Umutuzo Lodge Kivu Lake

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!

It is the third time I stop at Umutuzo Lodge. Always an amazing experience made of warm welcoming, marvelous view, Rwandan authenticity, very good meals and perfect comfort. Do not hesitate to ask Philippe ( Umutuzo owner) to organize for you small or big trips in the neighborhood. As an example, he perfectly organized for our family a multi-day complete tour of Rwanda : full satisfaction, competitive rate, transparency, possibilities to interact with him to adapt the program . We absolutely 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.

Great place with an amazing view, tasty food, very friendly staff, very clean and luxurious. Best: outdoor shower at each Lodge with amazing view over Lake Kivu. We recommend the trip to bugaru island and Coffee tasting.

Lovely lodge with awesome view on the bay and the islands. Very clean. Quality of the beds and above all, excellent and creative food. Plenty of things to do in the area. Nice bathrooms and plaisant cup op coffee on the balcony with a refreshing breeze.

Excellent food and beautiful lodges, with an exceptional view on the lake. The room was very confortable with a clear attention to detail from the staff. The bathroom was clean and spacious and was provided with shampoo, soap and body lotion.

Best hotel bed I have experienced so far. The rooms are outstanding. Great vieuw, quiet, peaceful. Wonderfull swimming and interaction with staff is fantastic. Many great activities that can be done.