GUEST REVIEWS & STORIES
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel Reviews: Real Guests, Real Gorilla Journeys
Do not take our word for it. Hear it from the couples, families and travel professionals who trekked with the gorillas and came home to Five Volcanoes.
Anniversaries, bucket‒list dreams and a tour guide who has brought more than 100 guests a year since day one. These are their stories, in their own words.
✓ 4.7 / 5 guest rating on Tripadvisor, Travellers' Choice 2024
✓ 9.6 "Amazing" on Trip.com
✓ 17 rooms and suites, about 15 minutes from Volcanoes National Park headquarters
✓ One team for your permit, stay, transfers and the whole itinerary
Real guests · Their own words · Filmed at Five Volcanoes and in Volcanoes National Park
No payment is required to inquire. We reply personally with your plan and quote.
What guests say about Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Guests rate Five Volcanoes 4.7 out of 5 on Tripadvisor, where it received the Travellers' Choice Award 2024, and 9.6 "Amazing" on Trip.com. In their reviews, three things come up again and again: a team that remembers your name, a calm gorilla trek morning only about 15 minutes from Volcanoes National Park headquarters, and real care after the forest. Below, guests tell their stories in their own words.
RATED BY REAL GUESTS
What guests write on Tripadvisor, Google and Trip.com
Independent reviews from travellers who stayed with us. Read them yourself, then tell us about your own trip.
TRIPADVISOR
4.7
out of 5 · Travellers' Choice 2024
Rated by travellers from around the world.
GUEST STORY · TREK DAY
“We saw it all”: Ann and Bruce on trek day
Seeing mountain gorillas had been on Ann and Bruce’s bucket list for years. On trek day they were on the road by 6:30, met their rangers at park headquarters and spent their hour with silverbacks, playful juveniles and mothers with babies.
Back at the hotel around 10:30, the team was waiting with warm towels and helped them out of their muddy boots. They loved it so much that they trekked a second day.
“If seeing mountain gorillas is on your bucket list, make it happen. And when you do, come home to Five Volcanoes.”
Ann, guest at Five Volcanoes
GUEST STORY · 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
“This was the biggest surprise that I could ever get!”
Tanja found out only shortly before departure where they were going. Her husband Ernest had planned everything for their 25th anniversary, even the packing list.
After a long journey they arrived at Five Volcanoes. A surprise upgrade to the private Volcano Manor, massages for two and a romantic dinner under the lanterns were waiting. Then came the gorillas.
“We've experienced so much wildlife in South Africa, but coming face to face with mountain gorillas in Rwanda was always on our bucket-list. The level of professionalism and kindness from the Five Volcanoes team made our anniversary truly magical.”
Ernest and Tanja, South Africa
GUEST STORY · PLANNING THE SURPRISE
How Ernest planned an anniversary Tanja will never forget
Ernest kept the destination a secret until shortly before departure. Together with our team he planned every detail: gorilla permits, transfers, massages for two and a candlelit dinner. We added a surprise of our own, an upgrade to the private Volcano Manor.
One contact, one plan, from the first email to the last goodbye. That is what a lodge and licensed tour operator in one makes possible.
Planning a surprise of your own?
Tell us the occasion. We take care of permits, transfers and every detail at the hotel, quietly and in the background.
ROMANCE · EVENINGS AT FIVE VOLCANOES
Lantern-lit dinners, a crackling fire, time for two
After trek day the hotel slows down. Dinner for two in the garden gazebo, by the pool under lanterns or around a private barbecue. A massage, a glass of wine by the fireplace. With only 17 rooms and suites, evenings here feel like your own.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
The same gorillas. A different kind of stay.
The ultra-luxury lodges around Volcanoes National Park are spectacular, and they often start at around USD 1,500 per person per night before the permit. Every guest meets the same mountain gorillas in the same forest. What changes is how you are looked after before and after the trek, and what the trip costs in total.
PERMIT INCLUDED
One price, no surprises
Our packages include the USD 1,500 gorilla permit, Full Board and your private driver. 3 nights from USD 2,815 per person, with the Golden Monkey permit included as well.
LODGE + TOUR OPERATOR
One team for the whole journey
We are a hotel and a licensed tour operator in one. We secure your permits, drive you in our own vehicles and plan every day of your itinerary. Nothing falls between agencies.
17 ROOMS AND SUITES
Small enough to know your name
Not a resort. A boutique hotel where the team remembers your name, your coffee and your trek day plan. Many of them have been with us for years.
15 MINUTES TO PARK HQ
Close to the gorillas and to Rwanda
An easy trek morning from Kinigi park headquarters, and Musanze town with its markets, restaurants and culture right on your doorstep.
MADE FOR CELEBRATIONS
Romance, arranged quietly
Anniversaries, honeymoons, birthdays. Private garden dinners, poolside lanterns, barbecues under the stars and massages, set up in the background.
BOOK DIRECT
Agency rate plus an upgrade
Direct guests get the same rate international tour operators pay us, plus a complimentary suite upgrade whenever one is available on your dates.
Ultra-luxury lodge rates are indicative, based on publicly listed prices (October 2026), and vary by season and room type.
GUEST STORY · TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL
“Guide for Life”: Paul’s story
Paul is a tour guide for Natural Habitat Adventures and was one of our very first guests. Today he brings around 100 travellers a year to Five Volcanoes.
Why does a professional who could stay anywhere keep coming back? A team that knows his groups, remembers their preferences and handles every detail before he has to ask.
For tour operators and guides:
Reliable permits, our own vehicles and the same faces every season. Ask us about partner rates.
GUEST STORY · THE JOURNEY
“A journey worth every mile”: Bruce’s gorilla trek
Bruce travelled with Ann to the foot of the Virunga volcanoes. In his video he shares what trek day felt like and why the long journey to Rwanda was worth every single mile.
