Elite Traveler Winter 2024/25

ONE&ONLY GORILLA’S NEST, SILVERBACK SUITE RWANDA

Partake in a soul-satisfying trek through Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in search of nomadic mountain gorillas, who roam free with their family groups. You’ll spend hours treading through muck and bramble with park rangers for the chance to sit with the massive primates for an hour. Tired and muddy, you’ll happily return to your luxe hideaway: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, situated on the edge of the park, in the opulently appointed, treehouse-like Silverback Suite, with views of volcanoes, farms and eucalyptus forests. The expansive sanctum has a magni fi cent bathroom, huge bedroom, multi-level terrace (with views in every direction), oversized living and dining areas, and a private pool. Best for Safari From $27,000 per night. Contact Pedro Hernandez, director of sales & marketing, pedro.hernandez@ oneandonlyresorts.com, +250 221 011 111, oneandonlyresorts.com

ONE&ONLY MANDARINA, VILLA ONE RIVIERA NAYARIT, MEXICO

ONE&ONLY ZA’ABEEL, VILLA ONE DUBAI

Set beside a perfect beach along the rumbling Paci fi c Ocean on the lesser-traveled Riviera Nayarit, One&Only Mandarina nestles below a verdant mountain brushed by a jungly rain forest. Eco-oriented, the resort gets accolades as a leader in sustainable luxury and low-density architectural design. Take over Villa One, a paragon of plein air liveability, certain to dissipate the stress. With three bedrooms and a prodigious terrace complete with pool, it spreads across two levels, each corner enhanced with Mexican design touches from handmade furniture to colorful art. A gym, private cinema and game room compete with the resort’s various o ff erings, easily reached from the villa. In residence, you’ll dine under the ministrations of a private chef and have your days deftly planned by the villa’s dedicated host. Best for Wilderness From $8,900 per night. Contact Lilian Martinez, reservations manager, lilian.martinez@oneandonlymandarina.com, +52 327 689 0100, oneandonlyresorts.com

Surpassing even Dubai’s own bold architectural prowess, One&Only Za’abeel vivi fi es the cityscape with futuristic, inventive forms and shapes. Imagined to be a fl amboyant — but classy — portal to the ritzy city’s heartbeat, One&Only Za’abeel soars to the sky, its entire footprint a party haven. Its beau ideal hotspot for living large, Villa One, invites guests to a cosmopolitan parlor scene, imbued with Arabian glamour. The vision of Jean-Michel Gathy, the suite has three distinct common areas to gather with friends, two magni fi cently arrayed king-size bedrooms and an unforgettable terrace, inspired by a decadent, black marble in fi nity lap pool. Well-trained sta ff , aprivate cinema and a fully equipped gym complete the ticket. Best for Parties From $40,000 per night. Contact Nabiha Minejem, guest relations manager, nabiha.minejem@ oneandonlyonezaabeel.com, +971 4666 1616, oneandonlyonezaabeel.com

THE GREEN O, TREE HAUS

MONTANA An adults-only hideaway beneath a sky as big as the ocean near a roaring river brimming, sewn among the pines, The Green O has only 12 accommodations. Poetically called ‘hauses,’ the design-forward suites encircle a freestanding restaurant, aptly known as Social Haus. Reward your inner child with Tree Haus, the woodland haven’s largest sanctum. It suspends 23 ft above the ground, veritably part of the branches. Accessed by a spiral staircase, the 1,030-sq-ft refuge is resplendent with immense windows and features a luxurious bathroom with soaking tub, a well-equipped kitchen and an outdoor hot tub. Located within the same expanse of unspoiled terrain as parent retreat Paws Up, an upscale dude ranch, Green O keeps guests busy with an array of Western-intoned activities. Best for Wilderness From $2,290 per night. Contact Ti ff any Martin, leisure sales manager, tmartin@pawsup.com, +1 406 244 4934 thegreeno.com

Photo Rupert Peace