The Bishop's House Rwanda

Until staying here, I thought nothing could top luxurious experiences in hotel stays. Wrong! This venue was perfect in every way. From arrival and registration in the regal and restorative entrance and side salon, to the most endearing and hospitable manager, Stephen, and the best suite I’ve ever stayed in. This stop is a must, especially if you are en route to gorilla trekking in the volcanoes National Park. We were led to a suite of rooms with a brand new mid-sized euro kitchen (fully outfitted with drinks and utensils) and living room area on the right with sofa and two roomy soft easy chairs. On the left, the sleeping suite: king-sized bed, love seat two easy chairs, bedside tables, desk and armoire. Doors opened to a large terrace with tables and chairs, sheltered by huge leaves of a palm or banana tree. The bath included a tub, double sink and immense two (three?) person shower. All beautifully designed with palettes of cream, taupe, brown and splashes of color. There was also a powder on off the other living room area, that I confiscated as my own bathroom. Best night of sleep ever. The next day, the hotel outfitted us with backpacks and gaiters for our trek to the mountain gorillas, also providing a breakfast bag. On return after a marvelous day, staff greeted us outside and asked us to sit, where they removed our (really muddy) boots and socks and then proceeded to give us individual foot massages! Succulent. They took the boots and gaiters and had them perfectly cleaned and lined up in the lobby for our next day of trekking. Had three spa treatments: two massages and a pedicure. The massages were fantastic; the pedicure did not wear well. Wish we’d had more time to lounge by the pool, but we were tightly scheduled to see the animals. The pool is gorgeous. Big. Great comfy furniture. Beautiful umbrellas. The food was exquisite. Nothing too far afield for the mostly Brit, Aussie and American guests. Grilled meats and fish, potatoes, fresh fresh green salads. desserts alternated between very chocolaty decadence to fruit tarts. Wine selection is mostly South African; I don’t drink alcohol but my wife seemed very pleased with the suggestions offered by the staff. Lovely gift shop with authentic handwork by the Maasai, including beautiful walking sticks that can be taken down to three parts for easy transport. Even if you don’t go gorilla trekking, you should do yourself a favor and experience this Five star + paradise.

Absolutely wonderful experience under the management of Steve. I would like to commend the staff for their top notch customer service orientation (Richard, Karine, Gaspard, Heritier, Agape, Marian, Josian and a few others I may have missed). Vegetarian food options were fabulous and the all inclusive price made the stay so much more enjoyable. Only negative was that we were booked for three nights and this was shortened to two for no apparent reason. Noticed through reviews that this happened to another couple in June 2023. So my advice would be to check and get confirmation from the hotel so that you are not disappointed.

If I could give The Bishop's House 10 stars, I would. The experience simply exceeded all expectations. And while the accommodations were fantastic, the staff make this place what it is. Oh -- and the food is incredible! Well done Bishop's House.

Anticipated every guest need and exceeded expectations. The rooms are large and comfortable opening on to a private porch. The service is outstanding. The meals were delicious. Within 30 minutes of the Volcano National Park and the Gorilla Trek.

Okay, so you are heading to the National Park to see the gorillas. Where should you stay that is close enough to the action, but still luxurious and comfortable? Bishop's House. Honestly, we didn't know what to expect from the pictures that our travel agent sent to us. A converted residence in a tiny town way far away from Kigali? Could it possibly fit our expectations? Well, we went into it a bit cold. And then we were VERY happy with this place. In fact, we discussed the possibility of staying an extra day just because the hotel and the staff were so pleasant. We didn't stay the extra day due to our obligations. But we would have if we could have made it work. It's just that pleasant! First, the staff. Extremely accommodating and friendly. Of the seven or so hotels and lodges that we stayed in during our trip across the continent, Bishop's House had the most friendly and delightful employees. Seriously, it seemed they couldn't do enough for us. Right down to removing our boots after hiking, massaging our stinky feet and then cleaning our boots and delivering them to our rooms. Seriously, it was magical. The rooms were very well appointed and comfortable. We had two rooms, one for the parents and one for the kids. And both were quiet, peaceful and comfy. Great bathrooms. Couldn't ask for more. The grounds are minimal, but more than sufficient as a weigh station between treks to the rain forest. There is a very nice pool. An exercise room and a wonderful veranda with a fireplace that's cozy at night. And now for the food. Chef Kigali (his real name, apparently) is a master chef. His food was delicious. And for such a small hotel, it's not easy to have variety. But he managed it. And further, when I asked for something specific that he had mentioned he had growing in his personal garden, he went and harvested and served it to me that evening. And it was fabulous. The staff also surprised me with a birthday celebration that I had not expected (thanks to the secret maneuvers of my lovely wife). The entire staff of sixteen or seventeen people came out on the lawn and sang and celebrated. I was embarrassed. But absolutely blown away. Chef Kigali even whipped up a birthday cake for me with only a day's notice. Now that's service. This is the kind of hotel that just makes you feel good. When you are tired after a long day of trekking gorillas or golden monkeys and you just want to relax and be pampered. This is the place for it. A small hotel. An out of the way location. And definitely worth it! Five out of five stars from my family.

A great boutique hotel….the staff are all amazing!!! Pampered in every way!! Food delicious,,,accommodations superb Highly recommend Only suggestion would be to have a heated pool All the extra small touches make it special

What a charming old house. It was a pleasure to stay here and be pampered by the excellent staff and chef. The accommodations were first class and all the meals were provided and top of the line. Anything we needed was provided willingly. Absolute great location in the center of town. Perfect for hiking to see the Mountain Gorilla. Easy to visit town and the surrounding area.

Bishop’s House is a delightful place to stay. The staff are kind, attentive and immensely hospitable. The food is delicious and varied. We stayed in two rooms for three nights in August 2023. The property is on a large, secure and gated plot in a very quiet part of town with elegant and well maintained gardens. It’s only a short trip by car to the park for Gorillas/ Monkeys and the hotel ensures you have a full breakfast (should you want it) before the early start. They also provide snacks for the trek and gaiters should you need them. The bedrooms are large,beautifully furnished and in great condition. The reception rooms and restaurant are spacious and comfortable. The staff are helpful, friendly, efficient and welcoming. The food and drinks are great. The laundry service is excellent. Thanks to Steve and everyone at Bishops House for making our Rwanda trip so special. Bishop’s House isn’t cheap

Had a great stay at the Bishops House thanks to Steve and his staff. Steve is the old time manager who greets his guests and plainly enjoys their company. You will see him in the morning at breakfast and at night at dinner. He is curious about your day and if there is anything he can do to improve your stay. This attitude is shared by his exceptional staff. Meals were excellent and filling. Bishops House is spotless. The packed lunches provided were very much appreciated. On return from the gorillas and the golden monkeys we found our boots were whisked away and the next morning appeared spotlessly clean. Thanks everyone, we had a fabulous stay.