A Primate safari in Rwanda offers visitors the chance to spend their nights at camps in Rwanda with a chance to explore the untamed nature while relishing the trills of luxury travel in Africa.
This beautiful country was crowned “The Land of a Thousand Hills) is home to mystical mountain gorillas, unique wildlife encounters, and the vibrant city of Kigali – the capital. With captivating natural wonders and cultural extremes, Rwanda has a selection of top-notch luxury camps and resorts offering travelers an unparalleled fusion of indulgence and wilderness immersion.
Here are the top luxury camps in Rwanda to stay in 2026, according to our GoExplore Experts
Magashi Camp – Akagera National Park
Perched on the shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga like butterflies, Magashi Camp is an exclusive luxury camp listed among the top luxury camps in Rwanda to stay in 2026. This luxury camp was opened in 2019 and occupies the park’s wildlife-rich northeastern corner, boasting picturesque views of Lake Rwanyakazinga.
Magashi Camp sits on a privately managed area of over 16,000 acres, allowing its guests exclusivity in their Rwanda safari in Akagera National Park.
Accommodation at Magashi Camp – The camp has six spacious tents, fully powered by solar energy. The guest rooms feature sisal rugs over natural wood floors and stone-clad bathrooms embellished with traditional basket weavings. Each tent enjoys a private deck overlooking the lake teeming with hippos and crocodiles.
Meals at Magashi Camp are designed with sustainability in mind, offering healthy, flavourful recipes that tread lightly on the earth. The menu features Rwanda’s indigenous ingredients, local dishes, and fresh produce. Sample the famous Rolex breakfast wrap, which is a signature choice, and a traveling Kugisha dinner, which is served with a collection of traditional stories and songs.
Facilities at Magashi Camp include Swimming Pool, Wi-Fi and Massages.
Experiences at Magashi Camp – during your stay at Magashi Camp there are several thrilling and memorable experiences to do including Birding, Conservation Experiences, Boat Safari, and Fishing (Catch and release fishing).
Only & Only Nyungwe House – Nyungwe Forest National Park
One & Only Nyungwe House, Rwanda, and a haven of creature – comforts where the wild secrets of nature come to life. This luxury lodge is situated on the edge of the ancient Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest is the largest mountain rainforest in Africa.
The lodge was built within a working plantation and offers a fascinating look at unique African wildlife and culture, from up close encounters with rare primates and exotic birds to heartwarming interactions with local people and tailor-made experiences like gastronomic picnics in the world.
One & Only Nyungwe House stands out for its strategic location, it is approximately 30 minutes from Nyungwe National Park and the launching point for chimpanzee trekking and canopy walks. Trekkers are supplied with a rucksack, logoed baseball cap, sunscreen, insect repellent, and complimentary laundry service for their gear.
The Resort features intimate 22 guest rooms and several amenities including outdoor pools, restaurants, a spa, a house car, gym, fitness classes, a bar, meeting rooms, and 24-hour room service.
Bisate Lodge “Wilderness Bisate” - Volcanoes National Park
Owned and run by a renowned, luxury conservation company. Wilderness Bisate, also known as Bisate Lodge, is a high–end lodge perched in the forests on the edge of Volcanoes National Park – the best place to see mountain gorillas in the wild.
Bisate Lodge makes an ideal base from which to trek the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. The lodge is located near the park and is set near the small village of Ruhengeri, and is accessible from Ginseli or Kigali via aircraft flight or road transfer.
Bisate Lodge is super-expensive but wonderfully designed; it is truly a stunning property with a price tag and purpose to match. In 2022, Bisate Lodge was voted The Best Safari Lodge in Africa by Travel +Leisure. The lodge offers a very high level of luxury and outstanding attention to detail.
Accommodation at Bisate Lodge – the main lodge is a timber, stone, and thatch building with wide windows boasting scenic views of the Volcanoes National Park. It has two stories and is divided into three separate compartments, each with a domed roof.
The lodge’s three roofs are intended to honor the three Virunga Volcanoes of the park – Bisoke, Karisimbi, and Mikeno. Guests at Bisate Lodge can ascend a flight of steps to arrive at a viewing deck before entering the upper story, which hosts the lounge, dining room, and bar. The lounge features plenty of seating around a cozy fireplace, snug rugs, and a corner bar. There is a wine cellar with a choice of seating areas and a glass of wine waiting for someone to taste.
Bisate Lodge’s guest accommodation is very elegant, similar to the main building; the materials are the same, and the style is similar, with just two domes in place of three. Inside one dome is the bedroom, and the other contains the en-suite bathroom. Each bathroom includes a double bed, bedside tables and lighting, a desk and chair, a separate seating area, and a private veranda with sweeping vistas over the misty forested park.
Every en-suite bathroom is a real treat, featuring a flush toilet, twin washbasins below twin mirrors, a walk-in shower, and, in the center of the space, a big bathtub too. There is ample storage space, a great range of towels, and a couple of bathrooms.
Activities at Bisate Lodge “Wilderness Bisate” – the main activities to do during the stay at Bisate Lodge, guests can partake in activities such as gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking within Volcanoes National Park, Dian Fossey’s Grave Hike, which is situated amid rain forest, Volcano Hiking on Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi, and visit to the Twin Lakes Ruhondo and Burera.
The Retreat – Kigali City.
The Retreat By Haven is a luxury boutique hotel created by the American owners of Heaven, designed by Italian architects, and brought to life by an extraordinary team of Rwandan hospitality leaders.
