Nyungwe Forest Lodge among 2015 best 10 travel destinations

Nyungwe Forest Lodge in Nyungwe Forest National Park, south-western Rwanda, has been named among 10 tourist destinations that give the best travel experiences in CNN’s 2015 Safari Awards. The lodge was nominated by over 4,000 travel agents, writers and operators from across the world last month while nominating the best safaris across 20 categories. According to a statement from the American Cable News Network (CNN), Nyungwe Forest Lodge was voted because it offers ‘glimpses of the world’s most elusive creatures and plants’ that occupy the ancient forests and mountains around it. Orchids and 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, live among the 200 tree species in the largest remaining tract of uninterrupted forest in Central and East Africa, all of which are viewable on guided walking trails and animal treks, the statement added. Other safari activities seek out black and white colobus monkeys, gray-cheeked Mangabey and bird-watching at the Kamiranzovu Waterfall, it added. Bonita Mutoni, the sales and marketing manager of Dubai World Africa, the firm that runs the lodge, told The New Times on Tuesday that they have five-star standards at the lodge, which complement the nature surrounding the lodge. “Every person that comes to the lodge gets a personalised and seamless service, which creates an unforgettable memory. People are able to come and enjoy nature as the lodge is built to blend with the forest,” she said. Mutoni said the lodge contains many aspects of the Rwandan culture like the interior design, food and the tea from the surrounding tea plantations which give visitors a natural experience. Besides Nyungwe Forest Lodge, nine other travel destinations were also recognised, including Norman Carr Walking Safari in Zambia, Goliath Safaris Luxury Tented Camp in Zimbabwe, Samode Safari Lodge in India, Tongole Wilderness Lodge in Malawi, South Africa’s Leopard Hills, and Pumba Private Game Reserve & Spa, Fundu Lagoon in Tanzania, Karisia Walking Safaris in Kenya, and Botswana’s African Horseback Safaris. editorial@newtimes.co.rw