Reviews of Mountain Gorilla View

"The room was lovely, with a fire every day and hot water bottle heaters each evening. The staff took great care in cleaning shoes and socks at the end of the treks. There was a minor problem with the water from one of the sinks, but it didn't interfere with our enjoyment of the place - and the shower was great. Food - excellent and plentiful!" See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 5n in Rwanda

"The staff was exceptional.

The rooms are rather run down. It was very cold and the rooms did not have heat. The showers are dated and toiletries limited. I am vegetarian and was told by Jessica this would be accommodated. The buffet had limited options which where the same throughout my stay. If the weather was warmer I do believe the experience my have been different." See all these reviews: 6n in Rwanda

"Out of all the hotels Expert Africa booked for us, we feel like this one fell short of meeting up with our standards. Although staff were very friendly and willing to help, we couldn't look past the poor WiFi (only available in lounge), occasional but all too common power-cuts and an oversized bathroom which had an open shower (it was very difficult to warm up in the cooler altitudes of the Volcanos National Park).

The furnishings were outdated and the windows did not shut entirely making the room very cold at night and easy for nature to creep its way inside...

Staff do assist with this issue by including wood for a fireplace and turn down service which includes a hot water bottle between the sheets. The room was also equipped with an electric heater which we also used.

We would like to commend this hotel on their daily 5pm tribal show performed by the students of a nearby school and also their fantastic food (especially the soup).

We were also pleased that the hotel was well-stocked with equipment for our Golden Monkey and Gorilla treks. They also very promptly assisted with washing all of our gear from any mud as we entered the hotel gate after a trek." See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya; 4n in Rwanda

"Security seemed lacking. There was nothing to stop locals from entering the grounds. We were in the last chalet before the village path to the back of the site and were asked for money by individuals passing by.

The chalet was large and had probably been very pleasant at some point but was tired and run down. Having the fire lit in the afternoon became a highlight although in reality, although cheerful, it gave off little heat and the electric heater was also ineffective.

The staff were a mixed bunch who seemed to lack training. One or two were very helpful whilst the remainder seemed only interested in trying to make money or play on their mobile phones.

The food was unappetising. Every meal was a lukewarm buffet. One night the buffet was supplemented by a barbecue. The barbecue was set up in the dining room and the smoke was so intense it was impossible to see the end of the room." See all these reviews: 12n in Rwanda

"If the focus is seeing the gorillas it's a good solution. I have stayed here twice, the last time was 6 years ago.

Nothing much has changed since then. The chalets are very large and the staff work hard to keep them looking good. It is very reasonable as a launch point to get to the park each day.

The fireplace in the chalet is really cosy, and the water always hot. Food is basic and buffet style. You can hire gators and gloves for the trek. Check credit card facilities with Expert Africa as Reception told us we could we pay with a credit card but on check out they said it wasn't possible." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia; 7n in Zambia; 5n in Rwanda; 1n in South Africa

"We had a great time at Mountain Gorilla View lodge. We felt safe! The freestanding cottages were outstanding.

We loved the wood burning fireplace that they lit every night. Loved the hot water bottles placed in our bed every night.

The staff and could not do enough for us. The chef did a great job. The food was excellent. Its a great location. Just a short walk to the Dian Fossey Museum. Highly recommend visiting the Museum.

The local people performed dance and song every night. They were so good. We danced with them. Amazing to see." See all these reviews: 6n in Rwanda; 6n in Kenya

"The Mountain Gorilla View Lodge served as our base for gorilla and golden monkey trekking. The drive from Kigali to the lodge was beautiful with all the hills, people, and livestock along the way. The lodge itself was rustic and comfortable. Rooms were large and had a fireplace that the staff would help start every evening. It was cold at night and into the early morning in mid-October but in addition to the fireplace, a small space heater and hot water bottles to heat up the bed were provided to keep us warm. The lighting in the bathroom was a bit eerie and could be improved. Our room ran out of hot water the first night but that was likely due to my wife taking a long hot shower :)

Dinners were served buffet-style and would always be a soup (which was fantastic, especially as the weather was cold), a grain, a meat, vegetables and dessert. Chef Alfred would also be manning a table where he would cook up some stir-fry on the spot. Food overall was average and nothing to write home about. Towards the end of each night, Alfred would entertain us by singing some African songs which was a great way to end the meal. For lunch, a good array of options were provided for us to order from and we felt that the non-buffet style was slightly more to our liking.

Every evening, a local dance troupe comes by for some pre-dinner entertainment and we got to experience it our second night. It got our group dancing a bit and we all had a good time.

For gorilla trekking, the lodge rents out gloves and gaiters. The gaiters ($5/day) are a must for trekking and it'll protect your clothes and shoes from the mud and prevents safari ants from getting into your clothes. We didn't rent gloves and were OK without them. When we got back from trekking, the staff provide complimentary boot cleaning and they do a phenomenal job. Our muddy boots would always come back looking like new--we don't know how they do it! Complimentary foot massages are also provided if you want them upon returning from trekking.

There is a small gift shop at the lodge but prices are somewhat higher than outside the lodge--a premium for extra convenience I suppose. Wi-Fi, albeit not the fastest and a bit spotty, is available in the main lodge. All of the staff was very kind and service was good. One thing we noticed was that the staff did not wear masks here though. Our group wasn't bothered by this but others may be. Overall, we had a pleasant stay at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and would happily stay here again." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 5n in Rwanda

"Had this nice end-of-the-world feeling, with a menacing view of a mean morning mountain from our bungalow that we could look at satisfyingly in the evening after a successful ascent.

Lit fireplace in the bungalows and hot water bottled between the sheets!" See all these reviews: 7n in Zanzibar; 5n in Rwanda; 4n in Zambia; 1n in Tanzania

"Great location with superb views.
The lodge needs refurbishments here and there. Nice, huge room. Very friendly, great service by the staff.
Food just ok; no ice for mixed drinks :(. It gets quite cold - in the mornings and evenings. A joy having the fireplace in the room." See all these reviews: 6n in Rwanda

"Mountain Gorilla View Lodge was fantastic. Reading previous reviews on other websites Gorilla View was rated as "simple," however, I would say that this was a luxury lodge and WONDERFUL! If anyone is in the area they should absolutely stay here. You get a luxury stay for half the price of other places! The lodge was also only 10 minutes from the starting point for both the golden monkey and the mountain gorilla meeting area.

Every night employees would walk you back to your lodge to ensure you arrived safely. They would also set a fire for you every night, and on top of that, each night a hot water bottle was in the bed to keep you warm! The lodge was set back into the trees and had a very secluded, authentic feel. The communal area with wifi and a fire was great for meeting other travelers and was very cozy.

Great stay at a great place!" See all these reviews: 4n in Rwanda; 4n in Kenya