If seeing gorillas in the wild has always been on your bucket list, here’s an incentive to plan a trip. A new luxury property in Rwanda, Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House, places guests right on the edge of the Volcanoes National Park, home to 320 mountain gorillas. This is a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population – and ecotourism and conservation brand Singita is enforcing reforestation initiatives here to protect the habitats of the endangered species.
The property itself is a luxurious oasis in the wild. Built on 72ha of land, its dozen suites are inspired by Rwanda’s landscape and cultural heritage. The design features volcanic walls, woven ceilings and terracotta brickwork, all created by local artisans and builders. The lodge kitchen, meanwhile, offers a largely vegetable-based farm-to-table menu, and an on-site nursery contains around 250,000 indigenous plants and trees.
While gorillas are the star attraction in the national park, trekkers can also spot golden monkeys, all the while knowing that a bathtub awaits at the end of the day for that spot of relaxation.