One&Only will open its second Nature Resort this October, the One&Only Nyungwe House resort, set on the edge of the ancient Nyungwe rainforest in the mountainous landscapes of Rwanda’s southwest.
Set within the green expanse of a working tea plantation, alongside one of the largest and best-preserved montane rainforests in Africa, One&Only Nyungwe House will offer guests spa and wellness treatments that embrace nature and local traditions, alongside curated experiences in the area.
The One&Only Spa is inspired by nature, with a range of beauty and wellness treatments using organic natural skincare products from luxury South African brand Africology. Treatments combine traditional African holistic therapies with natural ingredients, including a bespoke herbal massage oil and Africology rituals designed to boost energy.
Signature treatments will include Intoga Amasatchi, a 75-minute, deep-tissue, full-body treatment using hands and wooden sticks, which traditionally represent the wisdom and direction of the healer to stretch tight muscles and relieve toxic overload.
The 23 guest rooms and suites at One&Only Nyungwe House are designed to fit harmoniously within the natural surroundings, utilising local African craftsmanship inspired by Rwanda and offering a contemporary look and feel. Log burners in each guest room and suite will burn fragrant eucalyptus, while private decks will offer views over the African terrain.
Experiences include the opportunity for guests to participate in Umuganda – a nationwide initiative in Rwanda in which locals spend the last Saturday morning of every month working in the community, giving back in some way, from developing infrastructure to environmental protection.
In addition to trekking chimpanzee and rare monkey populations through the ancient forest, guests can enjoy a wide range of remote outdoor pursuits, from birdwatching to a canopy treetop walk at the very top of the rainforest. Hiking trails lead from the resort deep into the jungle.
Other signature activities will include stargazing and nocturnal field walks, jungle boot camp workouts, spear throwing and archery lessons, an introduction to the African kitchen garden or insight into the secrets of African tea.
One&Only Nyungwe House will offer African-inspired cuisine within the surroundings of a traditional Boma, with produce from the resort’s garden. Guests can experience the ‘farm-to-table’ cuisine which favours organic, seasonal ingredients from the lands of Gisakura and surrounds.
“It is an absolute privilege and an honour to confirm the opening of One&Only Nyungwe House, the second addition to our Nature Resorts portfolio, and to provide our guests with the rare opportunity to explore this remote and authentically wild location,” said Philippe Zuber, president and COO, One&Only Resorts. “Our guests will be able to trek with chimpanzees, or discover the endangered Mangabey monkeys, walk among majestic mahogany trees and spot exotic birds, orchids and butterflies. We have created an ultra-luxury oasis which celebrates every possible moment of this remote jungle environment from sunrise breakfasts, or treehouse yoga, enjoying soothing indigenous spa therapies in the warm tropical air, through to evening cocktails by a crackling fire pit.”
One&Only Nyungwe House is the first new property to open within the One&Only Nature Resorts’ portfolio, joining Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in Australia.
The expansion of One&Only’s Nature Resorts will continue in 2019 with the opening of One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in Northern Rwanda. Located on the foothills of the Virunga Volcano range, the resort will offer immersive gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park and complement One&Only Nyungwe House to a twin-centre experience for guests travelling to Rwanda.
