Elite Traveler Spring 2021

EXPLORE TOP HOTELS

Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Kataza House VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA Close-knit and just a little bit more intimate than its safari neighbors, Singita Kwitonda nails sustainable luxury. In true Singita style, the lodge was born out of the defining pillars of the brand: luxe design intertwined with the landscape, its culture and its people — an ethos admired so much that Paul Kagame, the president, personally invited the company to invest here. Overlooking lush meadows and the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes of Volcanoes National Park, the entire complex was designed using local materials with buildings hewn from volcanic rock, river stone, handmade ceramic tiles and oven-red clay bricks crafted by the surrounding communities. The eight family-friendly dwellings are bold in design, blitzed in molten lava colors and a mix of textures curated to spotlight these handcrafted, artisanal details, but for families looking for a truly unforgettable experience, check in to Singita’s fabulous Kataza House. The exclusive villa is set right on the edge of the National Park and is within easy reach of its elusive silverback gorillas. It has two spacious suites: a junior master suite and a lavish master suite, along with a two-bedroom staff residence, plus a wine cellar, fitness center, cinema, massage treatment room, interactive kitchen, two heated plunge pools and a roaring fire pit. Bathrooms are framed by floor-to-ceiling timber windows that welcome the breathtaking scenery, and there are also dozens of extra touches to praise, from scented candles and aromatherapy oil burners to woody incense sticks and organic bath products. Kids are well looked after with tailored activities designed to suit their interests, including cooking classes, crash courses in Rwanda’s arts and crafts scene, tours of the Akarabo Nursery (Singita’s on-site nursery is home to hundreds of thousands of newly planted trees), birding, cycling expeditions and, if the kids are 12 or over, golden monkey treks in the wilderness. Food and drink offerings are truly flexible, so order what you want, whenever you want it. Less is more sums up the plant-based farm-to-table Rwandan small plates and bowls that make up the menus, and there’s a deli fridge in the lodge bar perfect for snacking at your leisure. Dinners must be paired with Singita’s legendary wine list. Family fun Gorilla trekking, naturally. It’s reserved for teens 15 and up (younger children are well looked after in the nursery) so keep this in mind before you book a stay here. For those who have never done it, seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat for the first time is an introspective, deeply personal experience, and one that will create long-lasting memories for years to come. Pack your camera and extra tissues because it’s emotional, in a good way. Singita Kataza House from $6,877 per night. Contact Lydia Nzayo, general manager, enquiries@singita.com, +27 216 833 424, singita.com

Photos Michael Turek