Singita Kwitonda Lodge features on Travel + Leisure's 2020 It List

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Opened in August 2019, the lodge, named after a legendary silverback gorilla, is set on 178 acres on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, with which it shares a 1.2km border. It’s the only lodge in such close proximity to the Park, which is home to more than half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas.

Singita Kwitonda Lodge and the adjacent Kataza House reflect Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. As with every one of Singita’s 15 lodges and camps in Africa, sustainability underpins all operations at Singita Volcanoes National Park.

It was also a key driving force in the design and development of Kwitonda and Kataza House. The One Planet Living sustainability framework – a set of 10 principles that guide all of Singita’s decision-making on the ground – ensures that it treads lightly on the land.

Kwitonda’s farm-to-table food journey also celebrates Rwandese cuisine and features fresh produce from the lodge’s on-site Akarabo Garden & Nursery.

Singita’s presence in Rwanda supports the company’s 100-year purpose to preserve and protect large areas of African wilderness for future generations and to date, the nursery has provided approximately 250,000 indigenous forest shrubs, bamboo shoots and trees for Singita’s extensive reforestation initiative in the area. In time, Singita’s long-term reforestation and rehabilitation of the land surrounding the lodge aims to increase the natural habitat of mountain gorillas in the Park.

Singita founder and executive chairman, Luke Bailes says: "It was an absolute dream to expand our conservation footprint into Rwanda – a beautiful country with a remarkable conservation success story. Contributing to the country’s enormous conservation efforts is both a privilege and a serious responsibility. We are proud to receive such prestigious recognition for our lodge from Travel + Leisure, which is a respected authority on travel globally."

View the full list here.