Unusual & Unique Places To Stay In East Africa

Africa offers many incredible places, from luxury tented safari camps to boutique hotels.

Your home away from home on the open plains of Africa. With the utmost safety & security free from the heavy footfall of crowds and busy city life. Our handpicked selection of African Villas is in the most remote and pristine wilderness areas, allowing you to reconnect, restore and rewild. Let Africa be your classroom and the wilderness your teacher.

THE CALL OF THE WILD

Surrounded by swaying eucalyptus trees, One&Only Gorilla's Nest awakens a wild spirit of adventure. A place that encourages you to gaze into the mirror through eye-opening encounters with majestic mountain gorillas and experience the story of Rwanda.

Eye to eye with swaying eucalyptus trees, One&Only Gorilla's Nest is the closest resort to Volcanoes National Park – a historic rainforest home to a diverse tapestry of wildlife, including over 340 mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and 300 bird species. There is an incredible topography of peaceful sleeping volcanoes that defy gravity in and around the resort, creating an awe-inspiring atmosphere and perfect setting for cyclists.

One&Only Gorilla's Nest is set against the historic volcanic mountains of Volcanoes National Park – the first national park in Africa and home to endangered mountain gorillas. This place has fostered a spirit of love and protection over the years, most notably from renowned primatologist Dian Fossey. A land distinguished by beauty and hope.

Volcanoes National Park and the protection it offers endangered species, and its precious land tell Rwanda's story. A country that is always looking ahead fueled with positivity both nationally and locally. From the nationwide ban on plastic bags to the regular 'Umuganda', national community cleaning efforts, Rwanda celebrates unparalleled pride in the community and the natural world.

BIRDS NEST AT SEGERA, KENYA

Staying at Segera Retreat is an uplifting experience, including the chance to rest like a bird in the incredible NAY PALAD star bed. Perched atop a tower, it offers a bird’s eye view of the surrounding terrain. From the outside, the star bed looks like the untidy eyrie of a giant eagle; once inside, it is revealed to be a perfectly luxurious mini-lodge for two, with the option to sleep out under the Kenyan night skies – a truly magical experience you’ll want to share with someone very special.

HIGHLANDS CAMP, NGORONGORO CRATER, TANZANIA

The Maasai are as iconic as the animals with which they share their East African savannah home, and their fiercely independent sense of style has long inspired photographers and designers. This influence has now extended to the architecture of safari lodges, with Highlands Camp featuring guest tents inspired by the shape of traditional Maasai homes. Staying the same shape of accommodation that has been used locally for centuries adds an extra layer of authenticity to the experience.

BISATE LODGE, RWANDA

Staying at Bisate Lodge, you could be forgiven for thinking you were being treated like royalty. This may well be the case, as this lodge – in the epicenter of mountain gorilla country – was inspired by the Rwandan Royal Palace. By employing local artisans to construct much of the lodge, vanishing skills have been retained within the community for at least another generation. The woven surfaces and rich textures tempt the fingertips as much as the eyes.

UNDERWATER ROOM AT MANTA RESORT, TANZANIA

Fans of The Sopranos will leap at the chance to “sleep with the fishes” in the underwater room at Manta Resort– and there’s no need to be fitted for a pair of concrete boots. A prolific tropical reef anchors this unique, triple-layer room with picture windows that allow you to immerse yourself in a stunning “blue hole,” with coral heads and colorful shoals of fish. The room extends above the surface, creating a private floating island.