Text by Francesca Wallace, Vogue Living
When booking a hotel, what do you take into consideration? Is it the quality of the rooms? The amount of activities on offer? Or perhaps it’s the spa menu which can make or break your selection. For Rwanda’s coolest and most luxurious new hotel, One&Only Nyungwe House, it really does have it all.
Located on the grounds of a working tea plantation in the country’s southwest, the hotel manages to meld local culture with all the luxuries of a big name hotel. With just 23 guest rooms, all of which have impressive jungle views, the hotel might boast big value but it certainly feels more like a boutique hotel, complete with all the perks of being a part of the One&Only group—who you might already know from their bucket list-worthy resort in Wolgan Valley, New South Wales. Topped off with impressive dining options, more activities than you’ll have time to complete and a relaxing spa offering, Nyungwe House is definitely one hotel that completes a destination.
Each room has been crafted in collaboration with local African ateliers, who have ensured their signature take on the design is celebrated. And it’s produced some seriously good looking interiors. Reclaimed local timber mixes with vibrantly patterned textiles and plenty of glass (the view is part of the charm) to create what can only be described as a sort of African chalet— like an intimate guesthouse or luxury homestay, finished with all the best add-ons, including hand-painted wall hangings and decor sourced from local villages.
But it isn’t just the design which sets Nyungwe House apart. The hotel offers an impressive selection of activities, including hiking trails, the chance to see chimpanzee and monkey communities in the jungle, bird watching, a canopy treetop walk, stargazing and even helicopter rides above the expansive and awe-inspiring landscape. Those who want to get involved physically can opt for jungle boot camp workouts, spear throwing, and archery, or a lesson introducing the African kitchen garden. And if you manage to find time in between all that, the One&Only Spa will definitely have something to offer.
Meals at the hotel are an immersive affair, with the hotel taking a farm-to-table approach to cooking in the in-house restaurant. With ingredients sourced from the surrounding farms, the menu is ever changing depending on the season—and the fresh, humble approach isn’t lost in the final flavours. Plus, with dedicated picnic options, there’s the chance to enjoy the farm-fresh produce on the lands it was produced. Which when combined with that view, isn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon.
But perhaps one of the hotel’s best features is the concept of Umuganda, which is available to all guests staying at the lodge. A nationwide initiative, Umuganda is performed on the last Saturday morning of every month, working in the local community and giving back in some way. Guests are invited to take part, with options to give back to the local community key to ensuring the hotel provides a service to the surrounding villages—and it gives guests the chance to do some form of good work during their stay. Apart from being a fantastic excuse to get out and meet some locals, the initiative paves the way for future luxury hotels to use their standing for good—and that’s a reason to book a night here if we ever heard one.
Images: One&Only Nyungwe House
