Mantis Akagera Game Lodge

I traveled with my husband to Akagera Game Lodge. It was our first time there and it was a very, very good experience for the both of us. We particularly loved the warm welcome of the staff and their attention to make sure our stay was going well. On that note, a special note of appreciation to Marie Goretti, Giovani, Violette, and Martin for their kindness, their quick support in providing any information we were seeking, and to Monica, our guide (if you're interested to hire a guide on a game drive), for her wonderful guiding skills, explanations, and how overall resourceful she was. You have made us feel appreciated, welcomed, and our stay so memorable. Thank you <3

Amazing location within the national park. Friendly staff and an overall great experience. Only stayed one night, should have stayed at least two to enjoy the park as well as the facilities of the hotel

Service hopeless, constant issues already starting from the booking office. One lady at reception extremely nice though, feel sorry for her trying to fix everyone else's shortcomings. And in general staff very smiling and super nice, just constant issue because it seems no one knows what they are doing and the customer pays for it. Rooms were ok but not great. Pools looked old and in bad shape. Nice surroundings but lake view was constantly cloudy and grey, not sure if its because of the hills and height or did we just have bad luck. The national park barely has animals or it's very difficult to see them, so in the end it's an ok stop over for one night for a leasure stay but not worth getting there for the wildlife nor for the hotel.

Nice views from the terrasse and pool area. Friendly staff and well-equipped rooms. The restaurant could be a bit more modern although this is only a minor point.

The staff are awesome and we were greatly welcomed. The room was very clean and well organized. Amenities were also according to my pre-check-in indications. One thing we didn't get was a clear attention to a food allergy we informed in advance (gluten free meals). There was no clear indication on the menus and buffet about gluten presence on dishes, and no one approached us with any offers of substitues. One thing we also missed was the option of having a lighter dinner, instead of the "mandatory" buffet.

It’s the best and really only full-service option in or near Akagera. The convenience is unbeatable. We rated it 4 stars because the meal service for dinner was so strange. It rotates between buffet ($45 per person), a set menu (for $25 per person) and supposedly sometimes an a la carte menu. But every night is decided the day of based on the whims of the hotel. It’s strange, and given the very good breakfast buffet, we never wanted a buffet for dinner. We ended up ordering food from the pool bar at lunch and then kept it for our dinners in the evening. The a la carte food and breakfast are both great and the a la carte prices are super reasonable. The dinners just make no sense and are priced way too high compared with room rates and the other parts of the hotel. The hotel is slightly run down, but the gym has everything you need for a good workout. It’s strange though — the gym was never really cleaned. There were always glasses and towels left out from previous days they remained the entire 4 days we were there. The pool was refreshing, but not heated. The small kids pool was nice, but also not heated. Our room was always serviced when we returned midday from Safari which we really appreciated having kids who were ready to nap after rising early. The location within the park lets you get out the door after breakfast and start catching the animals early in the day (when they’re out!). We stayed 4 nights, which I think is the right amount of time. We self-drove the whole time, getting a guide on day one, doing the community farm tour through the park on day 2 and self-driving the park on day 3. I think this series of 3 days is the best way to see the park and we saw almost everything the park has to offer. Mantis is a perfect option to anchor yourself and you won’t regret staying there, though you’ll find service to be slightly confused and inconsistent at times. The breakfast staff were super kind to our two young daughters, always offering a hand and a smile. With training and some maintenance, the hotel could be a proper 4-star hotel. But compare this hotel with the thousands of dollars for tented camps in Kenya and Tanzania and you’ll find you’ve gotten an amazing deal and experience here for a fraction of the cost.

Only stayed one night, but everything was well-done. Hot towels and juice upon arrival, wonderful pool and poolside bar and seating area with fire pit. Room was was modern and comfortable. Food was excellent and choices were outstanding. Service was polite and timely. All compliments, no complaints.

My husband and I stayed at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge for two nights in July and had a great stay. We booked our safari game drives through a private company in Kigali who drove to us (we had transportation arranged to Akagera through a different company). Our accommodations at the lodge were great and the staff were welcoming, hospitable and accommodating. Breakfast and dinner are buffet style with a solid variety of options and there's a bar near the pool and fire pit with light bites for the afternoon. Be sure to put your order in for to-go lunch (very affordable for $12 with lots of food!) for your game drives. I also found laundry services to be very affordable and timely. We used the gym and sat by the pool. The pool is quite deep and refreshing, and there's a kid's pool next to it. The gym has what you need to get a basic work out in but no bells and whistles. Standing up in the safari truck coupled with an African massage (bumpy roads) will be a workout in itself. We honestly didn't spend much time at the lodge because we did a mini-game drive, boat ride, night drive and then a full game drive. Most of the animals are going to be in north part of the park and Akagera Game Lodge is in the south. Our bed was comfortable, room was very clean, the hotel was quiet at night and the staff friendly and happy to help.