With the likes of Bill Gates on its books, and located just 2km west of the Parc National des Volcano, in the foothills of the Virunga Mountains, the Jack Hanna Guesthouse, Rwandan home to the American conservationist, is exactly as one might expect: a top drawer luxury private house.
Nominally attached to the comparatively midrange Gorilla Nest Lodge, and sometimes referred to as its Executive Suite, the Jack Hanna Guesthouse is situated overlooking a very reasonable 9 hole course, in a mature private garden, and consists of main house and 2 sleeping rooms. Perfect for a small family or group, it sleeps 4, though larger groups can be accommodated via one of the lodge’s rooms. Please note that the house comes with its own management team. The service is excellent, the food too, and menus are built around guests’ dietary expectations.
Refurbished as recently as 2010, the guesthouse is a stone built, its slight roofs, wraparound veranda and decorative columns typical of the kind of upcountry house one might find in the likes of western Kenya, its shared areas consisting of a lounge, dining area and kitchen. Beautifully thought through, its innards characterized by polished floors, a rusty red colour scheme, white walls and a mix of local and international artworks, the leather suite, antique furnishings and an enormous fireplace perfectly suited to its chic and textured look, the overall feel at Jack Hanna Guesthouse pertains to a style that is as restrained as it is well funded. Good taste and deep pockets collide wonderfully.
The bedrooms at Jack Hanna Guesthouse are just as fine. Each includes a double bed, a seating area, access to the veranda and an en suite garden. Simple, stylish, naturally (mostly) lit and marked by the same exquisite taste in period furniture, they are as lovely as the rest of the house.
Activities include gorilla treks, bird watching, sundowners, golf, and spa treatments. View Sample of the Rwanda Safaris and Gorilla Safaris Available at Gorilla Expeditions.