One&Only Resorts’ luxury forest lodge in Rwanda is planning a new wellness stay in 2024.
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is located near Volcanoes National Park.
In the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, lush landscapes and ancient forests envelop two very different yet equally enchanting One&Only resorts, providing a luxurious base from which to explore Rwanda’s stunning natural landscapes.
Perhaps the best known of the two properties, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is set amid eucalyptus forest on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda, home to one of Rwanda’s two mountain gorilla populations, while One&Only Nyungwe House is set amid lush tea plantations adjacent to Nyungwe National Park in the southwest.
One&Only Nyungwe House is located in a tea plantation adjacent to a national park.
In these remote wilderness locations, each lodge focuses on the wildlife experiences these two distinct destinations offer, from gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park to searching for chimpanzees and other primates in Nyungwe, the first national park to be granted UNESCO status in late 2023 due to its ancient rainforests, trail-trotting paths to roaring waterfalls and its extraordinary wealth of endemic species.
A stay at Gorilla’s Nest will let you learn about mountain gorilla conservation (including at the nearby Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus), while a stay at Nyungwe House will give you a first-hand experience with local tea production. At both sites, you can connect with cultural cooperatives like Handspun Hope, a women’s craft collective.
Inside the cozy Nest Bar at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.
Each property features luxurious lodges set in or on the edge of towering forests, stylishly decorated with Rwandan artefacts and featuring cosy lounge areas with fireplaces, panoramic dining rooms opening onto terraces, relaxing spas and infinity pools with forest views. With nature and outdoor activities at the heart of the stay, the lodges are perfect for enhancing wellbeing, an increased emphasis on resorts in 2024.
“Rwanda’s pristine landscape is a key element in making it a wellness destination,” says Nitesh Ranjan, Wellness Manager at One&Only Rwanda. “The lush rainforest and surrounding hills will soothe your body and purify your mind.”
Colobus monkeys in Nyungwe National Park.
“These environments serve as the backdrop for immersive wellness experiences, ranging from a deep connection to nature gained through gorilla trekking, to grounding and mental health aids, to the benefits of traditional healing techniques, which are incorporated into spa treatments.”
Based on the surrounding landscape and Rwandan culture, the wellness program currently combines spa treatments and mindfulness sessions with the lodge’s outdoor and cultural activities, and features the lodge’s eco-friendly practices (such as the use of natural products in spa treatments). By placing this ethos of sustainability at the heart of the experience, One&Only Rwanda aims to leave guests feeling rejuvenated, reinvigorated and connected to themselves, their environment and their community.
Mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park.
At both resorts, yoga and meditation sessions take place on scenic terraces and tree glades, mountain bikes are available for free use, and the restaurants’ cuisine is inspired by traditional African recipes while also using plenty of locally sourced ingredients. Nyungwe House’s three-day wellness journey also incorporates a nature-inspired boot camp, and the resorts offer fitness facilities including an outdoor gym and boxing area.
As part of its enhanced wellness offerings, the resort will introduce new signature spa experiences in 2024. Nyungwe House will offer a new signature spa treatment inspired by the healing properties of tea, while Gorilla’s Nest will pay homage to the forest the lodge is surrounded by with spa treatments inspired by eucalyptus and chocolate.
The Silverback Suite pool at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.
“By incorporating locally sourced ingredients such as eucalyptus essential oil and tea infusions, our treatments offer an authentic, immersive wellness journey that celebrates the healing properties of each destination,” says Ranjan.
Ninety percent of the ingredients used in the resort’s spa treatments (including baobab seed, rooibos, and kigelia) come from the African continent, and treatments like the Intonga Ama-Asach massage also draw on African healing techniques. “Each experience promotes holistic wellness and fosters a deeper connection with nature,” adds Ranjan.
Inside the spa at One&Only Nyungwe House.
To make it easier to combine stays at the two resorts, One&Only Rwanda has also launched the new OneEscape, through a new partnership with Rwanda’s Akagera Airlines, which incorporates stays at both locations, a series of immersive cultural and environmental experiences, as well as helicopter transfers between the resorts, which are normally several hours apart by road.
Rwanda’s national airline, RwandAir, offers spacious and great value business class seats, connects American travelers to Rwanda through a codeshare with Qatar, and has plans to launch direct flights to the United States in the near future.
Yoga on the deck of One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.
Africa-based tour operators like East Africa specialist Cheli & Peacock Safaris can incorporate domestic trips, additional local experiences along the way and time in the vibrant capital, Kigali, into your One&Only stay, giving you the advantage of insider information.
In Kigali, it’s worth booking into the luxury boutique hotel, The Retreat by Heaven. Built on a commitment to supporting the local community, this urban hideaway also comes with a spa and pool, and ties in nicely with the One&Only Wellness Retreat, allowing you to immerse yourself in the natural surroundings.
