Today’s Coffee Break venue is The Peakspot Lodge, found on the edge of Volcanoes National Park. Earlier this morning, I brought a tourist who is in the country to see the mountain gorillas.
We left the Radisson Blu Hotel, where I picked up the said tourist, at 4:30 a.m. Having bought her permit yesterday, she barely slept. She couldn’t wait to do what had been on her bucket list for a long time.Upon arrival, she joined a group scheduled to visit the Muhoza family. From RDB’s Kinigi office, we proceeded to the foot of the volcano known as Sabyinyo. Then the tourists, guides and porters disappeared into the animal kingdom, leaving their drivers outside the protected area.
There are more than 40 habituated mountain gorilla families in the Virunga Massif. Once designated as critically endangered, the population of these great apes is rebounding, thanks to ongoing conservation efforts and strategic partnerships.
I have a few hours to kill as I wait for my guest to return from the gorilla habitat. While sipping some coffee at the campsite, I reminisce about my past weekend getaways here. Apart from the campsite, the facility encompasses cozy cottages, a bar, a restaurant and a sauna.
Instead of waking up in the wee hours of the morning, some tourists opt to travel to Kinigi the day before trekking. Spending a night at The Peakspot before visiting the park is highly recommended.