Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort

Canopy Treehouses · A Working Tea Estate · Chimpanzees at the Forest's Edge

Gisakura · Nyungwe National Park · Southwestern Rwanda · Chimpanzee Trekking

Overview of Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort

Most people come to Rwanda for the gorillas. The ones who come back often come for Nyungwe.

On the western edge of Nyungwe National Park, where the tea fields of Gisakura roll right up to one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, sits a small resort of wooden villas and canopy treehouses. Mist drifts across the tea rows in the morning. Pickers move between the bushes. Colobus monkeys sit in the trees above the balconies, and, farther inside the forest, chimpanzees call to each other across the valleys.

The resort opened in 2018 as One&Only Nyungwe House, the brand's first property in Africa. It has since joined Kerzner's rare finds collection and is now called Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort. The owner, management and team are the same, and many travellers still know it as One&Only Nyungwe House, or simply Nyungwe House. Whatever you call it, it remains the most polished place to stay in Nyungwe Forest, and one of the most distinctive in Rwanda.

"Gorillas are an hour you plan your whole trip around. Nyungwe is the place you stay and simply let the forest happen."

For travellers building a luxury Rwanda safari, Nyungwe is the natural second chapter. After the volcanic north and the gorillas, it offers a completely different kind of forest: cooler and wetter, with a canopy walkway above the treetops, some of the richest birding in the country, and the chance to track chimpanzees on foot.

Lodge Overview

Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort at a Glance

Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort is operated by Kerzner's rare finds collection and is not owned by Savannah Explore Africa. We include the resort in tailor-made Rwanda and East Africa safaris.

Where Tea Meets the Rainforest

Nyungwe National Park protects one of the largest tracts of mountain rainforest in Africa and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its ancient trees shelter thirteen species of primate, from chimpanzees and colobus monkeys to rarer forest dwellers, as well as hundreds of species of birds and a spectacular range of orchids, butterflies and ferns.

The resort sits just outside the park boundary, set within the Gisakura tea estate, a landscape that has shaped local life for generations. The effect is unusual: two completely different landscapes in a single view. In front of you are neat, bright green rows of tea. Behind them the forest rises, dark and dense, often wrapped in cloud.

The climate is cool and often damp. Nyungwe is a rainforest, so rain can fall in any month, and mornings are fresh. Guests pack layers and waterproofs whatever the season, and the lodge's fireplaces and warm lounge are as welcome as the pool.

Arriving at the Resort

Nyungwe is remote, and that is part of its charm. Many guests travel by road from Kigali, a drive of roughly five to six hours through the hills of southern Rwanda, passing tea estates, small towns and long views over terraced farmland. For those who prefer to skip the road, scheduled flights serve Kamembe airport near Lake Kivu, and helicopter transfers can be arranged, including between Nyungwe and the gorilla lodges of the Virunga volcanoes.

We plan the journey so that it feels effortless: a meet-and-assist welcome on arrival, a private vehicle with an experienced driver-guide, and timings built around your chimpanzee permit, so you reach the forest rested and ready.

The roads into the south are long. Break the journey with a night in Kigali or a stop on Lake Kivu, and arrive the day before your first trek.

Inside the Treehouses and Villas

The accommodation is spread among wooden villas and treehouse-style rooms, laid out along the slope above the tea fields. Interiors blend Rwandan craft with a warm, contemporary look, with woven baskets, local art and soft textures throughout. Each room has a private deck or balcony facing the forest or the tea, a deep soaking tub and wide windows that bring the landscape inside.

Canopy Treehouse King

The room most couples choose. A king bed, a deep soaking tub and a treetop balcony give a feeling of sleeping among the branches. The rates in this guide are based on this category.

Canopy Treehouse Double Queen

The same treehouse with two queen beds, ideal for friends travelling together, or a parent with an older child.

Two Bedroom Canopy Villa

Two en-suite bedrooms around a living room with a wood-burning stove for the cool highland evenings. The villa sleeps four and suits families or two couples travelling together.

Whichever room you choose, the small things are taken care of: fresh fruit and snacks in the room, a fire to come back to, and staff who notice which minibar snacks you prefer.

