Rwanda is known as the newly luxury gorilla tour destination and this calls for the most luxury lodges and camps. Rwanda is astonishingly beautiful and sophisticated for such a luxury life. The country has come a long way from the not-so-distant genocide past, and certainly offers a very high-end gorilla safari-and-wildlife circuit.
Bisate is located near Volcanoes National Park, Africa’s oldest national park. It is set near the small village of Ruhengeri and is accessible from Gisele or Kigali via aircraft flight or road transfer.
The main lodge is a timber, stone, and thatch building, with wide windows on to the park. It has two storey and is divided into three separate compartments, each with a domed roof. We are pretty sure that these three roofs are intended to honour three of the park’s volcanoes of Bisoke, Karisimbi, and Mikeno.
The lounge features plenty of seating around a cozy fireplace, snug rugs, and a corner bar and among the ground floor rooms, there is a wine cellar, with a choice of seating areas and a glass of wine waiting for someone to taste!
Enjoy the legacy in the main building with similar style in just two domes in place of three. one dome houses the bedroom and the other contains the en-suite bathroom. Each bedroom includes a double bed, bedside tables and lighting, a desk and chair, a separate seating area, and a private veranda with sweeping vistas over the park. And every en-suite bathroom is a real treat, featuring flush toilet, twin washbasins below twin mirrors, a walk-in shower, and in the centre of the space a big bathtub too. There is ample storage space and a great range of towels as well as a couple of bathrobes, inviting you to wind down following a day out in the park!
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest provides a very luxurious base from which to head out on gorilla treks and other activities within the spectacular Volcanoes National Park! It consists of 14 rooms and 7 suites. Set up in the midst of trees, each feels very private, and the interiors are exquisitely presented in combinations of chic neutrals and vibrant patterns. At entry-level, there’s the Forest Lodge King. Furnishing include a double bed, bedside stands and lighting, and ample storage units.
The In-room amenities include a television, a telephone, a mini-bar, and Wi-Fi. The en-suite washroom is positioned to one side of the bedroom space, behind a partition, and it contains a flush toilet, twin washbasins, a shower, and a freestanding bathtub.
From the living area, doors lead you direct to a private balcony which offers a couple of chairs, a table, and beautiful views over Volcanoes National Park! Next up, there’s the Two-Bedroom Forest Lodge, an excellent option for a small group or a family.
Virunga suites have an open-air bathtub on its private deck. You then have the two presidential suites, Ingagi benefits from expansive living and dining spaces, and Silver back boasts an open-air lounge, barbecue terrace, and its own fire-pit!
The lounge features modern-style seating around various coffee tables, all set out on imigongo – style rugs. Both floor and ceiling lighting is also modern in design, with lines that really complement the soft furnishings. The bar is positioned at one end of this space, with the lounge and dining areas flowing out onto a spacious deck.
Kwitonda Lodge is situated within lush meadows and wetlands as well as boast amazing vistas into the national park. It is connected to the central building along pathways made out of volcanic rock. Of the eight suites, seven contain one bedroom, with the remaining suite offering two. The four-bedroom villa is also fantastic for an extended family or group.
The lodge features hand-fired terracotta brickwork crafted by local artisans, as well as a dedicated Conservation Room and on-site nursery and vegetable garden, which provides fresh produce for Kwitonda farm-to-table food journey. Singita Kwitonda provides guests with a nurturing environment in which to reflect on their encounters with the remarkable gentle apes of the forest.
Amenities on the lodge include free parking, laundry services, an outdoor pool, a shared TV area, a gift shop, airport transfers, Wi-Fi, a business centre, free breakfast, a bar, and a restaurant serving delicious local and international cuisine.
One & Only Nyungwe House is located west of Nyungwe Forest National Park, within a tea plantation. Nyungwe House has 22 rooms and suites spread across six wooden villas, all of which are tastefully decorated with traditional Rwandan art. However, the lodge’s suites offer more spacious accommodations.
Each suite has a king-size or twin-size bed, bedside tables and lighting, a separate lounge area, a warm fireplace, and storage space. The en-suite bathroom includes a separate flush toilet, twin washbasins, a shower compartment, and a large bathtub. Each of the lodge’s units also includes a private deck from where visitors may enjoy amazing views of Nyungwe Forest while keeping an eye out for wildlife like primates and birds.
The buildings are composed of wood, dark slate, and terracotta tiles, which blend perfectly with the terrain with a stylish welcome room leading to a relaxing lounge with cozy sitting around coffee tables, an appealing fireplace, and a library of literature and games. There’s also an excellent dining area with double doors leading out onto a dining terrace. Guests can enjoy delectable buffet breakfasts, brunches, and extravagant evening feasts in both locations.
Magashi Camp is located in its concession area, with stunning views of Lake Rwanyakazinga positioned in the peaceful refuge of Akagera National Park. It is the only camp in this enormous stretch of gorgeous environment teamed with abundant wildlife and hippo a plethora of birds, as well as exceedingly rare species like the Sitatunga, antelope and the Black Rhino.
Magashi Camp has six tented rooms accessible through a wooden path from the main areas. The rooms appear to be open-sided and big, with uninterrupted lake views. Each room contains a king-size bed that can be converted to twin beds, bedside stands and lighting, storage furnishings, and a comfy lounge area. Every en-suite bathroom has a shower, a single basin, and a flush toilet.
Magashi features a luxury lounge, dining area, pool, and a huge viewing terrace with a sociable fire pit. The lounge contains sitting surrounding coffee tables, exquisite lighting, overhead fans, and shelves with books and interesting artifacts. The dining section, on the other hand, has elegant tables and chairs, as well as fans and sophisticated chandelier-style lights, while the bar is located in the centre of the structure and has traditional Rwandan components. The entire interior flows out onto the enormous viewing terrace, which features a semi-circle of chairs surrounding a fire pit.