One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is a luxury resort set among eucalyptus trees at the foot of Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda, with 21 treehouse-style lodges and suites for gorilla trekking guests. It is the highest-priced of the area’s luxury properties, with rates reported from the low thousands of dollars per night and climbing in peak season, and the $1,500 gorilla permit is charged separately. The resort is the Rwanda mountain property in the One&Only group, sits near Kinigi within reach of the trek start point, and is the most resort-scale option in the region, carrying a pool, spa, and fitness facilities the smaller lodges do not.
This is the choice for travellers who want full resort infrastructure and space to settle into between treks, rather than a small intimate lodge. The sections below cover the rooms, the facilities, the dining, the activities, what a stay costs, and how the resort compares across its room categories.
The 21 Lodges and Suites at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest has 21 treehouse-style lodges and suites, framed by mature eucalyptus and forest views, which makes it larger than the boutique lodges nearby while still feeling private. Room categories run from couples-oriented lodges up to expansive suites, all with air conditioning, private bathrooms, and decks or balconies that face the forest and volcanoes.
The entry-level Forest Lodge suits couples, with an outdoor shower and a private viewing deck that opens the room to the forest. The Virunga Suite is larger and lighter, flowing from a king bedroom into a separate lounge and dining room with a sofa bed, and out to a large private deck with its own bathtub. The Ingagi Suite adds a striking master bedroom with expansive living and dining space and an elongated deck with an outdoor bathtub and lounge. Guests are driven between rooms and the main areas by buggy across the estate.
Resort Facilities at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
What sets this property apart from the smaller lodges is the full resort infrastructure. There is a heated swimming pool with a view, a spa, a sauna, a steam room, a hot tub, a fitness centre, and free bicycles, along with a sun terrace. These are facilities the boutique lodges in the area generally do not offer, and they make the resort a place you can use for its own sake, not only as a base for trekking.
Service touches include private check-in and check-out, a shuttle service, and a tour desk. Evening entertainment such as drumming circles is part of the programme. For guests who want to combine gorillas with downtime, or who are travelling with companions who may not trek every day, the pool, spa, and grounds give the resort a different rhythm from the smaller properties nearby.
Dining at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Dining centres on the Nest Restaurant and Nest Bar, serving local and seasonal cooking alongside an international menu, with bespoke cocktails at the bar. Breakfast options span continental and American styles, and the kitchen leans on fresh, seasonal produce in keeping with the resort’s setting.
The bar and restaurant double as social spaces where guests swap trekking stories at the end of the day. As with the other high-end properties in the region, dining is arranged around the early trekking schedule, so breakfast and packed lunches are organised before the morning departure to the park. The resort’s larger scale means more dining flexibility than the small fixed-menu lodges nearby.
Gorilla Trekking and Activities from One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
The resort describes itself as the closest of its kind to Volcanoes National Park, and gorilla trekking is the main draw. The day begins with an early briefing at the park headquarters at Kinigi, where you present your permit and are assigned to one of the habituated gorilla families in a group of no more than eight, then drive to a trailhead and hike in. The trek can run from roughly 90 minutes to six hours each way, with one fixed hour spent with the family. The minimum age to trek is fifteen.
The park around the resort shelters mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and a wide range of birds, so beyond the gorillas the resort arranges golden monkey tracking with a separate $100 permit, volcano hikes, and cultural activities. Once a month, Rwandans take part in a community give-back day, and guests can join infrastructure and environmental projects to meet locals in a hands-on way. Cycling is well suited to the gentle terrain around the resort.
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest Rates and What to Budget in 2026
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is the highest-priced property near Volcanoes National Park, and several guest reviews note the cost as steep even by the region’s standards. Reported rates start in the low thousands of dollars per night and rise substantially in peak season, with exact figures depending on room category, dates, and party size. The gorilla permit is always charged on top. Treat any single figure as a planning guide and confirm the current rate with the resort or an operator.
Reported from the low thousands of dollars per night, the highest in the area, climbing well beyond that in peak months and larger suites.
