One&Only Nyungwe House An Ultra-Luxury Hideaway Immersed In Nature

Nestled on the edge of the vast and ancient Nyungwe rainforest, within the lush green expanse of a working tea plantation, One&Only Nyungwe House in Rwanda offers guests the opportunity to go where few have gone before, with once-in-a-lifetime experiences in one of the world’s most exceptional natural locations. Immersed in wild beauty surrounded by awe-inspiring jungle views, every element of the resort has been carefully considered, with inspired farm-to-table dining, spa and wellness offerings that embrace nature and local traditions, and curated, authentic experiences to discover.

Located in Gisakura, in the country’s mountainous southwest, the captivating resort offers guests an exclusive window into Rwanda’s fascinating wildlife and culture, positioned alongside the Nyungwe  National Park, one of the oldest mountain rainforests in Africa. The Nyungwe National Park is home to an incredible diversity of rare flora and fauna including 13 different species of primate, representing 20% of all the apes in Africa, rich plant life that has thrived for millions of years, as well as over 275 different species of birds. Guests can explore the forest through adventurous treks to discover chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, grey–cheeked mangabeys, the Kamiranzovu Swamps and Waterfalls, giant hornbills, great blue turacos and red-breasted sparrow hawks.

The design of the resort celebrates the raw beauty of the landscape and embraces local art, craftsmanship and motifs. The architecture fits harmoniously within the natural surroundings and maximises the spectacular scenery and mountain vistas at every opportunity with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive jungle-view terraces. The interior aesthetic of One&Only Nyungwe House pays homage to the country and its culture through Rwandan-inspired design, but with a contemporary look and feel. The age-old Rwandan geometric art form of Imigongo, is seen throughout the main lodge and guest rooms, as well as the traditional Rwandan colours of black, white and red. The 22 guest rooms and suites are modern and luxurious in design, showcasing traditional Rwandan art and influences, all boasting expansive private decks overlooking the forest.

One&Only Nyungwe House has curated a comprehensive and bespoke itinerary of activities for guests to discover. In addition to trekking chimpanzee and rare monkey populations through the ancient forest, guests can enjoy a wide range of remote outdoor pursuits from birdwatching to a canopy treetop walk at the very top of the rainforest. Hiking trails lead from the resort deep into the jungle, such as the sparkling quartz Karamba Trail which begins in the open-air site of a former gold mine. The more challenging Mount Bigugu Trail covers the highest peak in the park with stunning views of Lake Kivu, dramatic hills and colourful flora and fauna. Other signature activities include stargazing and nocturnal field walks, swooping over the panoramic African landscapes by helicopter, jungle boot camp workouts, spear throwing and archery lessons, and yoga classes surrounded by the sights and sounds of the forest.

In such a precious environment, conservation and support for the local community is of the utmost importance at One&Only Nyungwe House. Guests of the resort are offered the opportunity to participate in Umuganda, working shoulder to shoulder with resort colleagues and the community in a nationwide initiative in which locals spend the last Saturday of every month working in their community, giving back in some way, from developing infrastructure to protecting the environment.     

The cuisine at One&Only Nyungwe House heroes the incredible natural flavours of Rwanda and is prepared with rustic tradition and served with contemporary flair. The culinary team curate every menu daily, based on guests’ preferences and the best of the season’s ingredients. With a farm-to-table ethos, ingredients are sourced from the resort’s Chef’s Garden, or organic and local producers wherever possible. Guests can enjoy nourishing breakfasts, leisurely lunches and comforting evening meals in The Dining Room, the elegant Rwandan-inspired restaurant with idyllic plantation views. Two traditional African bomas are the perfect setting for guests to gather to share stories of a day’s adventures and enjoy a barbeque of freshly grilled meat, local fish sourced from nearby Lake Kivu, and vegetables from the Chef’s Garden. Alternatively, the resort’s chefs can prepare a gourmet picnic to devour during a day exploring, set up memorable private dining experiences on one of the resort’s spectacular decks, or guests can savour in-room dining in the comfort of their guest room or expansive private terrace.

With an outdoor deck and warming fireplaces, The Bar serves a carefully crafted selection of rare and small-batch gins from South Africa, each spirit individually paired with fresh botanicals, herbs from the Chef’s Garden, spices and fruit. Wine-lovers can choose from an expertly selected cellar, focusing on producers from the Western Cape of South Africa, as well as France, USA, New Zealand and Italy. The resort’s Tea Lounge is a cosy, comfortable spot for guests to relax and take in the panoramic tree-top views with a cup of Nyungwe tea. Guests can learn more about the tea-making process from selecting the best leaves to sampling the finished blend during the daily Secrets of African Tea - starting in the Tea Lounge, the experience takes guests out to visit the surrounding tea plantation to pick their own leaves, with a chance to appreciate the incredible vistas from the Tea Ceremony Deck.

Suspended over the forest, the One&Only Spa is blissful sanctuary inspired by nature. Offering guests, a moment of relaxation to complement their outdoor adventures, the One&Only Spa has a range of beauty and wellness treatments using organic natural skincare products from luxury South African brand Africology. Each treatment combines the wisdom of traditional African holistic therapies with the power of the purest natural ingredients including bespoke herbal oil massage for total body relaxation and Africology rituals to boost energy. Treatments take place in expansive private spa suites with jungle-view terraces for relaxation or outdoor treatments accompanied by the soothing sights and sounds of the wild. Adjacent to the One&Only Spa, a breathtaking infinity pool cantilevered over the forest is the ideal location for guests to unwind with the backdrop of nature.    

One&Only is passionate about being a valued member of the local community and the resort works closely with a number of cooperatives. Local tea pickers from the nearby Nyungwe Cultural Village Cooperative are able to harvest tea from the land on which the resort sits, facilitating their income and livelihoods, and the resort works hand-in-hand with Kora Tubungabunga Ibidukikije, a cooperative set up to support ex-poachers through education about conservation and training for new careers. One&Only Nyungwe House employs members of the cooperative to work at the resort, maintaining the garden and trails, the income from this work, along with donations from the resort, has enabled the cooperative to establish a range of farming projects to generate income.

One&Only has a second resort in Rwanda, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, located in an incredible position in the foothills of the Virunga Volcano range, the resort offers immersive gorilla trekking in the magical habitat of the Volcanoes National Park and complements One&Only Nyungwe House to provide the ultimate luxury twin-centre experience for guests travelling to Rwanda.  One&Only Nyungwe House and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest are part of One&Only’s evolved portfolio, including resorts in exceptional locations of authentic and wild nature.

For more information or reservations, please visit: oneandonlyresorts.com