DESTINATIONS — AFRICA
Virunga Lodge Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Ruzizi Tented Lodge
l STAY International brands are still to make their mark on Rwanda, but that’s starting to change. In Kigali, a Radisson Blu and a Marriott are under construction, and Kempinski’s Hotel Des Mille Collines – the original Hotel Rwanda made famous in the book of the same name – is scheduled for a major refurb. I stayed in the 148-room Kigali
Serena, a beautifully maintained five-star just 10 minutes from the airport. Rooms are large, comfortable and recently- refurbished, and the food is good, with both Rwandan and international dishes on offer for dinner and at the mind-bogglingly extensive breakfast buffet. The sundeck and pool make the perfect hideaway for a few hours of sun-soaked relaxation, great for either just-arrived clients, or those about to depart. The area edging Volcanoes National Park has the widest choice
of accommodation, including the high-end Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, part of the Governors Camp portfolio, and the more affordable Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. I stayed at Virunga Lodge,
a gorgeous property operated by gorilla-specialists Volcanoes Safaris. Perched on a hill, there are 360-degree views of the twin lakes Bulera and Ruhondo, and plenty of spots to appreciate them from. The main lodge has extensive terraces to the restaurant and bar areas, plus a cosy fire in the lounge for chilly evenings. Two new bandas, or cottages, were added this year, bringing the total to 10. Each has a very private setting, and ours, the extremely spacious Ibiyaga, had incredible lake views and luxurious African-styled decor. The food is excellent, and the service flawless and genuine. Regular traditional dance performances from a local youth group make for a lovely cultural flourish. In Akagera, book clients into the
year-old, lakeside Ruzizi Tented Lodge, the first of its kind in Rwanda. There are nine en-suite tents, and activities include jeep and boat safaris, and fishing. The 22-room, five-star Nyungwe
Forest Lodge sits on the borders of the national park of the same name in the grounds of a working tea plantation. When clients aren’t trekking, they can have a spa treatment or take a swim in the heated outdoor pool. In Gisenyi, the 66-room Lake Kivu Serena Hotel sits on a sandy,
palm-lined beach in tropical gardens. There’s a large pool, spa and two restaurants. An hour from the Volcanoes National Park, this is a lower-cost alternative to staying at a gorilla lodge, for trackers on a budget – though they will need to leave the hotel at 5am. Luckily, there’s nothing like a gorilla to take the sting out of an early morning. TW
Find out more:
rwandaresources.com
11 December 2014 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 59
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