Best of Rwanda & Kenya (Gorillas & Great plains) – 5 Star

Banana Beer Presentation & Tasting - $25 per person, 30 minute activity:
Guests learn the history and process of banana wine making and enjoy a tasting.

*Note: A 30 minute banana beer presentation with tasting is one of the onsite cultural activities included in The Retreat rate. Guests are welcome to book 1 complimentary onsite cultural activity, valid one time only per booking. Please book in advance of arrival.

Guests are welcome to book more than one cultural activity at additional cost.

Banana Beer Making Workshop - $50 per person, 1.5 hour hands-on workshop
Banana beer, or “urwagwa” in Kinyarwanda, is a traditional beer made from fermentation of mashed bananas. In our hands-on workshop, guests learn the step-by-step art of making traditional banana beer, from mashing bananas to grinding and toasting sorghum, to the fermentation process, which ends with a tasting!

NEIGHBORHOOD WALK - $25 per person, 45-60 minutes

Our neighborhood walk offers guests an authentic fun, informative and uniquely personal insight into Rwandan culture and local life in Kigali. A hotel guide will walk with guests through our residential neighborhood called Kiyovu, pass by the presidential compound, walk up the tree-lined streets to the famous Hotel des Milles Collines (Hotel Rwanda), and continue to Camp Kigali Memorial which offers insight into the genocide history in Rwanda.

*Note: A 45 minute neighborhood walk is one of the onsite cultural activities included in The Retreat rate. Guests are welcome to book 1 complimentary cultural activity, valid one time only per booking. Please book in advance of arrival.

Guests are welcome to book more than one cultural activity at additional cost.

LOCAL COOKING CLASS - $50 per person, 45 minutes

At Heaven and Fusion Restaurants, we work closely with local farmers, use quality ingredients, and cultivate our own onsite organic gardens. Enjoy an interactive cooking class and learn how to make a modern African recipe!

*Note: A 45 minute cooking class is one of the onsite cultural activities included in The Retreat rate. Guests are welcome to book 1 complimentary onsite cultural activity, valid one time only per booking. Please book in advance of arrival.

Guests are welcome to book more than one cultural activity at additional cost.

COCKTAIL MAKING CLASS - $25 per person (30 minutes)

Guests enjoy the variety, freshness and creativity of our cocktail recipes! Engage in an interactive cocktail making class with our expert baristas, and learn how to make one of our signature cocktails in this hands-on class.

*Note: A 30 minute cocktail making class is one of the onsite cultural activities included in The Retreat rate. Guests are welcome to book 1 complimentary onsite cultural activity, valid one time only per booking. Please book in advance of arrival.

Guests are welcome to book more than one cultural activity at additional cost.

Guests enjoy meeting our onsite tailor, being inspired by our visually enticing Look Book, and ordering custom made clothing and accessories! We have two Made in Rwanda Retail Shops onsite, one at The Retreat and another next door at Heaven Restaurant.

Our hotel concierge may arrange for a half day Fashion Experience, whereby guests have the chance to visit the best local Rwandan fashion boutiques and enjoy the unique opportunity to meet with designers and artisans.

Price per person: Request Rates

Our hotel concierge may organize an Art & Culture experience, to explore art galleries and cultural venues around Kigali.

Price per person: Request Rates

The Rwandan government has restored the natural wetlands in the valley of Kigali City! Bird watching, nature walks and hiking are all highlights in Kigali! Our hotel concierge may plan outings to explore the eco parks and Kigali's best preserved nature reserves.

Price per person: Request Rates

This remarkable community visit covers the history and amazing progress achieved in Rwanda. Owners Josh & Alissa Ruxin moved to Rwanda in 2006 to work on poverty reduction projects and started this work in Nyamata, which was an area hardest hit during the genocide and by famine after the war. Visitors meet with survivors of genocide to hear testimony and reflect on the past, and then visit various locations that demonstrate the incredible hope and progress we see in Rwanda today. Through innovative interventions in health, agriculture, education and micro enterprise, this area is now quite prosperous and is the chosen site for the new Kigali International Airport.

