Motel Santaviva is a classic 4-star hotel in Kisoro. Santaviva Motel is strategically set in the area where visitors can easily connect to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to experience the best of gorilla trekking or golden monkey tracking. Its proximity to the lush Mgahinga National Park makes it a preferred accommodation option for tourists on a gorilla tour and wish to stay overnight in Kisoro.

Motel Santaviva is also an amazing accommodation choice to consider if you plan to explore the Kigezi museum, and other close by attractions. Guests can access Motel Santaviva from Kampala in about 9-10-hour’ drive, 9-12 km from Mgahinga National Park, and about 3-4 hours from the heart of Kigali.

Other access points include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, 37.5km, St. Francis Hospital Mutolere 4.8km, Nkuringo Visitors Center 34.6km, Musanze Modern Market, 37.3km, Lake Bunyonyi 43.5km, Cathedral of Ruhengeri 35.8km, and Shyira Diocese Catholic 36.4km.

Why choose Motel Santaviva

Ultimate comfort: Motel Santaviva is popular for its comfortable family rooms fitted with private bathrooms and balconies. Guests also have a chance to enjoy the scenic garden views. Each family room features a mini-bar, work desk, and free toiletries.

Convenient services: Visitors can enjoy flexible private check-in and check-out services. You can also appreciate the amenities, including an outdoor seating area, coffee shop, or bicycle parking.

Diverse attractions to explore: With easy access to Mgahinga, expect to explore a wide range of attractions starting from Kisoro. Visitors can engage in the diverse experiences, including golden monkey tracking, gorilla trekking, golden monkey habituation, volcano hiking, and more.

Dining & Leisure: Hotel Santaviva features a lush terrace, outdoor fireplace, restaurant, and bar. The family-friendly restaurant offers exceptional African and American cuisines plus vegetation options, etc. At leisure, you can enjoy free Wi-Fi for you to connect with your dear ones with ease.

Major Amenities/Facilities and Services at Motel Santaviva

The popular amenities or facilities at Motel Santaviva include room services, restaurant, family rooms, private parking, free Wi-Fi, a fully stocked bar, and airport shuttle.

Room Types at Santaviva Motel

The room types present at Motel Santaviva include deluxe double room, deluxe double room with 2 adult plus 1 child capacity, economy single room, budget twin room, and basic triple room with shared bathroom.

What to do

Gorilla trekking

From Motel Santaviva Kisoro, visitors can travel to Mgahinga National Park to enjoy gorilla trekking. Mgahinga is Uganda’s smallest Park with only 1 habituated gorilla group that is open for visitor encounter. Visiting Mgahinga to enjoy gorilla trekking is possible from Santaviva Motel Kisoro but you should have a valid gorilla permit. The gorilla permits should be booked in advance before you travel to Mgahinga to track gorillas and each costs USD 800 per person.

Golden monkey tracking

Mgahinga is the only place to track golden monkeys in Uganda. A great population of golden monkeys reside in Mgahinga National Park, and they can be explored around the slopes of Sabyinyo and you navigate through the lush bamboo or rainforest. Golden monkey treks are only done on the already habituated troop of golden monkeys.

If you want to spend more hours exploring more about golden monkey behaviors, then consider booking golden monkey habituation. The guided golden monkey habituation experience takes you on a search for the semi-habituated troop of golden monkeys. A valid golden monkey permit is required for you to engage in either a golden monkey trek or habituation. The normal golden monkey permit costs USD 60 per person, and you have a maximum of one hour to enjoy a face-to-face encounter with a troop of golden monkeys.

Golden monkey habituation costs USD 100 per person. Like the normal golden monkey permits, you can secure habituation permits through a reliable tour operator.

Birding

Mgahinga also offers astonishing birding excursions. Birders can leave Motel Santaviva to explore the diverse bird species in Mgahinga National Park, including the Rwenzori batis, Kivu ground thrush, red-faced woodland warblers, Rwenzori turacos, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, white-starred robin, blue-headed sunbird, dusky turtle dove, and olive woodpeckers.

Volcano hiking

Embark on guided volcano hiking excursions and explore any of the 3 Virunga Volcanoes found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. All the 3 volcanoes can be explored in Mgahinga on a guided hike including Mt. Sabyinyo, Mt. Muhabura (4127m), and Gahinga Volcanoes.