Mikeno Lodge is found in the eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo, about one and a half hours’ drive from Goma. The lodge is an ideal accommodation to stay at in case you are interested in trekking Virunga’s gorillas as well as hiking the legendary Nyiragongo volcano. To access this lodge from Rwanda, Kigali, you will drive to Gisenyi to cross the border into DR Congo (Goma) and then drive to Rumangabo.
The road from Goma to Rumangabo is only about 46 km but it can take to almost 2 hours’ drive to access the lodge, due to its very poor state.
There are however very many peripheral activities to do while at this fantastic, among them include; trekking of the endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, visiting the gorilla orphans at Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage (in Virunga), chimpanzee tracking, visiting the widows’ workshop, cultural encounters and birding, among many others.
Advance booking for both the gorilla permits and the lodge itself is highly advisable because this lodge is currently the only secure and authorized facility to offer accommodation to the Virunga National Park visitors. This means that the lodge is on a very high demand annually and if you delay to submit in your bookings earlier, you may end up in disappointments.
The lodge itself is very nice and situated in beautiful setting overlooking the plain below and the national park. The main building is a large central, thatched public space that includes a bar, dining room, office and shop. Then scattered around there are a number of large rooms that sit independently of each other and are all quite private. The rooms are spacious and equipped with top notch facilities. The shower is really good with plenty of pressure and in case you need warm water, it’s all available.
The main room has a large king-sized bed with a sitting area and a big fire place which is lit in the evening and will warm the room nicely. There is a decent veranda with chairs and tables, perfect for chilling as you observe the serene surroundings of the lodge accompanied with some soft drinks. All this is situated within the trees and during daylight hours there are always blue monkeys around eating the surprisingly large fruits that are plentiful on the large fig trees.
Mikeno Lodge has the best service ever and the food is exceptionally delicious. The lodge’s bar serves wine from South Africa and local beer as well which is really amazing. When you arrive earlier at the lodge, you will also be able to appreciate the beautiful surroundings of the lodge.
Booking your stay at Mikeno Lodge, you will have a variety of activities to engage in such as trekking the mountain gorillas, birding, visiting the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage Centre (the world’s only mountain gorilla orphanage), community visits, and many others. Hence, planning for a gorilla excursion in Virunga, Mikeno Lodge is your perfect accommodation to book and you will not regret your stay there!