Price per person: Request Rates

Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House provide a contemplative, nurturing space in which to appreciate the transformative experience of coming face to face with the forest’s gentle giants.

For most guests, a gorilla trek is at the top of their list when they visit Rwanda and a stay at Singita Kwitonda Lodge or Kataza House allows them the privilege to encounter one of Africa’s most majestic and gentle creatures in the wild, while immersed in the beauty of their pristine natural habitat.

The distance of each gorilla trek is varied, so depending on which family group guests are allocated, the duration is anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day. Meals and lodge activities are flexible around each trek.

As children under the age of 15 are unable to participate in gorilla-treks, they will be cared for at the lodge with a variety of supervised activities and educational opportunities on offer.

Rwanda can be visited at any time of the year and gorilla trekking is a year-round activity. The average temperature at Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House is approximately 15 degrees Celsius, although humidity can be high.

Suggested Clothing and Gear:

- For trekking one should have: boots with good grip, gators, gloves, waterproof jacket, thick socks, thick pants to protect against stinging nettles, long sleeved tops.
- For the lodge one should have: pants, long sleeve tops, t-shirts, a warm layer for the evenings, closed shoes, a swimming costume.
- Comfortable walking shoes/track shoes/hiking boots for walks.

Clothing and Gear Available for Use:

We have a variety of technical gear and clothing for our guests to use during their stay at Singita Kwitonda and Kataza House. The items are all designed for outdoor hiking and wet weather, perfectly suited for trekking to see gorillas or other animals in Rwanda. Backpacks including a waterproof rain cover for backpack (camera equip)

- Mens and ladies waterproof jackets with a removable inner fleece lining and hood
- Mens and ladies water-resistant hiking pants
- Hiking chaps in two sizes (gators)
- Hiking poles with extendable options and grips
- Gloves for use during hiking to protect hands from thorns and mud
- Trekking lunch boxes which will hold freshly made lunches chosen by the guests – all eco-friendly packaging
- Singita water bottle

Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House provides guests, including children, the opportunity to participate in the Golden monkey treks as children under the age of 15 are unable to participate in gorilla-treks.

Named Akarabo – which means ‘little flower’ in Kinyarwanda – our on-site nursery was borne from our commitment to help reforest, rehabilitate and maintain the habitat of Rwanda’s endangered mountain gorillas. Initially, 60,000 saplings were bought from local growers and earmarked for the 178 acres of land Singita Volcanoes National Park sits on. This number quickly grew to 250,000 saplings, even before the lodge opened, and continues to increase as we keep expanding our reforestation efforts in the area.

It’s a privilege to share this lush diversity of plants with our guests. Whether you opt for a gentle stroll along the rows of new trees, past the glorious fragrances of flourishing herbs or through the farm-to-table chef’s garden filled with fresh vegetables, it’s bound to inspire and delight in equal measure.

Providing an authentic taste of Rwanda’s offerings, our garden includes a teahouse serving fresh herbal brews, as well as local artisans such as a basket weaver, seamstress and stick carver showcasing the intricacies of their craft. Echoing our passion for treading lightly on the land, living sustainably and empowering communities, Akarabo is growing – just like the saplings being planted – into a lasting, living legacy.

Guests have the option to explore the local cuisine by participating in cookery classes that are conducted by expert chefs. Both adults and children are welcome to participate in cooking classes.

Singita is recognised as one of Africa’s most influential collectors of wine, with an extensive cellar showcasing a premium selection of wines, including some of the continent’s most sought-after private reserves, including exclusive release, limited single vineyard and rare auction wines. It’s safe to say that wine is a key ingredient of the unique Singita experience.

The Singita wine list has received numerous awards of excellence, the top Diners’ Club Wine List accolade as well as recognition from countless other local and international organisations.

