Singita Kwitonda Lodge Facts, Safaris, Reviews, Photos, Activities
Singita Kwitonda Lodge Facts, Safaris, Reviews, Activities, Photos, videos. Singita Kwitonda Lodge’s unparalleled location makes it possible to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, home to more than a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. There are eight sumptuous suites, each with its own private heated plunge pool, spa treatment area, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and expansive timber-framed windows framing stunning views of the surrounding landscape or nearby volcano.
A deeply transformative experience
The lodge’s design was inspired by the dramatic landscape outside, and it features details like woven ceilings and hand-fired terracotta brickwork made by local artisans. Other highlights include a dedicated Conservation Room and an on-site nursery and vegetable garden, which supply fresh produce for Kwitonda’s farm-to-table food journey. The lodge provides its visitors with a haven of warmth, silence, and seclusion in which to reflect on their experiences with the extraordinary “gentle giants of the forest.”
Singita Kwitonda Lodge
A contemplative, nurturing space: Kwitonda Lodge, named after a famous silverback gorilla, is the only lodge within 1.2 kilometers of Volcanoes National Park and is situated on 178 acres of land.
What to see and do at Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Akarabo Nursery at Kwitonda Lodge:
Our dedication to reforesting, rehabilitating, and maintaining the habitat of Rwanda’s critically endangered mountain gorillas inspired us to establish an on-site nursery, which we named Akarabo (which means “little flower” in Kinyarwanda). Initially, 60,000 saplings were purchased from nearby farmers and set aside for the park’s current 178 acres. This number immediately climbed to 250,000 saplings, even before the resort opened, and continues to increase as we keep increasing our forestry operations in the area.
It’s an honor to introduce our guests to such a rich variety of plant life. Inspiration and joy are guaranteed in equal measure as you take a leisurely stroll down the rows of new trees, past the magnificent fragrances of growing herbs, or through the farm-to-table chef’s garden stocked with fresh veggies.
To give you a true sense of Rwanda, our garden features a teahouse serving up herbal infusions and demonstrations by local artists like a basket weaver, seamstress, and stick carver. The growth of Akarabo, like the trees being planted, is a reflection of our commitment to stewardship of the land, sustainable living, and the empowerment of local communities.
Gorilla Trekking at Kwitonda Lodge
Tourists drawn to Africa for its unspoiled natural beauty sometimes dream of trekking through the foggy mountains of Rwanda in search of the endangered mountain gorilla.
Amplifying the experience – and positioned directly on the edge of Volcanoes National Park – Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House share a 1.2km border with the Park.
From the pre-trek briefings in the lodge’s Conservation Room the night before, to the complimentary gear obtained from the on-site Gear Room, to the morning of the trip itself, everything is designed to maximize the experience.
Golden Monkey Trekking at Kwitonda Lodge
Trekking with golden monkeys is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to be missed. These primates are critically endangered since the Virunga Mountains are their sole known habitat outside of Africa. When trekking through Volcanoes National Park, you may come face to face with as many as a hundred golden monkeys, all busy feeding in the jungle and bouncing from tree to tree. Since the monkeys are found in bamboo forests around the volcanoes’ bases, finding them requires only a short, easy stroll over relatively flat terrain.
Hiking & Walking at Kwitonda Lodge
Singita Volcanoes National Park offers a wide variety of experiences to its visitors. Activities at Volcanoes National Park, at the Lodge, and in the Surrounding Area and Town Are All Possible. Guests always have access to their Driver Guides and transportation, so they can take part in these experiences whenever it’s most convenient for them.
Gorilla Trekking Cost: $1,500 per person
Duration: Treks vary from 1 to 8 hours, depending on which gorilla family guests are allocated to.
The age restriction for gorilla trekking and volcano hikes is 15; and 12 for golden monkey treks.
Community Visit at Kwitonda Lodge
The little community of Gasura in the Kinigi area is only 30 minutes away from the resort, providing guests of Singita Volcanoes National Park with a rare opportunity. The two-hour interactive trip is packed with fascinating insights into Rwandese culture.
Guests will be taken from home to home in the village, where they will do things like stomp cassava roots and grind sorghum for flour, as well as meet local craftspeople who weave baskets and carve gorilla-trekking sticks. Part of the experience include going to people’s houses and observing how they live.
Cost: $60 per person
Duration: +- 2 hours
Time: Flexible (Suggested – 9am or 2pm)
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund at Kwitonda Lodge
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus, located next to Volcanoes National Park, just opened to the public and features an expansive facility that graphically shows the history of mountain gorilla research and conservation from the time of Dian Fossey to the present day.
Artifacts from Fossey’s nearly twenty years spent living with the gorillas are on exhibit at the campus, which is just a short drive from Singita Volcanoes National Park. A 360-degree experience, augmented and virtual reality, and other highly engaging edutainment options provide visitors with dazzling visual effects that bring the science and people behind the conservation of mountain gorillas to life.
Cycling at Kwitonda Lodge
Singita Volcanoes National Park (SVNP) offers visitors the chance to enjoy the outdoors by cycling along scenic routes through the Rwandan countryside and via the lodge’s gardens.
Every cycling activity at Singita is guided by a Conservationist, and the routes vary in length and difficulty to accommodate guests of all fitness levels and interests.
Guests can go on a variety of hikes, from a quick jaunt around the lodge’s perimeter to a longer excursion to the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park, a distance of 8 kilometers (km) that includes a strenuous slope on the return journey. Team Africa Rising, conveniently located near SVNP, offers cycling tours for serious riders.
There are presently 8 available mountain bikes for riders aged 10 and up. Bicycle helmets are also provided.
Kigali City Tour at Kwitonda Lodge
Rwanda: My First Time in Kigali City Centre
More than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda are buried at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It commemorates the over one million Rwandans who lost their lives by fostering education and peace. The memorial offers guided tours, or visitors can explore on their own with an audio tour and ponder at their own leisure.
Kigali Genocide Memorial
Kigali is a bustling African city known for its cleanliness, orderliness, and genuine welcome, and it is nestled among gorgeous hilltops. Kigali, as the country’s capital and a major transportation hub, is an ideal starting or ending point for any trip to Rwanda. The capital city is alive and kicking, and its residents are wonderful hosts. Cultural attractions in this area include some of the best restaurants in East Africa, a thriving music scene, and award-winning museums.
Bird watching at Kwitonda Lodge
Our conservationists are available to offer their comprehensive knowledge of the incredible variety of bird species that can be seen in Singita Volcanoes National Park, from the rare Rwenzori double-collared sunbirds to the migratory Barn Swallows and Black Cuckoo-shrike.
Wine Experience at Kwitonda Lodge
Singita has a large cellar stocked with some of the best wines in the world, including rare auction wines, limited single vineyard releases, and special reserve wines from some of Africa’s most prestigious wineries. It’s safe to assume that wine is an integral part of the special Singita atmosphere.
The Singita wine list has been honored by various local and international organizations, including the prestigious top prize from the Diners’ Club Wine List.
