5-Star Rwanda at the Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Deep in a lush forest, you can find, what I consider to be one of the most comfortable, most familiar lodging options you will find in Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest Lodge offers 22 personal villas, each secluded behind brush, thick landscape, and amazing architecture, filled with ultra soft beds, tall ceilings, and pristine wood floors. It’s the only 5-star resort in the area, and its surrounding on all sides by a tea plantation, and 13 species of native primates.

Whether you’d like to take a steamy shower in the glass enclosure, or enjoy a relaxing soak with a soak in the centrally located jacuzzi bathtub, you can do either- or both at the same time, plus keep your views of the forest right outside your door. If that doesn’t work, lounge on the chaise in front of the fireplace, sip from the mini bar, or find a movie on the flat screen TV. The balcony doors swing open to serene forest views. Keep the doors shut unless you want to loose your belongings to curious little forest dwellers! Combined with the resorts wifi, this is the most comfortable work location I’ve ever come across.

Back up to the main cabin, you can lay back in the heated infinity pool and watch the sun set over the forest as the bright and smart staff offers choice after choice of local beer. Inside you’ll find a bar and a fitness center, as well as a spa and restaurant, situated in front of hilly views and a cozy fireplace.

My time at Nyungwe was short, but after a week of trekking through mud, climbing up mountains, gorilla seeking, and running through fast-paced and hardcore Kigali, Nyungwe was exactly what the doctor ordered. This isn’t a Holiday Inn; luxury will cost you, however, if you can afford it, the spectacular, literally awe-inspiring views, meals crafted from local veggies and livestock, and the pure love you’ll receive from the staff, from the minute you pull up ’till you go home, is more than worth it.

Besides this being the only lodging in Rwanda where I could let my guard down (please remind me to tell you the epic battle between woman and water), I saw no better modern representation of this beautiful country of 1000 hills.

Nyungwe Forest Lodge. Gisakura, Rwanda.