One&Only's Rwanda property — 22 rooms within a working tea plantation on the edge of Nyungwe National Park's rainforest.
BrandOne&Only Resorts
DestinationRwanda
RegionAfrica
Price TierTier 2 ($2k-$5k)
SettingLuxury eco retreat within a working tea plantation
Best ForFamilies combining safari with rainforest programming, repeat One&Only guests extending to Rwanda, travelers pairing with Volcanoes National Park gorilla tracking.
PrivacyHigh
ServicePersonalized Concierge Service
ButlerStandard luxury service
Private PoolNo
Built2010
Renovated2018
One&Only Nyungwe House opened in 2010 on a working tea plantation at the edge of Nyungwe National Park, with a 2018 renovation updating the 22 rooms, suites, and Two-Bedroom Canopy Villa. The property sits at the intersection of tea-plantation landscape and rainforest canopy, with the infinity pool
Key Features
Exclusive safari experiences in Nyungwe National Park
Luxuriously appointed rooms and suites with private balconies
Infinity pool overlooking the rainforest
Gourmet dining options with locally sourced ingredients
Wellness center offering spa treatments inspired by nature
On-site activities include guided hikes
birdwatching
and canopy walks
Dining
The Dining Room
Tea Lounge
Signature Experience
The canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park — a suspended walkway through the rainforest canopy that gives access to primate viewing and birdwatching at height.
One&Only's resort programming translated to rainforest context, with exclusive safari access to Nyungwe National Park's chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks. The working tea-plantation setting is structurally different from East Africa's savanna lodge format.
Signature Suite: Two-Bedroom Canopy Villa
Large living spaces, private outdoor decks
Accolades
One of the best luxury resorts in Gisakura, Rwanda
Best time: June through September (dry season) offers the finest gorilla trekking conditions — clear forest paths, better visibility, and the highest chance of extended gorilla family contact during allocated permit hours.
Demand: Gorilla trekking permits are the primary demand driver. June through September and January through February are both strong periods. The destination is growing rapidly in ultra-luxury recognition.
Pricing: Gorilla trekking permits ($1,500 per person) are non-negotiable fixed costs regardless of season. Lodge rates peak in high season. Permit availability, not pricing, is the primary booking constraint.
Insider tip: Book gorilla trekking permits 12 months ahead for high season. One&Only Gorillas Nest and Wilderness Bisate maintain relationships with the Rwanda Development Board that can help with last-minute permit access for guests.
Avoid: April and May bring the long rainy season with difficult forest paths for gorilla trekking. October and November bring a shorter wet period.
