Volcanoes National Park

One&Only Gorilla’s Nest

Feel the call of the trees from your concealed sanctuary

Retreat to a botanical hideaway in Africa’s oldest national park

Embraced by a warren of eucalyptus trees and resting at the base of the Virunga Volcano Range, this secluded pocket of exceptional bliss and natural beauty is set in the depths of a protected haven – one where the majestic mountain gorilla still resides.

An outstanding addition to One&Only’s collection, this cradle of meticulously curated design blends into the ethereal backcloth of mist-laden jungle and blue-hued peaks, presenting 21 lodges and suites. The luxurious accommodation, balanced on wooden poles above the botanical garden, places you in the midst of the Virunga rainforest, with sprawling viewing decks, outdoor tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows. Tasteful interiors draw on varied wooden features, warm colour schemes, patterned materials, and some options offer fire-pits and private pools.

Maintaining the same soothing theme and merging the peripheral environment with the internal, the on-site restaurant, Nest, draws on seasonal, local produce from the surrounding organic gardens to create Rwandan-inspired dishes. The connected bar features a charming lounge, looking out onto the grounds, complete with a fireplace for the cooler months.

Witnessing an endangered Rwandan mountain gorilla during your stay is the ultimate highlight, and Gorilla’s Nest can arrange permits and guided treks to see them amidst bamboo forests along with endemic golden monkeys and an affluence of bird species. Additionally, you can gain insight into the local culture, with visits to nearby villages, sample coffee from the region and dabble in a restoring treatment, yoga class or meditation session at the sublime spa and wellness centre.

Highlights

21 guest lodges and suites

Restaurant

Bar

Spa and wellness centre

Coffee tasting

Guided nature walks

Gorilla treks

Trip inspiration

Get inspired with our Rwanda example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

5 Day trip

Gorilla and Golden Monkey Discovery

A succinct trip to the emerald slopes of Volcanoes National Park to meet the rare and enchanting Mountain Gorilla and Golden Monkey

10 Day trip

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Maasai Mara Safari

An unforgettable East African wildlife adventure

8 Day trip

Luxury Rwandan Primate Adventure

Experience the wildlife wonderment of Rwanda's captivating primates, from chimps to rare mountain gorillas, on this week-long African adventure.

5 Day trip

Gorilla and Golden Monkey Discovery

A succinct trip to the emerald slopes of Volcanoes National Park to meet the rare and enchanting Mountain Gorilla and Golden Monkey

10 Day trip

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Maasai Mara Safari

An unforgettable East African wildlife adventure

8 Day trip

Luxury Rwandan Primate Adventure

Experience the wildlife wonderment of Rwanda's captivating primates, from chimps to rare mountain gorillas, on this week-long African adventure.

Plan your trip to Rwanda

Whatever you want from your adventure in Rwanda, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Places to combine One&Only Gorilla’s Nest with

Kigali

The Retreat by Heaven

The Retreat by Heaven is a charming and inviting small boutique hotel, recognised as Kigali’s first entirely solar-powered resort, as well as maintaining countless other eco-friendly credentials throughout its make up, including locally crafted sustainable teak wood furniture. The hotel enjoys a great location on a quiet and peaceful, tree-lined street in the Kiyovu neighbourhood of the city, and is just minutes from the city centre, ensuring it’s in a prime location for discovering Kigali. At the centre of everything The Retreat does is its people, and support and development of the local community are important parts of its operation. Through various programmes they hope to help develop future leaders in Rwanda’s fast-growing hospitality industry. Guests will have a choice of 11 expansive rooms, with features such as peaked ceilings, front and rear private patios, bathrooms with indoor and outdoor rain showers, and air conditioning. The interior of each room is light, airy and spacious, featuring plenty of wood for a natural vibe, as well as touches of local art and decoration to add an element of tradition. There’s a fantastic on-site restaurant in which to indulge, known as Fusion. Blending international cuisine with local Rwandan and African flavours with a focus on quality local ingredients, the restaurant is set beside the hotel’s inviting saltwater swimming pool. Guests can find further relaxation in the shape of the hotel’s spa, giving them the chance to nurture themselves across a range of skincare or massage treatments, as well as relax in the Jacuzzi or sauna.

salas-camp

Maasai Mara

Location is everything at Sala’s Camp. Nestled in the Maasai Mara National Park, but in a very remote southern-central corner of it on the tranquil banks of the Sand River, Sala’s boasts the most private of safari experiences within the reserve’s borders. The camp works in close conjunction with various wildlife projects in the area, so you can be sure your visit is making a difference. The camp features 11 tents including two family tents and two honeymoon tents. All feature private plunge pools and en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, running water and flushing loos. Sala’s enjoys wonderful views across the northern Tanzanian corridor and Serengeti National Park, and it is one of the first camps in the Mara to witness the Great Migration. Your daily game drives are personalised to guests, depending on what you would most like to see, and the Mara River for the famed river crossings is only a 25-minute drive away. The food is impossibly sophisticated for your surrounds, all in all holding true to the camp’s philosophy of combining tradition with elegance. Sala’s is also a wonderful camp for families. All children receive a welcome pack with games, paint sets and quizzes about the wildlife and the camp and kids can play in the shallow Sand River under the watchful eye of a Maasai askari.

rekero-camp-sunset-dinner

Maasai Mara

The interiors are spacious with comfortable beds and each tent enjoys river views from the veranda. The rear of the tent leads to a tented bathroom with a flush toilet, a sink and a safari shower. A team of safari chefs prepare fresh and tasty home-style meals for guests during their stay. Meals are enjoyed out on game drives, by the water’s edge under the shade of an African Pepper tree or by candlelight in the open mess tent higher up the bank. The area plays host not only to an extraordinary concentration and diversity of wildlife but also to one of mother nature’s greatest spectacles: the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra across the Serengeti/Mara eco system. Even when the migration is not here, there is plenty of resident game to ensure that even in low season it is still one of the finest wildlife locations in Africa. Rekero’s bush guides are widely recognised to be among the best in East Africa. They undergo a long period of professional training beyond the learning of guiding skills to fully understand the complexity and demands of delivering quality service at the very highest level. Game drives in the park are all done in the company of these experts who can also share their culture in this extraordinary setting.

Nairobi

Overlooking Nairobi National Park, Ololo Lodge is a welcoming hideaway in the African bush on the banks of the Mbagathi River, where guests are made to feel instantly at home. A beautifully restored colonial farmhouse lies at the centre of the lodge, where guests are invited to unwind with a glass of wine as they drink in the views. The 13 suites are spacious and luxuriously furnished, from the airy Terrace Room with its marble bathroom and private terrace, to the safari-style tented cottages. Or you could climb the spiral staircase to The Tower Room which boasts breath-taking views out over the park towards the Ngong Hills. Run by an Australian family, Ololo Lodge is all about relaxing and enjoying the comforts of home away from home. At The Kitchen at Ololo, home-style meals are simple and fresh, using seasonal produce from the lodge’s own gardens. The menu changes daily and guests can dine out on the vine-covered terrace or in the garden under the acacias. Keep a look out for lion, giraffe, leopard, rhino, hippo, zebra and buck on a personalised or group game drive in Nairobi National Park, or add a little extra magic with a visit to the nearby Elephant Orphanage or the Giraffe Centre.

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