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Singita Kataza House Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris


Welcome to Kataza House, a sublime, luxury private villa on the very edge of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This is the perfect base from which to explore the forests and track mountain gorillas in their natural environment.

Rwanda’s portion of the ‘Virunga Mountains’ houses more than a third of the remaining mountain gorillas left in the world (the others reside on the Virunga’s but across the borders in Uganda or the DRC, and in Bwindi in Uganda). Here one can marvel at our close relatives relatively close-up in their natural environment.

Kataza House is perfectly located on the very doorstep of the National Park, being the only lodge or hotel that shares a border with it. Kataza House is also the only private villa in this region, so is absolutely the best choice for discerning travellers wanting privacy and a prime location as a part of their gorilla trekking safari.

What is the accommodation like at Singita Kataza House?

Kataza House was designed with the natural surroundings in mind, and perfectly complements its pristine location. The interiors of the House reflect the natural geology with earthy tones and exposed rock walls.

The House combines luxury with the traditional African home and provides an opulent base for your safari in Rwanda. There are individual bedroom pavilions centred around a central living cluster which has a dining area, seating area with stunning views of the volcanoes, and a kitchen that your private chef will use to prepare your meals. The self-contained bedrooms are accessed via beautiful forest pathways.

During your stay you also have access to the facilities and amenities at the adjacent Kwitonda Lodge, which you can access by a short drive in your private golf cart!

Kataza House accommodation includes:

  • One master suite, one junior master suite, two double/twin suites and a two-bedroomed staff residence should you wish to travel with your own staff.
  • A private wine cellar, interactive kitchen, fully stocked ‘bar-deli’ and your own House Manager, Chef and staff to look after you during your stay.
  • A heated pool off the main lounge, a private heated pool for the master suite, private cinema room, indoor and outdoor dining and lounge areas and an outdoor firepit.
  • A massage treatment room and fitness centre.
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi internet throughout with iPad and media suite in every room.

What activities are available at Singita Kataza House?

Gorilla trekking: Rise early and convene at the Park HQ to be assigned your trekking group and the family of gorillas that you will track. Depending on their location, your trek could last between two and eight hours. Once you have found the gorilla family you spend an hour observing at a safe distance, watching them interact with each other while they feed. The babies are particularly joyous to watch as they play with each other, explore their surroundings and inevitably are told off by the adult gorillas when they overstep!

We always recommend that you undertake two treks on two days during your stay in Rwanda, because this experience is so breath-taking and special. The first time it can be very overwhelming, you want to capture as much on camera as possible! The second trek is a very different experience, and you can sit and simply enjoy the time with them, taking it all in and noticing things that you may have missed the day before. Minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years old.

Golden monkey trekking: This is a wonderful experience which usually lasts around one to four hours depending on where the golden monkeys are located that day. They tend to stay on more open, lower ground so the trekking is easier than when searching for mountain gorillas in the forests. This is also accessible to younger teenagers, and children from twelve can join the trek.

Hikes: Take hikes up to Dian Fossey’s grave, where she is buried with her beloved Digit. This takes around four to six hours. You can also hike to Mount Bisoke Crater Lake, which takes between six and eight hours depending on your fitness levels, or to the Musanze Caves which is a shorter trek of around an hour.

Community experiences: We strongly recommend you spend some time with the warm and welcoming local communities as a part of your safari to Rwanda. Visit the small Gasura village a short drive from the lodge. Whilst here you will interact with the villagers, learn about their culture and customs, how they live here and how they survive in the modern world.

Onsite at Kataza House: you can spend time at the Akarabo Nursery, their farm-to-table vegetable garden that grows local, seasonal produce to use in the kitchens. There is also the sapling nursery which supplies the trees for guests to plant as part of the reforestation efforts.

You can also do wine tasting, cooking lessons with the expert chefs, take yoga sessions and work out in the fitness centre, or relax with massage treatments either outdoors or in Kataza House’s private treatment room.

Another exciting experience is to spend time with local artisans where they teach you their craft in a workshop. Options include making your own outfit in a local style with a seamstress, seeing a local traditional stick carver at work, and trying your hand at basket weaving!

Are families welcome at Singita Kataza House?

Families are very welcome at Kataza House and can take part in lots of adventures during your stay. Children under fifteen can be looked after by Kataza House’s dedicated childminder whilst the adults are on gorilla treks.

Children can spend time in the Akarabo Nursery, helping to pick vegetables and plant new seeds and transplant them into the soil. They can also enjoy cooking classes with the expert chefs or do arts and crafts. There is also cycling and safe local nature walks that they can explore with the staff.

How does Singita protect and conserve gorillas and the environment?

Singita are dedicated to conservation and environmental action and have put in place a ‘100-year purpose’ for sustainable tourism in Africa. Their work through their Trusts and Funds spans projects that restore, enhance and protect the biodiversity of the ecosystems they care for and helps to use tourism for positive impacts.

Why is Rwanda a wonderful destination for a safari to Africa?

Rwanda is a small but perfectly formed gem in the heart of Eastern Africa. Known as the ‘land of a thousand hills’ the landscape is beautiful and interesting. The region around Kataza House is dotted with jagged-edged lakes amongst lush hills and terraced farmland and, of course, the volcanoes that are home to the enticing mountain gorillas are always visible rising above it all.

Away from the highlands one can also enjoy all the joys of traditional safari on the plains, with the added benefit of far fewer tourists! Here you can take game drives and see the Big Five, due to recent successful reintroductions of lion and rhino.

After a recently painful past in the 1990’s, Rwanda has been reborn and regenerated itself with solidarity, warmth and forgiveness. This is evident in every interaction one has with the local Rwandese, who are endlessly welcoming!

For further information, please do feel free to contact Nicola directly or at The Explorations Company for further inspiration and unforgettable safaris and holidays to Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

 

Images by kind courtesy of Singita Kataza House

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As a guide, the cost of our extraordinary and utterly bespoke journeys tends to start from $1200 per person per day excluding international flights.

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