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The Bishop's House

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

PremiumLodge
From, per person
$621
Size
9 rooms
Children
All ages
Location
In town
To Kinigi park HQ
30 min drive
Best months
Jun – Aug

The Bishop's House is a lodge of 9 rooms, independently owned, in town near Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Rates run $621 to $1,506 per person per night sharing over the next 12 months (full board). Gorilla permits are bought separately: $1,500 per person per trek.

Gorilla trekking
Treks start at Kinigi park HQ at 7am, about 30 minutes' drive away.
Massage and wellness
Massages.

Location

A colonial-style house in a quiet residential part of Musanze town, behind gates with a walled garden and pool. It is a town base rather than a park-edge lodge.

VolcanoesGarden

Rooms and reading room look towards the volcanic mountain range (peaks not named); walled tropical garden.

PositionIn town
Drive to Kinigi park HQ30 min
Compared with Volcanoes lodges8th closest of 9
ElevationNot published
Nearest townMusanze (Ruhengeri)
Helipad at the lodgeNot published

About 30 minutes to park HQ (Expert Africa); Mahlatini says about 25 minutes to the park.

Getting around

Bedrooms mostly upstairs; a couple on the ground floor.

Neighbours

Quiet suburbs of Musanze; gated property; pool on the adjoining plot.

Location from a mapping source. Pins show the lowest published rate per person per night.

Who it's for

Gorilla trekkingGorilla treks start from Volcanoes National Park HQ at Kinigi.
FamiliesWelcomes children of all ages. Gorilla treks are 15+, so younger children stay at the lodge during treks.
Massage and wellnessMassages.

Tags come from verified facts, not opinions. Each one shows why it applies.

Gorilla trekking and activities

Treks are run by the Rwanda Development Board, not the lodge. Every visitor meets at park headquarters in Kinigi at 7am and is assigned to a gorilla family. Your lodge books the permit and drives you there.

Permit$1,500 per person per trek
Minimum age15
Group sizeUp to 8 visitors
Time with the gorillas1 hour
Low-season discount30% off Nov–May*
Porter (optional)About $10 + tip

*With at least 2 nights in Akagera or Nyungwe on the same trip. Fees from the Rwanda Development Board, 2026.

Activities at The Bishop's House

ActivityCostMin. ageNotes
Gorilla trekkingExtra cost (permit)15Permit extra (national rule: min age 15); permit price USD 1,500 per Wilderness/Singita
Cultural / community visitIncluded—Evening cultural talk; guided walks to villages and Musanze town

How reliably you'll see

Mountain gorillas · Very likely (97% of surveyed travellers saw them)Buffalo · Sometimes (22% of surveyed travellers saw them)Elephant · Rare (2% of surveyed travellers saw them)

Park fees and permits

WhatAdultPer
Golden monkey tracking$100per person
Mount Bisoke climb$75per person
Dian Fossey tomb hike$75per person
Exclusive gorilla trek (whole group, max 8)$15,000per group

Foreign non-resident rates from Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

When to go

Best conditionsGoodWetter or quieterBlue dots: rainfall

Volcanoes National Park is at its best Jun – Aug, in the long dry season. The long rains run March to May and the short rains October to November. Treks and drives go ahead in the rain, and lodges often charge less.

Rates

Per person per night, sharing. Full board: meals only. We don't sell trips; these are prices published by an agent, pending the operator's rate sheet.

DatesSeasonRoomRate
2026
Jan 1 – Dec 22HighDeluxe Room$621
Jan 1 – Dec 22HighExecutive Suite$1,394
Jan 1 – Dec 22HighJunior Suite$796
Jan 1 – Dec 22HighSuite$953
2027
Jan 1 – Dec 22HighDeluxe Room$671
Jan 1 – Dec 22HighExecutive Suite$1,506
Jan 1 – Dec 22HighJunior Suite$860
Jan 1 – Dec 22HighSuite$1,029
Park feesNot included
DrinksYes (soft drinks, local beer, house wine, selected non-premium spirits; premium extra)
Gorilla permitsNot included ($1,500 each)
ChildrenChildren of all ages welcome; no child pricing stated
Minimum stayNot published
Single supplementNot stated
Peak rate vs Volcanoes National Park median48% below
Priced inUSD

Also included or excluded: Per-room rate USD 1242 per night; pppn = room rate / 2. Flat annual rate (single published period 01 Jan-22 Dec; 23-31 Dec not covered). Taxes, levies, service charge, laundry incl.; vehicle hire excl..

