A house rooted in the Virunga.
Before it welcomed travellers, Virunga House was simply a family home.
In Musanze, beneath the Virunga volcanoes, it was a place of everyday family life. In 2020, that home opened its doors to travellers with a simple idea: to promote the homestay concept and create a genuine connection between visitors and local people.
From Home to Homestay
On 1 March 2020, Francisco, Aline and other members of the family welcomed their first guests and began the story of Virunga Homestay.
First Guests Welcome
The House started with just two rooms. Among its earliest guests were four travellers from France, whose stay marked the beginning of a new chapter for the family home.
The House Table Begins
What began with a place to sleep soon became something more. The Homestay began serving meals, including dinner, giving guests a place not only to stay but also to share food and time with their hosts.
Helping Guests Discover
The family began helping guests with gorilla trekking, transport and other local experiences. Helping visitors connect more naturally with the Virunga landscapes and community.
Growing with the Place
Over time, Virunga Homestay evolved. The House became more established, the hospitality grew, and the relationship between staying, discovering and connecting with the Virunga became increasingly important.
The new name reflects that journey. Virunga House is still rooted in the same spirit that shaped it from the beginning: warmth, personal hospitality and a genuine connection to place. But it now represents a more established and distinct place to stay in the Virunga.
A Different Kind of Stay
Today, Virunga House is a locally rooted stay in Musanze, beneath the volcanoes.
It is a place to settle in after a day in the mountains, wake to the surrounding landscape, share breakfast around the table, enjoy dinner by arrangement, sit by the fire and take time to experience the Virunga at a slower pace.
Intentionally Personal
With only six rooms, the House is never crowded. It is not positioned as a conventional hotel or a restaurant, but as an intimate sanctuary shaped by real warmth and personal care.
The House Table
Breakfast is freshly prepared and included with your stay. In the evening, guests can enjoy an intimate home-cooked dinner by advance arrangement.
Volcanic Sanctuary
Located just 15 minutes from Volcanoes National Park HQ, offering panoramic views, quiet reading nooks, evening campfires, and fresh mountain air.
Part of a Wider Vision
As the vision grew beyond accommodation, so did the wider idea behind it. Virunga Collective emerged as the master brand connecting distinct expressions of the Virunga experience.
VIRUNGA HOUSE
The place to stay. Locally rooted boutique accommodation in Musanze, personal hospitality, daily breakfast, and home-cooked dinners by arrangement.
VIRUNGA JOURNEYS
The journeys and experiences. Guided gorilla trekking, volcano climbs, cultural encounters, private 4x4 safaris, and seamless regional logistics.
VIRUNGA COLLECTIVE
The wider connection between them. Connecting stays, transformative journeys, conservation storytelling, and community empowerment.
From a family home, to a two-room homestay, to Virunga House today, the journey has continued without losing its beginning."
Stay closer to the Virunga.
Stay. Eat. Rest. Discover.
Whether resting between gorilla treks or sitting by the evening campfire, we invite you to experience northern Rwanda from within.