A Weekend at Mwiko Lodge: A Magical Escape Over Lake Ruhondo

If you’re looking for a truly unique stay around Musanze, Mwiko Lodge should be at the very top of your list. Whether you’re planning a relaxed weekend getaway or looking for a base near Volcanoes National Park, this place delivers an experience that feels special from the moment you arrive.

We booked a stay here while Wilhelm’s parents were visiting Rwanda to celebrate his mothers birthday, and it proved to be the perfect spot for a memorable celebration.

A Little History of Mwiko Lodge

Before booking, I actually met Ruth, the owner, for coffee at Rubia in Kigali. I’d seen pictures online and wanted to hear the story behind the lodge. She launched Mwiko in mid-2026, and the origin story is so fun: Ruth and her husband were hiking around the Twin Lakes when they came across the piece of land that would become Mwiko Lodge. They started chatting to an old man standing nearby and he offered to sell it to them on the spot!

When Mwiko first opened, it started off as a single cabin. It recently expanded to include a full restaurant, which really elevates the entire experience, especially since there aren’t other dining options right nearby.

Location and Views

Mwiko Lodge is located about 3 hours from Kigali. The route on Google Maps is accurate: drive through Musanze towards the boat dock and continue straight, crossing the slightly rickety-looking bridge at the junction of Lake Ruhondo and Lake Burera. Keep an eye on your GPS pin because the lodge will pop up on your right.

The road is mostly paved through Musanze but the last 9-ish km are on a dirt road. Our RAV4 made it up without an issue.

The lodge sits in a beautiful setting right over the lake, overlooking fields and small islands. On a clear day, you can see all six volcanoes from here! My pictures don’t do the space justice since it was a little hazy during our stay, so I definitely plan to return in clearer weather. There is also great birdwatching around the property, and they have two powerful pairs of binoculars you can borrow.

How to Book

I easily booked by contacting the lodge’s email address at hello@mwikolodge.com. You can also book directly online. I was contacted a few days before arrival to confirm my arrival details and dietary preferences. I also wanted to make sure my car would easily make it to the lodge so I chatted about that too.

Twin rooms (which have a king sized bed) start around $200/night (including a fantastic breakfast). You can opt to order lunch a la carte or go with their 3-course dinner option. If you don’t want to think about food at all, ask about their all-inclusive option that cover all meals from arrival to departure.

When we first arrived, we were offered slippers and a quick foot massage while the team cleaned our shoes. We then enjoyed a delicious welcome juice made of tree tomato and watermelon before checking out the patio and heading up to our rooms.

Highlights of Staying at Mwiko Lodge

You don’t have to stay overnight to enjoy the views and atmosphere. You can also drop in just for lunch or dinner. Wilhelm actually stopped by the week before while on a biking trip for lunch and coffee, and that experience got us so excited to book our overnight stay. A real hidden gem moment is coming by around 5:00 p.m. for sunset, when they light the bonfire and play traditional music.

Evening Vibes & Traditional Music

The 5:00 p.m. bonfire and sunset views were incredible. A musician played the inanga (a traditional stringed musical instrument) throughout sunset and dinner until we headed up to bed. Even after living in Kigali for almost a year and a half, I hadn’t heard the inanga played live yet, so experiencing that music while watching the sunset over the volcanoes felt so special. We got a beer and were served light snacks, too!

The live music usually alternates with a traditional flute, but the flute player was unavailable on our second night. I wouldn’t have even known if Ruth hadn’t mentioned it, because the inanga music was so lovely on its own!

The Food

The food and the chef’s creativity at Mwiko are amazing. The restaurant relies on fresh ingredients sourced locally and right from their own garden. Dietary restrictions are accommodated too; we let the hotel know in advance that we needed two vegetarian and two fish options, and they made it seamless.

You can choose to dine indoors or outside. Indoors, you’ll be near the open kitchen, which is fun to watch!

Indoor seating option

We choose to eat outside by the bonfire, where the musician continued to play all evening.

Dinner is a three-course meal. For starters, you choose between a fresh salad or soup. The pumpkin soup was delicious! For the main, I opted for the fish, which came with a saucy salsa, mashed green bananas, and fresh vegetables. Wilhelm’s parents had a grilled cauliflower steak with pea hummus that was incredible. For dessert, I had the banana bread (the best I’ve had in a while, with a slightly crispy crust and not too sweet), while the others chose the fruit salad with chia seeds.