François Rautenbach is responsible for this excellence as the director of Singita Premier Wine, he manages the selection, purchase, storage, and service of all the wines at Singita’s lodges. François also manages Singita Premier Wine Direct which allows guests to order their favourite wines from their safari to enjoy at home. With the Singita Premier Wine Direct service, wines can either be specially packed for guests as checked luggage or shipped directly to a guest’s home.

Personalised wine tastings within the unique ambience of each lodge’s own temperature-controlled cellar are a true guest favourite, for connoisseurs and casual tasters alike. Singita’s experienced sommeliers are able to guide guests through a variety of wine styles, years and cultivars to find the wines most suited to their individual tastes.

As with all that Singita does, community upliftment is central to the Singita wine programme as well. François Rautenbach has created a special training programme for enthusiastic young wine lovers, developing the next generation of sommeliers for Africa. The training provides educational assistance, personal mentoring, formal wine training and access to Africa’s finest wine programme.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. Through education and peace-building it honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed. Visitors can take a tour with a guide, or opt for a self-guided audio tour while exploring the memorial and reflecting at their own pace.

Genocide Memorial in Kigali

Nestled along picturesque hilltops, Kigali is a thriving African city immediately notable for its cleanliness, orderliness, and warm hospitality. Kigali, located in the geographic center of the country, is a great place to begin or end any Rwandan adventure. The capital city is vibrant and energetic, and its people are extremely welcoming. Here, travelers can enjoy a number of cultural activities including several award-winning museums, a burgeoning music scene and some of East Africa’s most memorable dining experiences.

Guests at Singita Volcanoes National Park have the unique opportunity to visit the small village of Gasura in the Kinigi sector, which is located 30 minutes from the lodge. The interactive tour takes approximately two hours and includes a range of authentic Rwandese cultural experiences.

Taking guests from house to house in the village, this involves everything from meeting local crafters weaving baskets and carving gorilla-trekking sticks to learning how to process locally produced staples – such as stomping cassava roots and grinding sorghum for flour. It also includes visiting families in their homes to get a glimpse of the local lifestyle.

Cost: $60 per person
Duration: +- 2 hours
Time: Flexible (Suggested - 9am or 2pm)

Guests can visit the Singita Community Culinary School (SCCS) at the MIPC campus in Musanze on special request, and subject to availability, cooking classes with graduates could be arranged for a $100 donation per guest.

*All funds raised are used to support the ongoing work of the Singita Community Culinary School.

This scenic 2.2km (1.4mi) walking/running trail runs behind the lodge. It starts at the main entrance, ascending hilly terrain and meandering through a fragrant eucalyptus forest before finishing at the on-site Akarabo Nursery. The beautiful vistas and sounds of nature are a highlight, and on a clear day, one can see the distant city of Musanze nestled below.

The trail is open and unguided, allowing guests the freedom to explore. However, as the lodge shares its surroundings with buffalo and other wildlife, we advise caution while running or walking. Although buffalo primarily roam during the evenings and move towards the park during the day, we encourage guests to exercise their judgment when utilising the trail, always being mindful of their surroundings and undertaking the experience at their own risk.
This trail offers a sanctuary for keen walkers and runners, where guests can reconnect with nature, find solace, and create lasting memories in the breathtaking "The Land of a Thousand Hills."

*This walking/running trail is seasonal and is best utilized during the drier months - June to September and December to February.

The tranquil and peaceful surroundings of the on-site Akarabo Nursery provide the perfect backdrop for creative expression and pure relaxation. Our nursery is home to a unique pottery wheel-throwing experience, offering our guests a delightful combination of therapy and art.

The pottery studio provides a peaceful space allowing our guests to explore their creativity in addition to an ancient art form as they create beautiful, sculptural and functional pieces with their hands.

In preference, guests will have their pick of bisque items created by skilled local Rwandan potters and can be personalised through glazing and painting.

