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| Photo: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. One of the cottages at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Rwanda |
7000 feet above sea level, on
the edge of Parc National des Volcans (where five volcanoes rise up to 15,000
feet) in Rwanda — a country where 800,000 men, women and children were killed
in 100 days, and the future, a despondent darkness — sits Sabyinyo Silverback
Lodge, a luxury lodge, an emblem of hope; a motif of what a group of people can
do to change ordinary lives — for the better.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is
built and operated by The Governors' Camp Collection, a 40-year-old company
operated by a group of shareholders, and which comprises seven award winning
luxury safari camps and lodges in Kenya and Rwanda. It was built in partnership
with the African Wildlife Foundation and its partner in Rwanda, the
International Gorilla Conservation Program. But right in the beginning, it was
decided that the ownership of the lodge would rest with a community trust to be
set up specifically to receive rental and other income from the lodge, which
would be used to drive socio-economic development and conservation initiatives
in the area. A community trust, SACOLA, was established.
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| View of the volcanoes. Photo: SSL |
In May 2006, agreements were
signed; in June 2006 construction of the Lodge began; in August 2007 it
received its first guest; in September 2007 SACOLA began its mission.
The SACOLA Community Trust
projects range from creation of vegetable gardens for a community farming project
to reconstruction of a local primary school for 1,600 students to rural
electrification project; construction and maintenance of local roads; building
of homes for refugees from the genocide and so on. In addition, the Lodge also
contributes to the conservation and preservation of the Mountain Gorilla and
its fragile habitat and to the wildlife conservation project in Gishwati
Forest, 50 km away.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is
an illustration of the seamless amalgamation of socio-economic development (of
the public and the private), conservation of nature and the collective
consciousness working at rebuilding a country, one community at a time.
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| The rooms are spacious with fire places and a great view of the volcanoes |
The Lodge itself can be describe as 'thoughtful' in its design, architecture and
the premises on which it operates. The Lodge is only minutes away from the headquarters of
the Parc National des Volcans from where one can trek on foot to see the
magnificent Mountain Gorilla – perhaps one of the most dramatic, thrilling and
poignant wildlife experiences possible. The lodge, situated in the foothills of
the mighty Virungas, the chain of 15,000 ft volcanoes stretching through
Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, affords wonderful views of
the volcanoes and the surrounding countryside.
The Lodge, set in 11 acres of land, comprises
five cottages, two suites and one family cottage. They are stone buildings with
Rwandanese terracotta tile roofs and feature large sitting areas, fire places,
stylish bathrooms finished with Venetian plaster and verandahs with dramatic
views of the Virunga Volcanoes and the surrounding lowland farmlands. The close
relationship between the Lodge and SACOLA can be explored in the Community
Awareness room in the main lodge building, or by visiting the various projects
run by SACOLA.
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| Stylish bathroom finished with Venetian plaster. Photo: SSL |
Heat exchangers in the fireplaces provide a plentiful supply
of hot water. The family cottage comprises two independent ensuite rooms
connected by a shared verandah. The main lodge building comprises reception,
sitting room with snug area, dining room, library / games room, a responsible
tourism / community awareness room, shop and bathrooms. Three large fireplaces
provide warmth and all rooms are finished with a polished wooden floor. Two
patio areas afford wonderful and dramatic views to the Virunga Volcanoes and
the surrounding lowland farmland.
"Hope is like a road in
the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road
comes into existence," wrote the celebrated Chinese writer Lin Yutang.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is 'that' road of hope for some of the communities in
Rwanda.
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| One of the perks of staying at the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is that you need to trek just a few minutes to see the majestic Mountain Gorilla. Photo: SSL |
For more details check: www.governorscamp.com or http://on.fb.me/1n9T9y1
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