Good to know:
Five Volcanoes is 15 minutes from park headquarters. You start trek day rested and are back at the hotel in time for a hot shower and lunch.
GUEST STORY · NO FILTER
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda: Doug’s real experience
No script, no filter. Doug talks about trek day as it really was: the early start, the hike through the forest and the moment the gorillas appeared.
If you want to know what to expect before you book, start with this video.
Our tip:
Tell us about your fitness and your travel style. We help you prepare for trek day and plan the right number of nights.
GUEST STORY · THE PORTERS
“My porter, Alfons, held my hand the whole way.”
On the slopes of the Virungas a porter is much more than someone who carries your bag. Porters steady you on muddy paths, help you up the steep parts and celebrate with you when the gorillas appear.
Our advice:
Always hire a porter. Your trek gets easier, and the money goes straight to families in the communities around the park.
WHAT GUESTS MENTION MOST
Four things guests talk about after their stay
The gorillas are the reason guests come to Rwanda. These are the reasons they remember their stay.
A team that knows your name
“The team remembered our names, paid attention to every detail, and made us feel truly cared for – not just as guests, but as people.” Ann and Bruce, USA
A calm trek morning
About 15 minutes to park headquarters, so the day starts with breakfast, not a long drive. Ann and Bruce were on the road at 06:30 and back at the lodge by 10:30.
Care after the forest
Warm towels, help out of muddy boots, a complimentary foot massage, the pool and the sauna. Recovery is part of the experience, not an extra.
Giving back to the community
“We especially appreciated that the hotel gives back to the local communities. It's not just something they say – it's something they live.” Ann and Bruce, USA
THE GARDEN · YOUR BASE IN MUSANZE
A garden to come home to
Breakfast by the pool with weaver birds, a welcome drink when you arrive, a quiet afternoon in the sun after the trek. This is what our guests remember alongside the gorillas.
Guest stories for every kind of traveller
COUPLES & CELEBRATIONS
Anniversaries and honeymoons
Ernest surprised Tanja with a gorilla trek for their 25th anniversary. A private candlelit dinner, massages and the Volcano Manor turned the trip into the celebration they had dreamed of.
BUCKET-LIST TRAVELLERS
First time with the gorillas
Doug, Ann and Bruce had wanted to see mountain gorillas for years. They share honestly what the trek, the difficulty and the hour with the gorillas really felt like.
TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS
A guide who has trusted us since day one
Paul, a tour guide for Natural Habitat Adventures, was one of our very first guests. Today he brings around 100 travellers a year and values a team that knows his groups' preferences.
“Our home away from home”
“We truly wished we could have stayed longer. The Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel became our home away from home.” Bruce, USA
“Simply exceptional”
“The team is simply exceptional. No matter what you wish for, whether it's a simple request or something out of the ordinary, they will do everything possible to make it happen.” Bruce, USA
“A big part of what made it special”
“It has been a tremendous pleasure being in Rwanda – and staying at Five Volcanoes was a big part of what made this journey so special.” Ann, USA
“This is how much I trust them”
“I bring around 100 guests a year, this is how much I trust Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel!” Paul, tour guide for Natural Habitat Adventures
A HOME FOR TRAVELLERS IN RWANDA
Why guests feel at home here
Five Volcanoes is a boutique hotel of 17 rooms and suites in Musanze, not a resort. Many of our team members have been with us for years, which is why returning guides like Paul find the same faces and the same care every season. Robert Twibaze shares his vision of creating a home for travellers in Rwanda on our YouTube channel, alongside more stories from our guests, rangers and porters.
Why our guests book directly with Five Volcanoes
- Lodge and licensed tour operator in one: permit, stay, transfers and itinerary from one team
- Official RDB gorilla permits secured directly, confirmed in writing before you pay
- The same rate that international tour operators pay us, without an agency margin on top
- A complimentary suite upgrade for direct guests whenever a suite is available on your dates
- Our own private vehicles and drivers from Kigali, not an outsourced transfer company
- Personal planning by people who have trekked to the gorillas themselves
Plan the journey our guests loved
2-Night Essential Stay
- From USD 2,435 per person
- Gorilla permit, Full Board and private driver included
3-Night Signature Journey · Most recommended
- From USD 2,815 per person
- Gorilla and Golden Monkey permits, Full Board and private driver included
4-Night Slow Journey
- From USD 3,295 per person
- Both permits plus a full day for rest, culture or a volcano hike
Celebrations and families
- Private dinners, the Honeymoon Cottage or the Volcano Manor
PERSONAL PLANNING SUPPORT
Plan Your Rwanda Gorilla Journey
Tell us your preferred travel dates, number of guests and what matters most for this journey. We will personally review room availability, official permit timing, private transfers and the itinerary around your priorities.
Whether you are planning a milestone birthday, anniversary, honeymoon or a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife journey, this first inquiry helps us understand the pace, comfort and experiences that would make the trip feel right for you.
This is an inquiry only - not a confirmed booking. No payment is required at this stage.
- Your details are handled confidentially.
- We reply personally with suitable room options, logistics and practical next steps.
- Official permits remain subject to Rwanda Development Board availability and confirmation.
Five Volcanoes can assist with practical coordination around accommodation, transfers and requested trekking dates. Official permits are issued through the Rwanda Development Board process and cannot be guaranteed until officially confirmed.
Download Your Complimentary Gorilla Trekking GuideFive Volcanoes reviews: frequently asked questions
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YOUR STORY NEXT
Ready to write your own gorilla story?
Tell us your dates, number of guests and what you are celebrating. We check official permit availability first and reply personally with one plan for your permit, stay, transfers and itinerary.