Premier-tier rates in Rwanda generally cover rooming, meals, most drinks, lodge activities, and taxes, with the permit excluded.
$1,500 per person per trek for foreign non-residents in 2026, booked separately through an operator or the Rwanda Development Board.
A 30% reduction brings the permit to $1,050 from November to May if you also book at least two nights across Akagera and Nyungwe.
Because the rate varies by room category, the comparison below sets out how the three main room types differ in size, layout, and outdoor space, so you can match a category to your trip before requesting a quote. Use the buttons to highlight a single category across every row.
Conservation and Community at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
The resort ties into the wider effort to protect Volcanoes National Park, which shelters a large share of the world’s mountain gorillas alongside golden monkeys and several hundred bird species. The park’s strict daily trekking limits exist to reduce stress on the animals, and a significant portion of every permit fee funds ranger patrols, veterinary care, and community projects around the park boundary.
At the property level, the monthly community give-back day is the most direct way guests take part, joining infrastructure and environmental projects and meeting locals in the process. The setting among eucalyptus, the gentle terrain that suits cycling, and the resort’s place within the One&Only group’s Rwanda operation all sit alongside this conservation framing rather than separate from it.
How to Reach One&Only Gorilla’s Nest and When to Go
The resort is reached from Kigali International Airport, about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive on tarmac roads to the Kinigi area near Volcanoes National Park. The short transfer suits a high-end trip where you fly in, trek, and head out within a few days, though guests visiting only one night tend to find it rushed, so two or more nights is the more comfortable plan. Helicopter transfers can shorten the road time. Drones are prohibited nationwide and may be confiscated at customs.
The best trekking conditions fall in the dry seasons, from June to September and from December to February, when trails are firmer and the hike is more comfortable. These are the busiest and most expensive months, so book and secure permits well ahead. The wetter months are quieter, carry lower rates, and are the only window for the 30% permit discount with the added nights in Akagera and Nyungwe, at the cost of muddier trails. Many guests pair One&Only Gorilla’s Nest with the group’s Nyungwe House in southern Rwanda for a longer trip.
How many rooms does One&Only Gorilla’s Nest have?
The resort has 21 treehouse-style lodges and suites set among eucalyptus trees, which makes it larger than the boutique lodges nearby while still feeling private. Categories range from the couples-oriented Forest Lodge up to the larger Virunga Suite and Ingagi Suite, all with private decks facing the forest and volcanoes.
Is One&Only Gorilla’s Nest expensive?
It is the highest-priced property near Volcanoes National Park, with reported rates from the low thousands of dollars per night rising in peak season, and several guest reviews note the cost as steep. In return you get full resort facilities, including a pool and spa, that the smaller lodges do not offer. The $1,500 permit is separate.
Does One&Only Gorilla’s Nest have a swimming pool?
Yes. The resort has a heated swimming pool with a view, along with a spa, sauna, steam room, hot tub, fitness centre, and free bicycles. These facilities set it apart from the boutique lodges in the area, which generally focus on small-scale comfort rather than resort infrastructure.
How far is One&Only Gorilla’s Nest from the gorilla trek start point?
The resort sits near Kinigi within a short drive of the Volcanoes National Park headquarters where treks begin, and describes itself as the closest resort of its kind to the park. It is reached from Kigali International Airport by a 2.5 to 3 hour road transfer, or a shorter helicopter flight.
How many nights should I stay at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest?
Two or more nights is the more comfortable plan, since a single night tends to feel rushed once you account for the drive, the briefing, and the trek itself. Extra nights also let you use the pool, spa, and grounds, and allow for a second trekking day or a golden monkey trek.
Can I combine One&Only Gorilla’s Nest with other parts of Rwanda?
Many guests pair it with One&Only Nyungwe House in southern Rwanda, set in a tea plantation, for a longer itinerary that adds chimpanzee tracking and forest walks. Adding nights in Akagera and Nyungwe also unlocks the 30% gorilla permit discount during the low season from November to May.
