled floors, a sofa, a chair and a coffee table, and a fireplace. Although the furniture is different in every cottage, it is pointed and modern throughout, and not of great quality. Even the colourful new sofas and curtains feel a bit mismatched and the rooms don’t really have a unified design. It also appeared that some cottages had been finished to a higher standard than others.
The bedrooms are fairly sparse, furnished only with a double, twin or triple beds, a chest of drawers and dangling space for clothes, but they have plenty of space and are spotlessly clean. African patterned throws cover the beds and there is traditional Rwandan ‘imigorigo’ artwork on the walls. There are no fans or air conditioner but the team here will put hot-water bottles in your beds on cold nights.
Tourist Activities to Do While at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Staying at the Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel puts you just three kilometers from the park headquarters, making it a great base for exploring Nyungwe National Park. The hotel even provides a driver to take you to your starting points.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Nyungwe is most popular for its amazing chimpanzee trekking expeditions. The guided chimp treks involve exploring already habituated communities of chimpanzees, and this can be done from the Cyamudongo, Uwinka, or Kitabi sectors. Join early morning guided walks to track and observe playful chimpanzee families in their natural habitat.
Colobus Monkey Tracking
Colobus monkey tracking offers a unique opportunity for you to witness more of Nyungwe’s diverse primates. The Park holds a record of 400 colobus monkeys with a good population that has undergone the habituation process. Hike out to see large troops of active Ruwenzori colobus monkeys swinging through the trees.
Nyungwe Canopy Walk
Nyungwe offers the best canopy walk experience and the first of its kind in the East African region. Expect to embark on a guided walk along the 200m walkway, built 60m above the ground. The canopy walk often comes with amazing primate and bird sightings. Walk across a suspended bridge set 60 meters above the forest floor for incredible aerial views of the treetops.
Guided Nature Hikes
Different hiking trails are present in Nyungwe forests and can be explored by nature enthusiasts. The checklist of hiking trails to consider exploring in Nyungwe includes Rukuzi trail, Irebero walking trail, Bigugu, Umoyove trail, Imbaraga hiking trail, Isumo Waterfall, Ngabwe, Congo-Nile divide trail, Kamiranzovu hiking trail, and Igishigishigi walking trail.
The most popular walking trails to explore in Nyungwe include Ngabwe trail, which is 4.7 km, and visitors can spend up to 3 hours as they unearth its wonders. This trail is famous for its primate encounters, especially L’hoest monkeys, mangabey monkeys, chimpanzees, silver monkeys, and several birds. Choose from diverse hiking trails like the Igishigishigi or Isumo waterfall trails to see rare plants, butterflies, and waterfalls.
Birdwatching
Nyungwe never disappoints when it comes to bird-watching and nature walking expeditions. Diverse birdlife in the varying habitats awaits you to identify in the lush Nyungwe Forest. The distinct birds to find on a birding tour in Nyungwe include the red-backed shrikes, Archer’s robin chats, Rwenzori turacos, Kivu ground thrush, less gray shrikes, red-collared mountain babblers, regal sunbird, Lagden’s shrikes, African crested flycatchers, and others. Spot some of the 270-plus bird species recorded in the lush rainforest
How to book for Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Top View Hill Hotel can be booked with Bujuku eco tours and travel a trusted tour company as part of a tailor-made Rwanda trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Reach out to us as we customize one of our recommended Rwanda trips featuring Top View Hill Hotel or get advice and suggestions from one of our Rwanda trips specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Location of Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel is situated in Gisakura, Nyamasheke District, Western Province, Rwanda. Perched atop a high ridge on the forest periphery, it sits just outside Nyungwe National Park and provides panoramic 360-degree views of the rainforest, surrounding tea plantations, and Lake Kivu.