Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge

Nyanza sits in Rwanda's Southern Province, and Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge takes the high ground above Lake Nyamagana, facing the rolling hills to the south and the slopes of Mount Gacu. The town centre is a few minutes off, the historic King's Palace closer still, but the lodge itself stays quiet, set among tall mature trees. Hiking and biking trails start at the door. Four room types are on offer, from a single with wooden detailing to a two-bedroom Maisonette with its own kitchen, fireplace and terrace facing Mount Gacu, built for longer stays or families of up to four. Rooms carry Rwandan textiles and local artwork rather than generic decor. Evenings gather around a bonfire for music, dance and storytelling, a routine rooted in the place rather than staged for guests. The lodge began as a refuge for women living with HIV/AIDS and a home for children affected by the genocide, and that history still shapes how it runs: a share of proceeds now supports a local school. Maman Drocella manages the property directly, and the staff can arrange transport to Nyungwe National Park for those heading on. It is a small lodge with a long memory, closer to a working household than a hotel.