Life at the Resort

With only about twenty-two rooms, service is personal. The chef plans meals around the preferences of each table, and the team quickly learns names, favourite drinks and which chimpanzee family you hope to find.

Dining

Meals are served in the Dining Room, with its daily-changing menu of Rwandan-inspired dishes, and around the boma, where fire and dancing bring the day to a close. The Tea Lounge serves tea-infused specialties and hosts authentic Rwandan tea ceremonies, a gentle introduction to the estate that surrounds you. Produce comes from the resort's own garden wherever possible.

Rest and Restoration

The spa has two treatment rooms, a deck and lounge that look straight onto the forest, and a menu built on African therapies and plant-based Africology skincare made in South Africa from indigenous plants. Signature treatments include Forest Awakening, an open-air ritual with essential oils, an African mud scrub and a full-body massage, and the African Marula Experience. Open-air yoga and mindfulness sessions take place on a private deck over the rainforest, and personal training can be arranged.

Evenings

As the light fades over the tea fields, guests gather in the lounge, by the fire or at the boma. Stargazing and nocturnal spotlighting are available from the elevated decks. Dinner conversation tends to drift back to the chimpanzees: how fast they moved, how high they climbed, and how close you got.

Amenities and Services

Nyungwe's luxury lies in setting, comfort and thoughtful service. Most of what you need is included in the rate.

Moments to Request

A small resort makes memorable moments easy to arrange. We work with the team to plan the ones that matter to you.

A Day with the Chimpanzees

For most guests, the reason for coming to Nyungwe is a morning with wild chimpanzees. Here is how that day usually unfolds.

Chimpanzee Trekking Day From Nyungwe

Early Morning A very early start. Breakfast is served at dawn, and a packed lunch and trekking gear are ready for you.

Briefing Guests travel to the park office, where Rwanda Development Board guides brief small groups of up to eight on the chimpanzee community they will follow and on how to behave around them. Trackers are already in the forest.

The Forest Into the trees. The trails descend into dense, steep forest, and the start point depends on where the chimpanzees fed the day before. Treks can last from a couple of hours to most of the morning. Rain and mud are common, so waterproofs and good boots matter.

The Hour The encounter. Chimpanzees are fast, loud and endlessly busy, calling across the valley, swinging through the canopy and crossing the trail just ahead of you. Sightings cannot be guaranteed, as the forest is large and the chimpanzees move, but a morning in their company is among the most thrilling in East Africa.

Afternoon Back to the tea fields. A hot shower, a long lunch, a swim in the infinity pool or a treatment at the spa bring the day gently to a close.

Chimpanzee permits are limited and sit outside the lodge rate. They should be booked in advance with your room. Park age limits apply, so we confirm the minimum age for your party when you book.

The Canopy Walk

The canopy walkway is a suspension bridge system strung high above the forest floor on the Igishigishigi trail. It is the best way to see the forest from the level of the birds and monkeys, and a thrill for anyone who likes heights. It carries its own park fee.

Beyond the Chimpanzees

Nyungwe rewards a longer stay. Two resort activities are included each day, and the forest offers much more than a single trek.

Colobus Monkey Trekking Large troops of colobus monkeys, with their black-and-white coats and flowing tails, are among the forest's most easily seen and photographed primates.

Tea Estate Walks Guided walks through the Gisakura estate, including a picnic among the rows and a look at how tea is grown and picked.

Birding and Forest Hikes Guided birding in a forest rich in Albertine Rift endemics, and walks on forest trails, including waterfall hikes and twilight walks.

Archery and Stargazing Archery on the slope above the tea fields, and stargazing from the elevated decks on clear nights.

Community Visits Visits to local cooperatives and villages show how the forest and the people who live beside it depend on each other.

Conservation and Community

The resort was built in partnership with the people who live beside the forest, and that partnership shapes the stay.

Conservation Tourism that gives the forest and its primates a value that is protected rather than cleared

Community Local cooperatives are employed to maintain the gardens and trails, and the income helps fund their own farming projects

Tourism Permits, guides, porters and lodge jobs give local families a direct reason to protect the forest

Guests contribute simply by staying, trekking with licensed guides and buying from local cooperatives.

