One&Only Nyungwe House

A truly magical and fairytale experience at One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwanda, which has been for a week the Heaven on the Earth for us!! Where do I even begin? As the words and pictures can’t do justice to the sheer beauty of the location, to the outstanding personalized service and unforgettable moments we had. However, even is very difficult I will try my best to share the highlights that made this stay a lifetime experience for me and my husband. Our journey start right from the airport where our amazing driver Ramazan organized by the hotel was waiting for us, with a luxury car, providing refreshments and WiFi, the trip to hotel was around 5 to 6 hours. There was also a faster way to reach the hotel with helicopter and the helipad is just a few minute away from the main entrance, very convenient and easy. We personally loved the car trip, the green landscape, the culture and locals which we met in our way, our coffee breaks with view, the rice plantation, corn, tea, etc, and Ramazan sharing the stories and his knowledge of the country makes the time fly. Arriving at the hotel we were welcomed with warm greetings; drums.., than escorted to main lodge where we have been served the best tea I had in my life, in the front of a cozy cracking fireplace with the breathtaking and mesmerizing tea plantation view, there was also two lovely ladies from Spa waiting to offer us a back massage after our long trip, which was a very nice touch. Watching the surroundings, ambiance, view, and the kind and warm welcome, I felt so much joy and happiness and I was thinking “is this place and this moment even real” ? Later we were escorted by Micheline to our Canopy Treehouse and we couldn’t be more happy, the room was a dream with fireplace, a big bath tub, local art on the walls, and personalized welcome card with fruits basket and bottle of wine, a mind blowing balcony facing the forest from where we could see the sweet colobuses monkey playing which made the room an absolutely fairytale. Tired and excited we decided to rest for few hours before the dinner, however we wake up with the sond of drums and people dancing, when we reach the main lodge, the guests were sitting on comfortable sofas around a big fireplace getting served cocktails and canapés while the local dancers performs, they offered us their traditional dress and we were invited to join them for the local dancing, we can’t explain the unique experience we were part of. At the dinner we met the One&Only Bosco, his professionalism on explaining the menu and the different dishes and the history behind it , his knowledge is outstanding, our dinners and the tranquility by the fireplace has been nothing but extraordinary during our entire stay. Bosco surprised us with a wedding anniversary rose petals set up, which will always remain memorable for us, big thank you! Also, thank you to chef Battista who approached us and inquire if we have any special requests or we would like him to make specific dish for us, we felt so special, like we had a private chef, the attention to details was above and beyond expectations, was like nowhere else, truly it’s the One&Only!!! Breakfast with the Sunny plantation tea and Jonny explaining us the jams and from which country was each, has been absolutely Perfection!!! Thank you to Micheline, Celine and Valery who always inquired if there is any activities we would like to book for the next day, and we did it all, hiking, biking, canopy walk, archery, spears…. I highly recommend tea tasting and pick up the tea leaves experience, Jack explained to us the tea making process and the hard work involved which absolutely change our perception of the tea. We spend some time by the pool and it was amazing, perfect heated water temperature with nature view. Louis at Spa with her magic hands and the Fire Ritual treatment is a definitely must try. We loved everything and when we believed that nothing can’t surprise us anymore, we got an upgrade to a stunning villa with bigger windows from where I was able to spy my preferred colobus monkey better and have a bigger fireplace. On our supposed last evening Micheline surprised us with a wedding anniversary cake and two baby chimpanzee toys souvenirs, the next day we are the ones surprising her as we wanted to extend our stay, it was funny!!! And lastly huge thank you to Bob, Max and Christian who did miracle and the impossible being possible, calling the airline and assisting with the last minute changing the flight ticket, in addition with the extension of the booking and all necessary arrangements for transportation. It’s difficult to find the right words to express how much this experience it means to us and how much all of you contribute to it. Definitely, One&Only Nyungwe House is a place that perfectly marries luxury, adventure and the beauty of nature. Every moment felt special, and every detail was carefully curated and personalized. This was not just a hotel stay; it was a once in a lifetime experience!!! If you ever have the opportunity to visit, I promise you it’s a journey worth taking. PS: Lock the balcony door, colobus monkey are smart manage to open the door and eat my cake and all the fruits, which make me laugh and happy!!! 🤭

We couldn't ask for better service, atmosphere or food and wine. By far one of the best places we have stayed in Africa (and we are spoiled) - Yes it is 100% luxury but not pretentious in any way. Vanessa, Jack, Maxwell, Louise, Goodance, Devine and Chance made our time very special and we are already considering another One&Only Holiday

Our 7-night stay was exactly what we needed. The property is surrounded by peaceful, beautiful scenery that made it the perfect getaway. Mountain Monkeys provided entertainment playing in the trees. The e-bike rides into the village and forest were a great way to explore the area and connect with nature. We felt safe and welcomed by the locals, and the experiences we had along the way will stay with us. Chef Geraldine’s and her team’s meals were fantastic, with each menu carefully crafted to provide a unique dining experience. We also enjoyed spending our afternoons by the heated pool, where Chance took great care of us with his friendly, authentic, and attentive service. We especially enjoyed the Boma night, where Grace was the perfect host, making the evening unforgettable. Dinners each evening by the fireplace were a cozy highlight, providing a perfect way to end each day. Cedric ensured that the 6-hour journey to and from the resort was smooth, stress-free, and comfortable, making the trip feel easy. Max checked in on us each day, making sure we had everything we needed and helping us plan our days, which was greatly appreciated. The room felt like a home away from home, and Dianne from housekeeping’s warmth and attention to detail made us feel well taken care of. The spa treatments were exceptional—a must-try experience! From the traditional blessing at the start to the chilled bubbly waiting for us on the terrace overlooking the forest. Overall, our stay was very relaxing, luxurious, and peaceful—a true slice of heaven. We look forward to returning!

A truly wonderful experience at a beautiful location. Staff were excellent and catered for our every needs. On our return exhausted from the chimpanzee trekking (which was an excellent experience for us) the staff removed our boots and gaiters. Cleaned our boots and washed our dirty clothes. Overall the food was excellent but it would have been nice to have an a la carte choice. Also a couple of issues with breakfast on the last day of our stay. We had to chase everything up One evening the hotel organised an African dance experience. It was an amazing evening sat around the fires drinking cocktails. A great opportunity to meet other guests. Fabulous dancers We felt very special and this beautiful hotel and if you can afford it it’s a wonderful experience to stay at this hotel.

An amazing lodge on a tea plantation. The lodge, amenities, food, staff and anything else I’ve left out are A++++++++. We had a wonderful time and I hope to return in the near future. Truly a home away from home.