About Sambora

Rooted here. Made for you.

A different way to experience the gorillas and volcanoes park.

Not a spectacle. Not a checklist.
A place that asks you to slow down.

Sambora Kinigi was created for those looking for a more personal way to experience this remarkable part of Rwanda — somewhere to feel at home, slow down and settle into the rhythm of life around the volcanoes, without giving up the comforts that make a journey feel special.

Our approach to luxury is quiet and understated. Beautiful spaces, thoughtful details, generous food and intuitive service are all part of the experience, but never at the expense of a sense of place or the easy, homely character of the lodge.

Come for the gorillas, the landscape, the people, or simply for the pleasure of being here. Take your time, settle in, and experience Kinigi in comfort, with everything you need and nothing that feels unnecessary.

Our Story

Why we built
this place.

Sambora began with a simple idea: to create a place that feels less like a hotel and more like a home in one of Rwanda’s most extraordinary landscapes.

We wanted Sambora to belong here — to Kinigi, to the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, and to the people who call this place home. That means a lodge that is deliberately small and personal, shaped by a local team, surrounded by gardens and farmland, and connected to the growers, makers and communities around us.

There is an easy, lived-in quality to Sambora. Fires are lit, food is shared, muddy boots are left at the door and our team quickly come to know how you like to spend your time. Nothing is overly formal or prescribed.

More than anything, we want Sambora to feel like a home you have discovered in the volcanoes — deeply rooted in its place and its people, and somewhere you will always feel welcome to return to.

Our Commitments

Staying here
means something.

Mountain Gorilla Conservation

A portion of every stay goes directly to mountain gorilla conservation in Volcanoes National Park. We work alongside the rangers who protect these families every day.

Community Partnership

The villages around Kinigi are part of every stay. We employ locally, source locally, and invest in the community projects that make this valley a place worth protecting.

The Team

The people who make
Sambora what it is.

Khai

Lodge manager

The calm presence at the heart of Sambora, Khai leads our lodge team with warmth, care and an eye for the little details that make a stay feel effortless.

Dinah

Assistant manager

Dinah keeps the lodge running smoothly behind the scenes, coordinating daily operations across the team and making sure every detail of the guest experience comes together seamlessly.

Revocat

Head Chef

Revocat is the soul of our kitchen and leads the team with creativity and a deep appreciation for great ingredients, turning the produce of Rwanda and our own gardens into memorable meals around the Sambora table.

Christine

Host

Christine brings warmth and genuine Rwandan hospitality to every stay, always ready with a smile and a thoughtful touch to make guests feel completely at home.

Aliah

Host

Warm, thoughtful and naturally welcoming, Aliah loves getting to know our guests and making sure their time at Sambora feels personal from the moment they arrive.

Rachel

Housekeeping Head

Rachel is behind the quiet comfort of every room, making sure each suite feels beautifully prepared, wonderfully cosy and ready to become your home in the volcanoes.

Console

Wellness & Spa

With a calm and caring approach, Console looks after our guests’ wellbeing, creating restorative treatments and peaceful moments to help you slow down and unwind after a day in the volcanoes.

Eugene

Garden

Eugene tends the gardens that surround Sambora and the produce that finds its way into our kitchen, quietly nurturing the landscape that makes the lodge feel so special.

For Travel Advisors

Building an itinerary
that includes Rwanda?

Work with our team in Rwanda to create something exceptional for your clients. From preferred trade rates and dedicated travel design to support on the ground, we make it easy to include Sambora in a wider Rwandan journey — or to plan the entire journey with us.

Preferred Trade Rates

Access dedicated trade rates and straightforward commercial terms, giving our partners confidence when building Sambora into their Rwanda itineraries.

Your Travel Design Team

Work directly with our Rwanda-based travel designers to shape exceptional journeys around your clients — from a few nights at Sambora to a complete tailor-made itinerary across Rwanda and the region.

Support on the Ground

From the first enquiry to the moment your guests leave Rwanda, our team is here to help. Responsive, knowledgeable and on the ground, we take care of the details so you and your clients always have someone to turn to.

Come and see
for yourself.

The volcanoes are waiting.