Why Discerning Travellers Choose Nyungwe

Rwanda has several superb places to stay. Nyungwe stands apart for three reasons.

The first is its setting. Few places in Africa let you step from a tea field into primary rainforest, and few offer a view as quietly dramatic as mist rising off a tea estate at dawn.

The second is its comfort. A heated infinity pool, a forest spa and a deep tub on your own balcony make it the most relaxing place in the region to return to after a trek.

The third is its balance. It is a polished luxury resort, but the experience is still about the forest, the primates and the people, and at under half the nightly rate of the top gorilla lodges, it is one of the best-value luxury stays in Rwanda.

When to Go

Chimpanzees can be trekked all year round, and the resort is open in every season. Because Nyungwe is a rainforest at altitude, rain can fall in any month and mornings are cool.

The drier months, from June to September and from December to February, offer firmer trails and clearer views, and are the resort's most popular times. The rains usually fall from March to May and again in October and November. The forest is at its lushest, though trails can be muddy and slippery, and these months bring lower lodge rates. Whatever the month, waterproofs and sturdy boots are essential.

How Long to Stay

We recommend two nights as a minimum at Nyungwe, three if you can. That allows time for a chimpanzee trek, the canopy walk and a slow afternoon by the pool without feeling rushed.

Three nights gives you room to add colobus monkey trekking, a tea estate day and a long spa treatment. Many of our guests pair Nyungwe with a stay near the volcanoes for gorillas, and travel between the two by road or by helicopter.

Rates and What Is Included

Nyungwe publishes its rates per person per night sharing a Canopy Treehouse King, in US dollars, with a high and a low season.

Rates from June 2027 onward were not yet published when this guide was prepared. Rates are subject to change and should be confirmed in writing for your dates. Children aged 2 to 12 pay a reduced rate and under-2s stay free.

The rate includes your room, all meals, soft drinks, beers and house wine, two resort activities per person per day, laundry, Wi-Fi, the fitness facilities and the use of trekking gear.

Not Included in the Lodge Rate

• Chimpanzee trekking permits

• Canopy walkway fee and other park fees

• Transfers from Kigali, flights to Kamembe and helicopter flights

• Spa treatments

• Premium drinks

• Gratuities

What a Stay Really Costs

At this level, it is better to see the full picture at the start. Three nights in a Canopy Treehouse King in the low season (1 November to 21 December 2026), with a chimpanzee trek and the canopy walk, comes to roughly US$3,970 per person sharing: US$3,810 for the lodge and about US$160 for the permit and walkway fee. The same stay in the high season is around US$5,815 per person.

Transfers, spa treatments and premium drinks are added on top, depending on how you wish to travel. Every Savannah Explore Africa quotation sets these out line by line, so you can see exactly where your investment goes before you confirm.

These figures are based on published rates and current park fees and are offered as a planning guide rather than a confirmed quotation. Final prices should always be checked for your specific dates.

Combining Nyungwe with Your Safari

Nyungwe sits naturally within a longer journey through Rwanda and Uganda.

Volcanoes National Park Gorilla trekking in the Virunga volcanoes, with a choice of luxury lodges such as Bisate Lodge and Singita Kwitonda Lodge.

Akagera National Park Savannah, lakes and the Big Five in Rwanda's eastern park, a perfect contrast to the forests.

Lake Kivu Slow days on the shore of one of Africa's Great Lakes, a gentle break between the forest and the road.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda Cross the border at Cyanika and compare Rwanda's chimpanzees and gorillas with Uganda's, perhaps staying at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.

Why Book Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort with Savannah Explore Africa?

Savannah Explore Africa designs private safari itineraries around each traveller's interests, travel dates, comfort preferences and budget.

When we incorporate Nyungwe into a Rwanda safari, we coordinate the room with chimpanzee permits, transfers, guiding and additional experiences to create a practical, well-organised and unhurried journey.

Plan Your Stay at Nyungwe

A balcony above the tea fields, a morning with the chimpanzees, a deep bath at the end of the day. We design every Rwanda safari privately, from permits and rooms to flights and the special touches that make a journey unforgettable.