NYUNGWE NZIZA ECO-LODGE

Outstanding experience! The rooms are beautifully appointed, and the staff goes above and beyond. Highly recommended.

Als fietser weinig andere keus hier. Uitzicht is mooi. Inrichting best charmant. Echter door het looppad voor de kamer langs heb je niks aan het uitzicht omdat je de gordijnen dicht moet doen om enige privacy te hebben. Sanitair is verouderd. Klamboe ook en functioneert niet naar behoren (gaten en te klein). Lampen waren stuk. Eten duurt lang maar is wel lekker. Personeel uiterst vriendelijk en behulpzaam. Al met al is naar onze mening de prijs/kwaliteit verhouding niet in orde, echter de mensen maken veel goed…

Lieu exceptionnel. Personnel accueillant. Nourriture correcte. Nous avons pris un « chalet » à 150$ la nuit avec petit déjeuner. Trop exigu pour le prix. Salle ee bain mal agencée. Couette très chaude car nécessaireà cette altitude (2400m).

I stayed here for 1 night, booked by my tour company. Location is fantastic, with views over tea estates to the forest. I had a very tasty dinner of igitoki - banana stew - which was ready when requested. I ordered an hour in advance as recommended when I checked in. I liked my cosy little cabin, given the cold weather and high altitude. I very much appreciated the kitchen staff getting up at 4:15am to make me a packed breakfast to take with me when I left for early morning chimpanzee tracking.

I've stayed at Nziza multiple times and would recommend it.

Some complaints raised in recent reviews made we want to offer a counterpoint, namely on: a) value for money, b) long wait times for food and c) low quality construction.

I think to give Nziza a fair review, it's worth knowing these are complaints one hears everywhere one visits outside of Kigali (and even some places in Kigali). I personally have vacationed in Rubavu/Gisenyi, Karongi/Kibuye, Musanze, Twin Lakes, Lake Muhazi, and Akagera area multiple times and have heard & experienced similar challenges at various hotels at all of them.

Complaint a) Things do cost more in Rwanda than in the region. I don't know all the technical reasons why, but I believe a big factor is the logistics required for a small but extremely hilly/mountainous and landlocked country.
For the Nyungwe context, I've personally felt that compared to other places within Nyungwe with similar prices, I was happier with Nziza than the others (I've not been willing to pay the price of One and Only (!) so I can't speak to that experience...).

Complaint b) I've heard many theories about why food prep is often slow around the country. I believe a big factor is many places don't have consistent visitor traffic and can't keep all options ready and available in the fridge. People joke about it, but sometimes ordering a dish does mean that someone has to go to the market to get some ingredients.
The solution I highly recommend, no matter where you stay when visiting tourist sites outside Kigali, is to ask the place you're staying for their menu. If you use WhatsApp they can easily send you pictures of it. Then tell them the dishes you want and what time you want to eat. It's what all my local colleagues did when traveling for work and I learned from them. You'll probably have happier dining experiences that way.
At Nziza I ordered my meals ahead every time I stayed and guess what? Food was served piping hot, punctually at the time I requested. Portion sizes were also very generous.

Complaint c) I've found there are construction quality issues at most places (including residential homes) unless it's an international brand hotel or place that charges +400USD/night. I've adjusted my expectations when traveling as a result. I definitely think it's worth it to raise a complaint to management and see if they fix it, as that tells you a lot.
For Nziza specifically, if you find something unacceptable to you about your room and speak with Eric, I would give the benefit of the doubt that he would try to find a solution for you. One infrastructure thing I appreciated at Nziza is they always had good water pressure and HOT water in the bathrooms...which is not always a given at many places.

On the topic of the manager, I read some people had bad experiences with him. I'm sorry to hear that. My own personal experience was positive each time I stayed. Eric was helpful and polite to me and those I stayed with. I'm a woman and POC in case that matters.