Umutuzo Lodge Kivu Lake

My family and I have just spent 3 fantastic nights in Umutozo lodge. The location is genuinely breathtaking, on the shores of lake Kivu. From the moment we arrived we were made to feel totally at home. The staff are all exceptionally helpful and friendly. I can honestly say I have never stayed at a place that has such a joyful, communal feel to it. I had read that dinner is served communally and as a reserved Englishman I wasn’t sure if I liked that idea but in reality it was truly lovely. It gave my family and I an opportunity to meet fellow travellers from around the world and it made the whole experience so homely. We loved it. The owner Phillipe is extremely hands on and a wonderful host. A very interesting, humble man, it was a pleasure to meet him. Similarly Eric, the hotel manager is someone my family and I will never forget. A lovely man and very helpful. I would highly recommend visiting Rwanda and any visit to Rwanda would not be complete without a stay at Umutuzo lodge. To all the team, thanks for making our stay so special.

Firstly, of the last 10 km offroad, only last 2 kms is really bad..but still manageable..can be done via 2wd also, but not in rainy or muddy season. Now coming to the property, its really a hidden paradise..the moment you enter you are mesmerised by the views of the lake and serenity around..rooms are large, spacious and self sufficient with fridge, kettle, tea etc. The owner Philipe, is really a gentleman and a great story teller..u can talk to him for hours without getting bored..all the staff is really nice and the chef cooks amazing meals...there are many activities also that can be donesuch as kayaking, boat tripa to nearby islands etc, or jst swim in the lake in case u dnt want to do anything.. If given a chance, would love to stay here more frequently.

As a tour operator, and travel enthusiastic, I would say that Umutuzo lodge is now the best property on the shores of lake Kivu. The thing that impressed us most is the beauty of the place, the gentle service especially from Philippe (The owner), the natural serenity, and the possibility to actually network. I, and my partner had an unforgettable stay, though it was too brief. We shall definitely come back, and we highly recommend the property. Sandra et Koen

Really nice place! The view from the lodge is breathtaking and the surroundings are amazing. The staff is really welcoming and the food delicious. One of the best places we have stayed in Rwanda. Would definitely recommend!

NEVER AGAIN After a long day and drive, we decided to reward ourselves with an overnight stay at Umutuzo lodge. The photos looked very promising. What I can say is that this overnight stay only caused us stress. 1. The road to the lodge is terrible. Lots of stones and holes. You literally destroy your car. A car that is not a 4x4 cannot handle this road. This was not communicated, which seemed very strange to us. We communicated this to the manager and asked for a solution to get back to the main road. The manager put us in touch with owner Philippe. The owner just laughed at us and said it was our mistake. That he shouldn't communicate this. We received many insults fron Philiooe and we decided to end the conversation. Then he decided to blame us further through WhatsApp. This is not customer service and we did not feel welcome. Because of this bad experience we decided to leave early the next morning. We were indeed unable to get our car back to the main road, so we had to seek extra help. 2. What you see in the pictures is not what you get. The resort has a lot of potential but is not finished. There are 2 lodges ready, both with a view of a construction site. This construction site obstructed our view of the lake. There were also a lot of people and noise in front of our lodge from 7 am, so we were not able to enjoy our outdoor shower and terrace. The only positive thing I would say is that Eric and the chef remained very friendly. It's not fair that they have to apologize for their boss's behavior. Not worth your money or time!

I was in Rwanda for a month and stayed here for a week, two days after I arrived. It was a fabulous introduction to the country. The lodge provided modern comfort in a beautiful tranquil setting. A short stroll from my room and I was at the lake where I could happily swim to my heart’s content. The lake water was cool and clean so I swam every day. The chef has worked in 5-star hotels and not only provided good tasting, healthy meals, but his service and personal attention were outstanding. The owner lives onsite and really cares about his guests. I felt really special because of his personal attention and his insistence on such attention by his staff, for all guests. There are interesting local experiences you can do (for reasonale rates). I did quite a few and thoroughly enjoyed each one. Interacting with the people in the area this way really boosted my spirits and made it difficult for me to leave after a week. Back at home now I’m still talking about what goes into coffee production - and I don’t even drink coffee! I really loved the room, and while the outside shower may have been my favourite part, the good wifi connection comfortable bed, balcony chairs and inclusion of a kitchnette, were great. I could have happily stayed here for the entire month. It was my favourite hotel of the entire trip. A few times while in other parts of the country, I considered leaving early so that I could return to Umotuzo. It really offers serenity. I feel blessed to have found the lodge and to have stayed there.