Of all the wildlife explorations possible in Africa, one of the most beguiling is the observation of mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The number of observers is restricted—only 56 allowed per day so as to not overwhelm the seven habituated gorilla families—and the experience is as authentic as it gets: visitors trek up to the gorillas’ habitat and watch them from a safe distance in their forest home. What has been lacking so far, though, is a truly upscale lodge as the base of operations but that will change on June 1 with the opening of Wilderness Safaris’ Bisate Lodge just outside of the park.
The location itself would be notable enough even without its proximity to the park headquarters for easier early morning entry for the trek. Located within an eroded volcanic cone, the lodge’s elevation lends straight on views of three mountain peaks: Mount Bisoke just in front, Mount Karisimbi, the highest volcano, to its side and just beyond, the rugged peak of Mount Mikeno over the line in the Congo. Surrounding the lodge, which will be reachable by a funicular, is a thicket of indigenous trees such as Hagenia and mountain bamboo which Wilderness Safaris is working to restore, bringing back birds, butterflies and mammals in the process.
More at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewerner/2016/12/22/where-to-go-on-a-gorilla-trek-in-2017/#24a48ff84f8d
The location itself would be notable enough even without its proximity to the park headquarters for easier early morning entry for the trek. Located within an eroded volcanic cone, the lodge’s elevation lends straight on views of three mountain peaks: Mount Bisoke just in front, Mount Karisimbi, the highest volcano, to its side and just beyond, the rugged peak of Mount Mikeno over the line in the Congo. Surrounding the lodge, which will be reachable by a funicular, is a thicket of indigenous trees such as Hagenia and mountain bamboo which Wilderness Safaris is working to restore, bringing back birds, butterflies and mammals in the process.
More at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewerner/2016/12/22/where-to-go-on-a-gorilla-trek-in-2017/#24a48ff84f8d