by One&Only Resorts
One&Only Gorilla's Nest sits in a towering eucalyptus forest on the foothills of the Virungas, a short drive from the Kinigi park headquarters. It is the most resort-like of Rwanda's gorilla lodges — generous suites, a full spa and wellness offering, and a level of service that suits travellers who want the trek without giving up any comfort around it.
Accommodation runs from generous forest suites to the larger Silverback suites with private terraces and outdoor bathtubs among the eucalyptus. The property is bigger than Bisate or Kwitonda, so it feels less like a private house and more like a very good small resort in the forest.
The scale brings advantages: more dining options, a heated pool, a serious spa, and easier availability at short notice than the six- and eight-room lodges nearby.
At 10 to 15 minutes from Kinigi, this is the shortest morning transfer of any lodge on the circuit — you leave around 06:15 for the 07:00 briefing. All Volcanoes National Park activities are morning starts, so afternoons belong to the spa, the pool, the beekeeping and Intore dance experiences on site, or a Musanze Caves run.
The lodge is well set up for guests who want back-to-back activity days: a gorilla trek, then golden monkey trekking, then the Dian Fossey tomb hike, all briefed at Kinigi in the morning with the afternoon free to recover.
Travellers used to five-star resort service, multi-generational families, and anyone who wants the trek to be one part of a broader wellness-led stay rather than the entire point of the property.
If you would rather have six villas and total quiet, Bisate is the better fit. If you want the biggest suites and the strongest conservation corridor, that is Singita Kwitonda.
About 10 to 15 minutes to the Kinigi park headquarters, the shortest transfer of any lodge on the Rwandan gorilla circuit. Briefing is at 07:00, so you leave the lodge around 06:15.
No. Rwanda's gorilla permit is USD $1,500 per person, paid to the Rwanda Development Board, and is booked separately from your accommodation. A discounted rate of USD $1,050 applies when trekking is combined with visits to Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park in the same trip. We secure permits as part of your itinerary.
Gorilla's Nest for resort-style service, a full spa and the shortest morning drive. Bisate for the most striking setting and the most intimate property. Singita Kwitonda for the largest suites and the strongest reforestation programme. All three are excellent; the right answer depends on the kind of stay you want around the trek.
Tell us a little about how you travel. Our team will reply within 24 hours with a draft itinerary composed for you alone.
Private expeditions are typically composed from USD $10,500 per guest, fully inclusive of gorilla permits, lodging, guiding and transfers.