Before clearing our plates, our server, Eric, asked if we wanted extra portions of anything. This was such a thoughtful touch in case you’re feeling extra hungry.

You’ll hardly have time to recover before it’ll be time for breakfast. (Unless, you’re like Wilhelm and his parents and go on an early morning run!)

Breakfast includes a fruit bowl, an assortment of cookies, breads, pancakes, and your choice of eggs. I highly recommend the cheese and herb omelet, Spanish omelette, or the poached eggs.

Breakfast over our two days

The Rooms at Mwiko

The twin rooms are spacious with gorgeous lake views. I loved waking up in the morning, making a quick cup of coffee with the in-room kettle, and taking in the view before heading down to breakfast.

The room features a huge king bed, spacious closet storage to unpack and stow duffles, cozy slippers, flip-flops, and evening turndown service with sweet notes. On our last night, we were even gifted super cute, locally carved wooden gorillas. This will make the perfect doorstop in our apartment. The bathroom was spacious as well.

Remote workers will also be happy to know that the room’s desk easily accommodates a laptop setup, and the Wi-Fi is strong (though I always recommend having a local SIM card when traveling through Rwanda).

If you need more space, then you should book the cottage that also offers a sofa and more spacious living area.

What to Do While at Mwiko Lodge

Mwiko is the perfect base if you have a reservation at Meza Malonga. Staying here means you drive 15 minutes to the boat pier and take the boat ride out to the peninsula (included in your dining experience) rather than staying on the island itself. This worked out so well for us while celebrating the birthday.

Mwiko Lodge is located about an hour from Volcanoes National Park. If you’re doing early morning activities like gorilla trekking or golden monkeys (where you need to be at the park gate by 7:00 a.m.), you’ll need to leave Mwiko by 6:00 a.m. I usually end up staying around 40 minutes from the park entrance anyway, so an extra 20 minutes won’t make a difference. The shoe cleaning and light foot massage upon arrival will be pure bliss after a long hike.

The lodge is in a great spot for village walks (or bike rides) or sunset boats ride along Lake Ruhondo.

You can plan to explore Musanze before and after your stay in Mwiko as it’s best to take advantage of the location to explore the village and surroundings.

Views from around the Mwiko Lodge area on a clear day from my previous hikes

Mwiko plans to offer several more activities (including kid-friendly options) in the near future, so keep an eye on their website.

Mwiko Lodge Weekend Itineraries

• Friday: Leave Kigali early Friday afternoon and arrive before sunset. Enjoy a sunset drink with traditional live music by the bonfire, followed by dinner.
• Relaxed Saturday Option: Sleep in, go on a village walk, or spend the day indulging in Meza Malonga’s 8-course fine dining experience.
• Active Saturday Option: Wake up early for gorilla trekking, golden monkeys, or a volcano hike in Volcanoes National Park (the lodge can pack an early breakfast and light lunch for your excursion). Return to Mwiko in the late afternoon for sunset, a foot massage, and dinner.
• Biking Saturday Option: Park your car at Lava Bikes in Musanze and rent a bike. Start the tough 20 km ride to Mwiko Lodge on Saturday morning, spend the night here and then bike back to Musanze on Sunday. (I once biked back and forth in a day around the area and internally died. I would have muchhh rather we spend the night at Mwiko Lodge and returned the next day).
• Sunday: Enjoy a lazy Sunday at the lodge. As you drive out towards Musanze or your next destination, explore Musanze: see an art gallery, check out the market, or do a coffee tour.
• Mid-Week Getaway: If you need a quiet retreat to catch up on projects, the spacious desks, fast Wi-Fi, serene deck views, and peaceful atmosphere make this an ideal remote work option.

Overall Thoughts

My expectations were high to begin with, but I was truly blown away by the hospitality, the warm welcome from the staff (thank you, Eric!)  and the incredible attention to detail throughout our stay. I loved that the musician played throughout dinner and we were always offered second servings during our meals. The team made Lena’s birthday extra special and celebrating around the fire together will forever be a special memory.

Birthday celebrations

If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway that feels genuinely special, or a serene base after a long day of trekking in Musanze, I can’t recommend Mwiko Lodge enough. It’s already earned a permanent spot on my list of top places to stay in Rwanda!

Waving goodbye to the staff. See you next time!