Singita Kwitonda, a Place of Miracles
A destination where ecotourism meets wellness travel.
In May this year, I had the chance to join my sister on a trip to Rwanda, where she was working on a travel film in partnership with Singita Kwitonda, called ‘A Journey of Hope’ in celebration of her 30th birthday, which she also shared with the lodge. It is located in Musanze district, in the north eastern part of Rwanda right on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, a 3-hour drive from the capital city, Kigali.
When we arrived, we were received by a lovely team who welcomed us with refreshing mocktails after the long trip. The sanitizing station emulated a spa experience where they use coffee scrub locally made at the lodge. Studies have shown that coffee oil has similar effects on the skin as the anti-aging skincare ingredient hyaluronic acid. As we walked in, the corridor opened up and we could see the famous majestic volcano mountains with every step we took.
The manager gave us a briefing about the history of the lodge, their conservation efforts, and guided us on the itinerary of the visit which was filled with exciting activities for the next four days! It was hard for me to focus because I was completely blown away by the beauty surrounding us.
Singita is driven by their 100-year purpose of preserving and protecting African wilderness for future generations; a vision lies at the heart of their work and underpins every goal and strategy that continues to drive them forward. Their conservation vision is based on biodiversity, sustainability, and community. From the design of their eco-friendly lodges, reforestation projects, zero-waste strategy to community outreach projects, it was great to see how much they value the impact of their work on both people and the planet.
This 178-acre property sits on the border of Volcanoes National Park; famous for being a home to the endangered mountain gorillas offering one of the finest tracking safari destinations in the world. It is among the only 4 national parks in world hosting the endangered mountain gorillas; the others are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
I wondered why I never knew anything about these African giants. According to the latest statistics, there are an estimate of only 1066 mountain gorillas left in the world..a shocking statistic that I later learned Singita was working to change through their reforestation and conservation efforts. Did you know that gorillas are distinguished by their nostrils? What fingerprints are to humans, nostrils are to every gorilla. They all have different nostrils. Fun fact for you.
Following the arrival briefing, we were taken to our stunning villa which would be our home for the next few days. The eco-friendly design of the lodge, structure, shapes, texture and colors emulated the natural environment while borrowing certain aspects of Rwandese culture. As I was reading about their history, I learnt that they also have a carbon credit programme and are consciously working towards being nature positive. I have been working as a consultant in the clean energy sector for one year now which made me appreciate these initiatives even more. Singita is truly a destination where ecotourism meets wellness travel.
The villa had a stunning lounge area which doubled as an office space, a gorgeous outdoor sitting area with views of the mountains, and it was well fitted with a kitchen stocked with everything we needed; food, fresh snacks, amazing coffee, kombucha, fresh juice and an open bar. I mean... it was an absolute dream!
The lounge area was spacious enough to host a big group while offering the perfect tranquil environment to nurture our individual creativity. There was a breathtaking view of Mount Sabinyo where on a clear day, we could see her four summits, and we even spotted a few buffalos. We were nestled in the middle of the wild. I discovered a specially curated meditation playlist which ensured we would be as relaxed as possible. As you will see, the villa also had yoga mats, sound healing bowls, and a yoga flow chart creating a wellness sanctuary for the modern day traveller.
During this trip, I came to learn about Dian Fossey, a well known and highly celebrated gorilla conservationist whose research set the tone, or rather, foundation for the protection of mountain gorillas. Following a lecture about primates she attended back in 1966 by the late anthropologist Louis Leakey, she managed to convince him to join his expedition in Congo as a research assistant. The lodge had great books on the current wildlife in the park, Dian Fossey's book 'Gorilla in the Mist' which I managed to read a few pages, and a documentary we could watch to learn more about her work.
There was something about the room which made me feel like I was somewhere in Asia.. perhaps Bali..? The tibetan healing bowls intentionally placed next to the window by the day bed overlooking the volcanoes national park was confirmation that this would be a wholesome stay. The stunning views, majestic horizons, and cozy corners is exactly what I needed to recharge and recalibrate. Can we also talk about this thoughtful note?
Right by my bed, there was a desk with resources that had so much rich history about Singita's conversation efforts and information about Akarabo Nursery where we would have the privilege of learning about their farm to table concept. Of course, this was also my reading and journaling corner where I would make sure I captured every moment of this magical trip.
Every day during this trip, I made sure to soak in all the beautiful views that surrounded the lodge. The bathroom was designed to give guests their own private spa; it had a heated floor, scented calming candles, a stunning bath overlooking the mountains, an outdoor pool, and a massaging bed. Honeymoon anyone?
To make sure the guests have an opportunity to enjoy the views, the outdoor area was well equipped with a fireplace, blankets and a heated pool. I sat here multiple times during my morning meditation, yoga practice, reading time, and enjoyed a few glasses of red wine with the girls. It's all about balance, right? Apparently on some days, the elephants come very close to the lodge to say hello and sometimes, to quench their thirst from the pools! How exciting.
After freshening up, we had the most delightful meal with clear views of the park surrounded by nature. Lunch was divine, as with all the other meals during this entire trip; the best part is that I got to experience this with my sister who made the trip possible! Any nutritional expert will tell you the healthiest meals are those closest to their natural state, brightly colored, and this is exactly what we ate.
Later in the evening, we had a 1 hour briefing with Charles Nsabimana, the resident conservationist who was highly knowledgeable about gorilla conservation. He had prepared a detailed presentation of the gorilla trekking experience making sure we were well covered with information that would capture this bucket list activity. He also trained us on how to make sounds to show the gorillas we come in peace. I wish I could attach the sound byte here!
We also had to select the pre-packed meals we would eat after the next day's long hike. Not only did they cater to all our dietary needs, but they made sure every meal on the menu was nourishing. After the masterclass on all things gorilla conservation, I shared a light dinner with my sister and headed back to our villa. Because buffalos are known to walk within the property at night, we had to be escorted either on foot, or on a golf cart car.
A special highlight for me was the nighttime routine card, which I found placed on my bed. It had a detailed guide on how to get restorative sleep touching on all our five senses. And everything required to make sure you're well rested was provided, essential oils, aromatherapy, a curated meditation playlist, scented candles & a meditation mat. The wellness and travel enthusiast in me felt like I finally found a destination that caters to all my needs physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Day 1 was done, I was well rested, well fed, rejuvenated and in bed early enough for the next day’s activity. I can't wait to share more with you from this adventure of a lifetime! For now, check out the travel film ‘A Journey of Hope’ directed and produced by Sharon Machira with Backdrop Production.
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Yours in Wellness
@TiziTalks