Accompanied by two well-trained studio staff members committed to ensuring our guests feel welcome and supported, potters can feel at ease as they embark on their pottery-making journey.

Immerse yourself in a world of relaxation at Hemingways Nairobi with a luxurious spa experience that restores both mind and body. From calming massages to rejuvenating facials and invigorating treatments, each service is carefully designed using natural, locally sourced ingredients. In a serene and soothing atmosphere, our expert therapists will ease away your tension, leaving you feeling completely refreshed, rejuvenated, and deeply relaxed. Treat yourself to an unforgettable wellness experience that will leave you feeling revitalized and at peace.

Back massage Credit: Hemingways collection

Hot Stone massage Credit: Hemingways collection

Back massage Credit: Hemingways collection

This interactive experience allows you to learn about the activities on Segera and beyond. Part natural history museum, part art museum, part dreamer’s exhibition, a comprehensive tour will inspire you about the possibilities of holistic sustainability.

Segera's exclusively private 50,000 acres are home to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, and buffalo as well as endangered species such as reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Lelwel's Hartebeest, and African wild dog. You'll seek out these species along with classic plains game and up to 150 bird species on daily game drives in open-sided safari vehicles with talented guides.

Go game viewing and wildlife monitoring and see how removing miles of game fencing has helped
establish vital elephant corridors.

Fully immerse in nature at its most wild during one of our exhilarating walking safaris. One step at a time, our exceptional guides will unveil the secrets of the landscape as you encounter majestic wildlife up close and feel the rhythm of the bush beneath your feet.? With our expert guides by your side, witness the incredible beauty of untouched landscapes and surrounding wilderness through the walking safaris. ?

A bush picnic is one of the many ways to enjoy the unique venues spread across our beautiful landscape. Sit back and relax with a delicious meal as our guides share these meaningful moments out in the wild, surrounded by 50,000 acres of pristine nature. A curated cocktail hour in the bush is also one of the many special experiences that give our guests meaningful moments out in the wild.

Segera will take you on experiences that go way beyond the typical safari as you immerse yourself in the lifestyle of our local communities. Our guests get to visit a local Samburu Manyatta and experience rural life, shopping at a local market, and visit the local schools that we support through our partner organization, the ZEITZ Foundation. Our mission is to create a sustainable, ecologically, and socially responsible retreat that protects and preserves the integrity of our ecosystem found within it and around it. ?

Sleep like a bird, in a nest, in the wild. This unique collaboration between Segera and Nay Palad is a raised ‘nest’ in the wild with one indoor en-suite bedroom and a beautiful outdoor shower. There is a bed inside as well as a bed on the rooftop, so guests can choose to sleep inside or under the stars. You’ll find a picnic-style dinner and candle-lit drinks set up to enjoy while the night draws in. In the morning, breakfast will be delivered to your doorstep so you can prolong the feeling of being

in romantic seclusion. You’ll love the drama of the skies and stars, the sounds of the bush and the security of being elevated above the activity. This is true luxury in the wild.

Segera’s focus on wellbeing is key to giving our guests a nourishing and relaxing safari experience. Our wellness centre is fully equipped, offering a variety of luxurious and holistic spa treatments, a state-of-the-art gym, a solar-powered Rasul steam tower and tailored private yoga sessions to restore a sense of peace, balance and wellbeing amidst the peace and beauty of the wild.?

From freshly pressed juices and smoothies, to spectacular salads and pasta dishes, our delicious and colourful fresh fruits and vegetables offer guests healthy, delicious and bespoke farm-to-table menus. Every dining venue at Segera offers beautiful and intimate meal experiences. Immersed in nature, surrounded by low-key, contemporary safari style and enjoying delicious ingredients and exceptional service, our dining spaces make your food journey at Segera truly unforgettable.?

