One&Only Nyungwe House
Gisakura, Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda
Location
At the edge of Nyungwe
The lodge sits at the edge of Nyungwe Forest National Park in south-west Rwanda, bordering the Gisakura tea estate, in one of Africa's oldest rainforests — home to thirteen primate species — around five hours from Kigali.
Transfer
A Kigali transfer
Around five hours by road from Kigali, the final 90 minutes through the park, or by helicopter — a long transfer; it is around four and a half hours from the Volcanoes-NP gorilla lodges for a combined trip.
Villas
Around 22 rooms
Around 22 rooms and suites across eight wooden villas, with extended private decks framing the forest canopy and the tea estate, fireplaces and locally made textiles and artwork.
Best For
Who it suits
Couples, families and primate and birding enthusiasts after a rainforest counterpoint to the gorilla lodges — chimp and Colobus trekking, East Africa's only canopy walk and a working tea estate — pairing naturally with a Volcanoes-NP stay.
Board Basis
All-inclusive
All-inclusive — at the plantation house on a kitchen-garden menu, with boma barbecue nights, traditional dance and a tea ceremony.
About the Resort
A rainforest lodge on a working tea estate
One&Only Nyungwe House is the rainforest counterpoint to Rwanda's gorilla lodges — a lodge on a working tea estate at the edge of Nyungwe Forest, one of Africa's oldest rainforests and home to thirteen primate species. The headline is chimpanzee trekking, though it is worth being clear: chimpanzees range widely, so sightings are not guaranteed, typically around a one-in-three chance, unlike the near-certain gorillas to the north. The visit rewards either way — the Canopy Walk is a 160-metre suspension bridge 70 metres above the forest floor, the only treetop walkway in East Africa; there is Colobus monkey trekking with its large troops, exceptional birding for Albertine Rift endemics, and the Gisakura tea estate with its ceremony and tasting. Around 22 rooms across eight wooden villas have decks framing the canopy, with a heated infinity pool over the forest, the One&Only Spa, and dining at the plantation house. All-inclusive and around five hours from Kigali, it pairs naturally with a gorilla lodge for a chimp-and-gorilla trip.
Accommodation
Rooms & suites
Around 22 rooms and suites across eight wooden villas, with extended private decks framing the forest canopy and the tea estate, fireplaces and locally made textiles and artwork.
Entry
Forest Room
Sleeps two. A king with a private deck, canopy and tea-estate views, and a fireplace.
Private deckRainforest outlook
Suite
Suite
Sleeps two to three. A larger suite with an extended deck over the rainforest.
Extended deckTea-estate view
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining centres on the plantation house with a daily-changing kitchen-garden menu, boma barbecue nights with traditional dance, and a tea ceremony with Rwandan coffee.
Signature
The plantation house
The plantation house at the heart of the lodge, with a daily-changing kitchen-garden menu.
Boma
Boma barbecue
Boma barbecue nights with traditional dance.
Tea
The tea ceremony
A tea ceremony, with Rwandan coffee.
Wellbeing
Spa & pool
The One&Only Spa uses organic products, with a gym and a yoga deck, and there is a heated infinity pool over the rainforest — with chimpanzee trekking setting out from the lodge.
The One&Only Spa
The One&Only Spa, with organic products, a gym and a yoga deck.
A heated infinity pool
A heated infinity pool over the rainforest.
Chimp trekking
Chimpanzee trekking from the lodge.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
Chimps, canopy and tea, in an ancient rainforest. Trek for chimpanzees and Colobus, cross the canopy walkway, tour the tea estate, and bird the Albertine Rift.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking in one of Africa's oldest rainforests.
The canopy walk
The Canopy Walk — a 160-metre suspension bridge 70 metres above the forest floor, the only treetop walkway in East Africa.
Colobus trekking
Colobus monkey trekking, with large troops.
The Gisakura tea estate
The Gisakura tea estate — a ceremony, a tasting and plantation walks.
Birding
Birding for Albertine Rift endemics, in one of Africa's most important sites for biodiversity.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By road
From Kigali
Around five hours by road from Kigali, the final 90 minutes through the park.
By helicopter
From Kigali
Or by helicopter from Kigali.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting One&Only Nyungwe House. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- All-inclusive.
Chimp sightings
- Chimpanzees range widely, so sightings are not guaranteed — typically around a one-in-three chance, on an early start and a forest trek — unlike the near-certain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park; the canopy walk, the Colobus and the birding reward the visit either way.
Made for couples
- A romantic rainforest base for couples, and for primate and birding enthusiasts; it pairs with a gorilla lodge for a gorilla-and-chimp trip.
Getting there
- Around five hours by road from Kigali, the final 90 minutes through the park, or by helicopter.
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Dates, party size, villa preference and budget.
Destination
Dates & party
Date flexibility
Adults
2
Children
0
Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
Villa preference
Flights
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