Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge Redesign
lebambougorillalodge.comCase StudyProject Overview
Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, an eco-lodge at the edge of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, Rwanda, needed a digital presence that matched the calibre of its guest experience. The existing brand felt dated, and the website made booking harder than it should be.
The engagement covered a full brand refresh and a responsive website redesign, from first research through to a launched site with a streamlined booking flow.
The results speak for themselves: improved navigation, visual consistency, and a smoother booking flow led to a 30% increase in click-through rate over the same period the year before, and a measured 9% improvement in bookings.
My Contributions
Research: Audited the existing site and competing eco-lodges to understand guest expectations and where the experience fell short.
Ideation: Explored logo directions, typography pairings, and a colour palette drawn from the Virunga landscape.
Design: Built the identity system and website UI in parallel so brand and interface would feel like one product.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Presented directions to the lodge team and folded their feedback into each iteration.
Refinement: Tuned layouts, contrast, and the booking flow across desktop and mobile until the details held up.
Outcome: Delivered a cohesive identity and a live site where guests can go from landing page to confirmed booking in five steps.
Design Notes
The goal was clear: modernize the lodge's image and make the website easier to use. Early conversations with the lodge team shaped the design direction, and preliminary wireframes established a layout that balances function and aesthetics.
The site was built on a responsive grid, starting with the homepage. Accordion navigation keeps things tidy, a dedicated call to action drives bookings, rooms sit in a clean grid, and the footer carries contact info and social links without clutter.
Earthy tones and a clean layout echo the area's natural beauty and the lodge's calm, welcoming character, translating the brand into a digital experience that feels like the place itself.
The booking path is a five-step modal: stay and room, dates and guests, extras, guest details, then review, all without leaving the page.
Identity Board
Varela Round
Primary: Headings & UI
A soft geometric sans that keeps the lodge feeling warm and approachable across headings, navigation, and buttons.
Merriweather
Accent: Editorial & Quotes
A readable serif reserved for longer editorial moments and guest testimonials, adding a quiet sense of craft.
Sage Teal
#566C6A
Charcoal
#2C2C2C
Mist
#D7DFDE
Pale Mint
#EBF8F7
Earth Brown
#79625A
Stone
#B9C5C4
Responsive by Design
