By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Singita Kwitonda Lodge is the most luxurious place to stay for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. It sits right on the boundary of Volcanoes National Park, with the forested slopes of the Virunga volcanoes rising behind it. Its handful of suites, built from dry-stone walls and timber with floor-to-ceiling windows, each have a heated plunge pool, and the lodge has replanted tens of thousands of trees to restore the forest edge.
Singita Kwitonda Lodge is the most luxurious place to stay for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. It sits right on the boundary of Volcanoes National Park, with the forested slopes of the Virunga volcanoes rising behind it. Its handful of suites, built from dry-stone walls and timber with floor-to-ceiling windows, each have a heated plunge pool, and the lodge has replanted tens of thousands of trees to restore the forest edge.
Location: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
The lodge stands on the park boundary, a short drive from the headquarters at Kinigi where treks begin. Kigali is two to three hours away by road, and helicopter transfers are available.
Kwitonda's position on the very edge of the park means the forest is visible from every suite, and the drive to the trek briefing at Kinigi is short. Volcanoes National Park, the oldest national park in Africa, is part of the transboundary Virunga massif, and its slopes of bamboo, hagenia woodland and giant lobelias are home to habituated gorilla families that can be visited for one hour a day. Permits are strictly limited, and trekkers must be 15 or older. Golden monkey tracking and the hike to Dian Fossey's grave at Karisoke are equally memorable, and the lodge's guides can tailor each day to your fitness.
Singita's guides also introduce guests to the wider area: farms and markets in the surrounding villages, the lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, and the conservation projects the lodge supports, from tree nurseries to community enterprises. Many guests combine Kwitonda with Singita's safari lodges in Tanzania or South Africa, or with Rwanda's own Akagera National Park, where lions and rhinos have been successfully reintroduced, and Nyungwe Forest, home to chimpanzees and more than 300 species of birds.
Suites at Singita Kwitonda Lodge
The suites are spacious and calm, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a neutral palette that echoes the surrounding forest, an outdoor deck and a heated plunge pool facing the volcanoes. Bathrooms are generous, with space for in-room massages. Kataza House, set slightly apart, is a private four-bedroom villa with its own pool, chef and host, ideal for families or small groups.
The architecture is the work of a Rwandan and South African team, and every detail, from the volcanic-stone walls to the handwoven baskets and ceramics, celebrates local craftsmanship. The lodge supports local artisans and farmers, and much of the produce on the menu comes from the surrounding community.
Facilities at Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Singita's food and wine are famous across Africa, and the menus here celebrate Rwandan produce. Rates are all-inclusive, and the lodge's guides and trackers arrange gorilla and golden monkey treks, forest walks and visits to local communities.
Conservation is at the heart of the lodge: more than 60,000 saplings were planted during its creation to extend the gorillas' habitat and encourage wildlife to return to the forest edge.
The mountain moment
The Kwitonda moment is the evening after a trek, when you lower yourself into your heated plunge pool as the clouds lift off the volcanoes and the forest beyond the lodge, now home to the families you met that morning, falls quiet in the dusk.
Why Singita Kwitonda is one of the best mountain hotels
Singita Kwitonda earns its place as the finest gorilla lodge in Rwanda. Its location on the park boundary, its beautiful architecture, its plunge pools and Singita's legendary service set the standard. It is one of the most expensive lodges in Africa. But for a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla safari, nothing in Rwanda is more luxurious.
For an intimate alternative with striking architecture, see Bisate Lodge.
When to go to Singita Kwitonda
Because Kwitonda has so few suites, it is wise to book a year or more ahead for the drier months of June to September and December to February, when treks are easier and the views of Sabyinyo and its neighbours are clearest. The wet seasons, from March to May and from October to November, bring rain, mist and muddy trails, but also fewer visitors and a lush, dramatic forest, and the heated plunge pools and fires make returning to the lodge especially welcome.
Three or four nights allows for two gorilla treks, a golden monkey trek and a day to enjoy the lodge, its walks and its food. Porters can be hired for every trek and are well worth it. Pack waterproof boots and trousers, gardening gloves for gripping vines and nettles, warm layers for the early mornings and a camera that copes well in low light, as flash is not permitted around the gorillas.
Mountain Muses
New hotel listings and inspiration each week, direct from the mountains to your inbox
Questions, answered
- Does Singita Kwitonda have private pools?
- Yes. Every suite has a heated plunge pool, and Kataza House has its own private pool.
- What is Kataza House?
- A private four-bedroom villa at Kwitonda, with its own pool, chef and host.
- How close is Singita Kwitonda to the gorillas?
- The lodge sits on the boundary of Volcanoes National Park, a short drive from the trekking headquarters at Kinigi.
- How far is Singita Kwitonda from Kigali?
- Two to three hours by road, or a short helicopter flight.