Rooms and amenities

Rooms

  • 9 × En-suite room, antique four-poster bed; walk-in shower · connecting rooms available

Amenities

Spa / massageLibrary / loungeLaundry serviceWi-Fi in rooms (in room)Accessible unit

Getting there

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL), then go by road or helicopter.

By road
3 h

From $395 per vehicle, one way. Your lodge or agent arranges the driver; there's no need to find one yourself.

Helicopter · Akagera Aviation
30 min

From $1,771 per aircraft, one way. Smallest helicopter seats 3 with a 180 kg limit for people and bags.

Who flies

Akagera Aviation
Agusta 109; Agusta 139; Robinson 44; Agusta 119

Helicopter charters, lodge/park transfers and scenic tours across Rwanda. Limit is total weight (passengers + luggage) per aircraft per route.

Questions

How much does The Bishop's House cost?

$621 to $1,506 per person per night sharing over the next 12 months, from an agent's published rates (checked 2026-10-21). Rates are full board. Gorilla permits ($1,500 per person per trek) are extra.

When is the best time to visit The Bishop's House?

June, July and August are the driest, best months in Volcanoes National Park. The long rains run March to May; lodges stay open and prices are lower.

Can children stay at The Bishop's House?

Yes, children of all ages are welcome. Gorilla trekking is only for ages 15 and up, so younger children stay at the lodge during treks.

How do you get to The Bishop's House?

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL). Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours by road from Kigali or about 30 minutes by helicopter.

Before you go

VisasVisa on arrival available to citizens of all countries (since 1 Jan 2018) or in advance via Irembo; visa fee max USD 50 single-entry / USD 70 multiple-entry; fee waived for 30-day visits by AU, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens; EAC citizens get a free 6-month pass; passport should be valid 6 months beyond departure.
Yellow feverCertificate required for travellers aged 1+ arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission; not required when arriving directly from non-risk countries (e.g. the US). Vaccine generally not recommended for Rwanda itself.
MalariaThe CDC says malaria is present in all areas of Rwanda, primarily P. falciparum, chloroquine-resistant; prescription prophylaxis recommended (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine or tafenoquine). Visit Rwanda also recommends prophylaxis.
TippingTypical guidance: private guide USD 10 pp/day; park guide USD 5 pp per trek; rangers USD 5 each; trackers USD 5 per group; porter hire ~USD 10 plus USD 2-5 tip (Volcanoes Safaris suggests USD 20 pp/day for gorilla porters); lodge staff USD 5-10 pp/day; tip in cash USD or RWF.
MoneyRates are quoted in US dollars; the local currency is the Rwandan franc (RWF).
PlugsTypes C, E, F, G · 230V 50Hz

Rules change. Check official sources before you travel.

Sources

Every fact on this page is tied to a source. Facts checked 2026-10-21. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

Agent listing
yellowzebrasafaris.com/rwanda/accommodation/the-bishops-house/
Supports: Activities, Adults only, Amenities, Land type, Location, Minimum age, Operator, Rooms, Status, Style, Wi-Fi
high
2026-10-21
Agent listing
expertafrica.com/rwanda/volcanoes-national-park/bishops-house/in-detail
Supports: Drive to activities, Getting around, Position, Views
medium
2026-10-21
Agent listing
mahlatini.com/us/rwanda/volcanoes-national-park/the-bishops-house
Supports: Drive to activities, Neighbours, Views
medium
2026-10-21
high
2026-10-21
medium
2026-10-21

Photos show Volcanoes National Park, not The Bishop's House: Photo: Carine06 from UK, CC BY-SA 2.0; Photo: Adygrafix250, CC BY 4.0; Photo: Carine06 from UK, CC BY-SA 2.0; Photo: Wood Wildlife Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0; Photo: Carine06 from UK, CC BY-SA 2.0.