There Are Only 1,000 Mountain Gorillas in the World. This New Rwanda Lodge Lets You See Them up Close.
It seems One & Only isn’t the only luxury travel brand making waves in the land of 1,000 hills. Wilderness has announced its plans to open a new camp, Bisate Reserve, this September. Perched on the rim of an ancient volcano near Rwanda’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this intimate retreat will feature four 2,200-square-foot villas. And like its sister property, Bisate Lodge, the goal of Bisate Reserve goes beyond giving travelers a five-star experience on the Mother Continent. It’s aiming to preserve some of Africa’s most precious natural resources.
“At the heart of our conservation narrative lies a monumental achievement: the planting of nearly 100,000 indigenous trees, transforming a former agricultural site into a thriving forest, hence the apt naming of it as a ‘reserve,’” Rob Baas, Wilderness Rwanda Managing Director, said in a press release.
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Located on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, the property is the perfect base camp for seeing one of the world’s most endangered species. According to Visit Rwanda, the park is home to 12 mountain gorilla families. There are only 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the wild.
That said, a unique vantage point affording unrivaled views may be Bisate Reserve’s biggest selling point. Despite being surrounded by the rainforest, the lodge and villas will look out at six towering volcanoes: Bisoke, Mikeno, Sabyinyo, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Karisimbi—a 14,787-foot-tall stratovolcano and one of the highest mountains in Africa. Inspired by the surrounding nature (and looking a bit like above-ground hobbit houses), the property’s structures are also impressive.
“We’ve kept the beautiful, iconic architecture of the original Bisate, which honors the culture and traditions of Rwanda, but we’re taking it to another level,” Baas told Robb Report.
The thatched villas are the brainchild/lovechild of Nicholas Plewman Architects & Associates, who designed the original Bisate Lodge, and Luxury Frontiers. The latter’s portfolio includes safari lodges throughout Africa, a Four Seasons in Mexico, and Costa Rica’s award-winning Nayara Tented Camp. Reserve’s rates start at $3,200 per person per night and are all-inclusive, and like at Bisate Lodge, guests will be treated to personalized butler service.
“Every aspect of guest comfort has been carefully thought out and planned,” promised Baas who said each villa will have two fireplaces, expansive outdoor living space including a private hot tub, and in-room dining options as well as in-room spa treatments.
Interiors, intent on paying homage to Rwandan royalty and heritage will be courtesy of Caline Williams Wynn, the visionary behind the world’s most mind-bending safari camps. According to the press release, guests can expect vibrant textiles and bold patterns that celebrate “the endurance and charisma of the Rwandan people.” This April marks 30 years since the genocide.
Baas says he’s expecting Bisate Reserve to benefit the surrounding community by creating jobs and other upliftment opportunities.
“Our project has inspired others to do the same,” he said. “We are proud to constantly raise the bar in Rwanda’s luxury hospitality space.”
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