This haven is nestled in the heart of Kigali and is listed as one of the top 5-star hotels in Kigali – the capital of Rwanda, each room and suite is a masterpiece of elegance and comfort, inviting you to enjoy utmost relaxation and indulgence.
The Retreat is Kigali’s leading luxury oasis boasting 20 rooms, this 5 Star luxury boutique hotel is Kigali’s first entirely eco-friendly solar-powered resort featuring locally crafted sustainable teak wood furniture, expansive custom-built rooms with peaked ceilings, front and rear private patios, outdoor rain showers, and private saltwater plunge pools.
Guest rooms at The Retreat are categorized as luxury pool villas Superior King Suites, and Deluxe King Rooms.
The Retreat Singita Kwitonda Lodge – Volcanoes National Park at Kigali City.
Located about 4 hour’s drive from Kigali City and on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda – where more than a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas find refuge.
Singita Kwitonda Lodge’s unrivaled position puts life-changing gorilla trekking experiences within easy reach. Each of the eight luxurious suites at the lodge features a private heated plunge pool, wellness treatment spa, an outdoor fireplace, and large timber–framed windows that welcome breathtaking scenery and volcano views inside.
Kwitonda Singita Lodge is named after a legendary silverback gorilla. The lodge sits on 178 acres and shares a 1.2 km border with Volcanoes National Park, and it is the only lodge within such proximity to the park. The lodge boasts breathtaking views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura Volcanoes and is surrounded by high-altitude forests. The interiors emphasize local design, and handcrafted details adorn the carefully planned spaces.
This luxury lodge was created in response to its dramatic setting. The lodge includes elements such as woven ceilings and hand-fired terracotta brickwork crafted by local artisans, while a dedicated Conservation Room and on-site nursery and vegetable garden provide fresh produce for Kwitonda’s farm-to-table food journey. In return, guests are offered a nurturing space within which to contemplate their encounters with the remarkable mountain gorillas, “The Gentle Giants” of the Virunga Forests.
Kwitonda Singita Lodge offers 7 one-bedroom suites (accommodating 2 people), each with indoor and outdoor showers, an indoor bath, a sitting/rest area, a covered veranda, a dressing room, a mini bar, an in-room massage area, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and a heated plunge pool.
There is a two-bedroom suite (accommodation for 4 people) with two identical bedrooms featuring indoor baths, indoor and outdoor showers, in-room massage areas, and dressing rooms. The suite offers indoor and outdoor fireplaces, a more spacious sitting/rest area, a minibar, a covered veranda, and a heated plunge pool.
One & Only Gorilla’s Nest – Volcanoes National Park
Situated amidst the serene eucalyptus, the shaded environment is the One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, the lodge is nestled near Volcanoes National Park, sprawling across a lush 35-acre expanse of a calming haven amid the vibrant energy of Musanze.
One & Only Gorilla’s Nest provides a very luxurious base for gorilla trekking within Volcanoes National Park. The lodge is part of the impressive portfolio of One & Only.
One & Only Gorilla’s Nest is situated only 5 minutes from Volcanoes National Park’s headquarters, amidst trees and with amazing views of the park, and is accessed via approximately 2 hours of road transfer from Kigali.  One & Only Gorilla’s Nest – the lodge has 21 (twenty-one) guest rooms available as one or two-bedroom suites scattered along meandering landscaped pathways. The guest room’s interiors showcase natural wood and Rwandan Imigongo geometric designs, and the spacious Larchwood terraces invite leisurely moments on basket porch swings.
Furnishings include a double bed, bedside stands and lighting, and ample storage units. There is a separate seating area too, featuring a contemporary–style chaise longue, an easy chair, a sleek coffee table, and a cozy fireplace.
In-room amenities include a television, a telephone, a mini-bar, and Wi-Fi.
Communal Facilities at One & Only Gorilla’s Nest are also well appointed, the lounge features a medley of modern–style seating around various coffee tables, all set out on imigongo–style rugs. Both the floor and ceiling lighting is also modern in design with lines that complement the soft furnishings, there are Imigongo elements in the restaurant too where a range of tables and chairs are laid in readiness for delicious meals.
The bar at One & Only is positioned at one end of the space with the lounge and dining area flowing out onto a spacious deck, here guests can relax and dine al fresco.
Singita Kataza House
Built-in response to its unique natural setting, Singita Kataza House embodies a true definition of luxury in the wilderness. This contemporary and beautiful located 4 bedroom private house was conceived and crafted in response to its unique position on the very edge of Volcanoes National Park.
This beautiful lodge is shrouded by acres of indigenous forest that is a refuge for the endangered mountain gorilla and honors sustainability as a fundamental design.
Singita Kataza House features two heated plunge pools, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and large timber-framed windows welcoming the breathtaking scenery inside, ensuring a guest experience like no other.
Singita Kataza House has four luxurious villages reflecting and nurturing spaces in which to appreciate the transformative experience of coming face to face with the gentle giants of the forests.
From Kataza House, treks through the forested volcanic slopes, you get to meet the majestic mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys, offering a rare and delightful wildlife experience that is unmissable.
Guests are also able to access Kwitonda Lodge’s facilities without going too far; one can enjoy Singita’s renowned wine tasting, the house’s farm-to-table garden tour, or a range of first-class spa treatments. Learn More About our 2025 Luxury Safari.