Segera's success story in conserving its precious ecosystem and protecting the 50,000 acre wildlife sanctuary is largely built on the collective effort of our Rangers and anti-poaching dog unit. The beautiful bloodhounds attached to the anti-poaching unit bring so much joy to everyone who meets them. Guests get to join in on daily activities, like their daily tracking and training and spa days on Sundays.

Segera is home to impressive collections of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora—known as the Zeitz Collection. A stroll through the botanical gardens will reveal dramatic wire sculptures, monumental bronze, stone and steel works, land and earth art, outdoor projections and site-specific interventions. In the Stables and Paddock House you can view water-colours, video installations, prints, etchings and paintings from artists who are shaping the modern African art collections of our time. During your stay you can visit the C4C exhibit opposite the Spa to find out more about the artwork

and ethos or request an art tour with an expert.

Game drives at Angama Mara are planned according to what the guests would like to do as there is no set programme. Descending down Angama Mara’s private road, 10-minutes later guests enter the Reserve. Even though there is game a-plenty around the lodge, the heart of the action takes place in one of Africa’s most iconic year-round Big Five destinations – the Mara Triangle.

Watch the hot-air balloon as it is inflated, with a steaming cup of Kenyan coffee in hand. Just before dawn lift off into the skies, witnessing the sunrise and a multitude of animals below while floating over the Mara. Come back down to earth for a champagne breakfast in the middle of the savanna’s endless plains.

Guests have access to over a huge tract of wilderness along the Oloololo Escarpment. Escorted by a Maasai naturalist guide, walks can be as long or short as guests prefer. Discover the smaller details – fascinating plants, birds, insects and animals and the role they play in traditional Maasai beliefs and customs.

Visit Angama Mara’s Photographic Studio for a private tutorial with our on-site photographers who will help you come to grips with your camera. Hire photographic equipment or learn more about the editing process on our large-screen Apple desktops. Explore the Mara on a private photographic safari with one of our specialist guides. Those who prefer to put down their cameras, the in-house photographer can capture these special moments in a professional photoshoot.

Explore Angama Mara’s one-acre lovely kitchen garden followed by a soil-to-fork lunch under towering moth trees. Crusty bread, local cheese, chilled rosé and the freshest of salads served with the Mara as a backdrop – what could be better?

Intimate private picnics for two (maximum four) on the Out of Africa kopje featured on the movie’s iconic poster. Checked blankets, comfy cushions, canvas safari chairs, a picnic and sparkling wine on ice – everything you could need for elegant romance.

As the day ends, it’s time to sit back, sip a cocktail and watch the sun descend behind the Rift Valley from the spectacular vantage point of the Sundowner Boma — perfect for this, with its circular shape encapsulating the dramatic views overlooking the Maasai Mara.

Traditionally as the sun set, livestock was gathered into this space to protect the animals from predators. Today, it is also a space in which people gather, and where the African night is welcomed with song, dance and celebration.

Gather in a lantern-lit forest for dinner cooked over the coals. Guests dine family-style at long, wooden tables, off enamel plates with dishcloths for napkins. It’s fun, it’s relaxed and most of all, it’s delicious.

Leading off the Safari Shop is a sunny studio for Maasai ladies who come daily to bead bespoke items. Guests can try their hand at beading or perhaps have the ladies bead a name bracelet or an item of their clothing.

Join the Angama Running Club and see how you fare against this nation of great athletes as you jog along the Escarpment with the possibility of encountering plains game such as giraffe and zebra along the way.

A hands-on opportunity to learn about the invaluable work of the Mara Conservancy’s canine unit. Observe and participate in training exercises and see if you can outsmart these determined canines.

The Angama Foundation

Each guest at Angama Mara contributes a US$ 10 per night donation to the Angama Foundation, a separate entity that has been set up to support the communities that neighbour the lodge and the wildlife and land that surround it. The Foundation is active through three fields of work: Education, Healthcare and Conservation. The Foundation is also open to micro-donations facilitated through the lodge’s Safari Shop; for sizeable project-specific donations, https://angama.com/about/angama-foundation/