Singita Kataza House

OVERVIEW:

The latest offering from luxury safari company Singita, Kataza House is a top-end exclusive-use house just outside the spectacular Volcanoes N.P.! An amazing range of activities will be possible, from gorilla treks to local tours.

Singita’s Kataza House is the very smart little sibling of Kwitonda Lodge. It’s designed to provide an exclusive-use option for a maximum of eight travelers. The price of your stay will include accommodation, three meals daily, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, house manager, chef, house staff, and a laundry service. The house will be open all year round.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

The house is situated within 72 hectares of private land featuring meadows and wetlands, just outside Volcanoes National Park. It’ll be accessed via 2 hours 30 minutes’ road transfer from Kigali International Airport. Helicopter flights from the airport, followed by a short drive to the property, will be available too.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT SINGITA KATAZA HOUSE:

There are four suites, each accommodating a maximum of two adults. All are positioned around the buildings housing the communal facilities – the master suite and junior master suite are set fairly well apart from the central hub, while two smaller suites are almost adjacent to the main areas. The property as a whole blends beautifully with the surrounding landscape, being constructed from local materials and featuring wooden walkways linking the suites to the shared facilities. Presently no photographs of the suites are available, but Singita mentions that the interiors have been carefully curated with an emphasis on handcrafted details. We’ll update this section as soon as we’ve received further information. In the meantime, we know that each suite will have a luxurious en-suite full bathroom, an iPad, and access to Wi-Fi, and that the master suite will boast a private pool! There’s also a two-bedroom staff residence.   

Communal facilities at Kataza House will be equally well-appointed. Both indoor and outdoor lounge and dining areas will provide sumptuous spaces in which to relax and dine, while an interactive kitchen will encourage guests to get involved with the food prep! There will also be a wine room, a media room with mini cinema, a gear room, and a massage room – and various spa treatments will be provided on request. Wi-Fi will be set up through all main areas. Somewhere in the extensive grounds, there will be a fire-pit, and also a heated pool! And guests will enjoy access to all the shared facilities at neighboring Kwitonda Lodge – there’s even a golf cart on site to transport you between properties. Kwitonda features its own deluxe lounge and dining areas, as well as a wine cellar, boutique, gallery, and media room.

ACTIVITIES AT SINGITA KATAZA HOUSE:

Kataza House will offer an exhilarating variety of activities, as follows:

• Expertly guided gorilla treks

  - Please note, this activity has a minimum age requirement of 16 years. It’ll also involve an early start, with guests setting off from the house in time for a 7am briefing within the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park. Trek durations will vary from just two hours to an entire day, depending on the whereabouts of the gorillas. The forest terrain will vary too, according to how much rain the park has received. Once your guide has located the gorillas, you’ll be able to observe these magnificent mammals in their natural habitat – and the journey into the forest to see them will seem well worth the effort!

•  Golden monkey treks

  - These treks will take place in Volcanoes N.P. too. They’ll also be accompanied by an expert guide.

•  Dian Fossey treks

  - Guests interested in learning about primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey will enjoy taking part in a trek starting at Volcanoes’ Karisoke Research Center. From here, you’ll take a two-hour hike to Dian’s own research site, as well as her former home and grave.

•  Musanze cave trek

  - A treat for keen geologists, this activity will comprise close exploration of 32 underground caves, via a walk of up to 2 kilometers!

•  Cycling tours

  - Alternatively, guests will be able to take a look above ground, on a bike trip around the local area.

•  Chef's tours

  - These tours will take you to a nearby village, where you’ll find out all about the local cuisine.

•  Local market tours

  - Excursions to the local market will serve as an exciting introduction to the local culture.

•  Information talks

  - The house has a conservation lounge, where you’ll enjoy pre- and post-trek talks. You’ll also be able to take a look at maps, books, photos, and films.

•  Kwitonda nursery tours

  - The main theme of these tours is ‘farm to table’, as knowledgeable staff will tell you about the sustainable approach they adopt for the purpose of benefiting the local community.

•  Birding

  - Both deep in the forest and within Kataza’s grounds, you’ll have opportunities to watch for hundreds of bird species. Remember to pack your binocs!

•  Photography sessions

  - The house has a number of photo-editing facilities, and guests will be invited to use these to make the most of their photography skills.

• Cookery classes

  - Expert chefs will be on hand throughout your stay to teach a few lessons in Rwandan cookery.

•  Wine tasting

  - Guests can go on a wine-tasting experience and learn a lot about local wines too!

•  Children's activities

  - Younger children might not be able to participate in gorilla treks, but they’ll be able to enjoy golden monkey treks, nursery tours, village tours, arts ‘n’ crafts, cooking classes, films, games, birdwatching, and a special explorers’ program.