A recent visit to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, near the Congo border, transformed into an unforgettable adventure, highlighted by a surprising encounter with a juvenile gorilla at the brand-new Bistate Reserve. The experience, which involved a quick, playful punch from the 3-foot-tall primate, underscored the profound connections possible within this unique ecosystem and the exceptional hospitality offered by the Wilderness Bisate Reserve, a recent extension of the successful Bisate Lodge.

Wilderness, a renowned conservation and hospitality company, established the Bisate Reserve in September on the same property as its existing Bisate Lodge. According to Manzi Kayihura, chairman of Wilderness Rwanda, the reserve was developed to amplify the positive impact achieved by the lodge, focusing on further reforestation, natural habitat restoration, employment, and community upliftment. While not intended to surpass the existing lodge's luxury, the Bisate Reserve aims to enhance the guest experience by offering a "luxury of space." This includes significantly larger room sizes designed for extended lounge areas, in-room dining, and private spa treatments, catering to guests who prefer to relax in their private villas, especially after strenuous gorilla trekking.

Upon arrival at the reserve, guests are met with unparalleled service, from a friendly security guard to hotel managers and porters who handle all luggage. The main lodge, a stunning replica of a royal Rwandan residence, features a towering thatched roof, a central crackling fireplace, an emerald-green bar, and a gleaming green glass chandelier that mirrors the surrounding volcano landscape.

The accommodation at Bisate Reserve consists of four en-suite villas, each offering an expansive and meticulously designed space. Guests first enter a spacious mudroom, essential after muddy gorilla hikes, where staff assist with gear removal and cleaning. Beyond this, the main lounge area boasts a full kitchen stocked with treats, a plush seating area facing the first fireplace, and a well-appointed bar. The bedroom area includes a second roaring fireplace, a luxurious soaking tub, a rainfall shower, and a walk-in closet. The highlight of each villa is undoubtedly the back terrace, featuring a wood-burning hot tub with breathtaking views of the verdant hillside.

The core of the Bisate Reserve experience is the gorilla trek. The Wilderness team meticulously handles all planning, from securing permits to providing precise packing lists and on-site extra gear, ensuring guests are well-prepared for their journey. Guided by experienced trackers, like John, with a decade of expertise, guests venture into the dense forest. Once the gorilla family is located, participants are required to mask up to protect the primates from human viruses, given their 98% DNA shared with humans. The hour-long encounter is a serene and deeply moving experience, allowing guests to observe natural gorilla behaviors, such as a mother nursing her child or juveniles interacting with a 400-pound silverback father.

Beyond the personal awe, the experience carries a deeper significance. Guides and staff, including John and Kayihura, express a shared hope that guests will leave with a changed perception of Rwanda, eager to promote the country's image as vibrant and resilient post-genocide. Kayihura emphasized the desire for guests to forge meaningful connections with staff and community members, underscoring how their stay contributes directly to the conservation goals of Bisate Reserve. A poignant moment offered to guests is the opportunity to plant an indigenous tree, such as a hypericum revolutum shrub (loved by chameleons) or a lobelia giberroa tree (future gorilla food), further embedding their connection to the land and its wildlife.

The culinary experience at Bisate Reserve is overseen by Executive Chef Angelus Karangwa, offering a top-notch selection of East African and global dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients like coconut, chili, ginger, and turmeric. Guests can choose from a rotating nightly menu, select wines from a diverse cellar, or enjoy mocktails and homemade dips with yucca chips during sundowner hour.

Activities and experiences at the reserve are extensive. In addition to gorilla and golden monkey treks (arranged in advance), guests can enjoy guided or self-guided nature walks, birding, visits to the on-site nursery to meet agronomists and plant trees, and tours of the vegetable garden with chefs or guides. Off-property excursions include guided community walks, visits to the Dian Fossey gravesite, or the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

While there is no dedicated spa facility, the reserve offers luxurious in-room treatments, such as a much-needed post-hike foot massage, ensuring maximum comfort and relaxation for guests.

The Bisate Reserve is also designed to be family-friendly, offering the option to buy out the entire reserve for groups of up to eight guests. Villas 1 and 2 can be interlinked to create a family room. The minimum age for a stay is 6, and while the minimum age for gorilla treks is 15, complimentary childcare services are provided for adults participating in treks.

In terms of accessibility and sustainability, Bisate Reserve offers easier access compared to Bisate Lodge, with buggy assistance available, though the villas are not wheelchair-friendly, requiring a certain level of mobility for stairs and pathways. A significant commitment to sustainability is evident through an ambitious reforestation project covering 103 acres of former agricultural land, where over 100,000 indigenous trees have been replanted to encourage wildlife return. The reserve also fosters community sustainability through collaborative partnerships and job creation, embodying a core mission that transcends luxury hospitality to embrace profound conservation efforts.

For those planning a visit, lower rates are available in March and April, with a slight increase in May. The high-demand season, experiencing the highest rates, runs from June to the end of October, and from mid-December to the end of February. Stays begin at $3,200 per person, sharing per night, which is fully inclusive.