Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort

The resort sits in Gisakura, in the hills of southwest Rwanda, inside a working tea plantation that runs right up to the edge of Nyungwe's montane rainforest. Its 22 rooms and suites have private decks facing the forest, and the suites add an open fireplace and a soaking tub. There is an infinity pool over the forest, a spa, a tea lounge and a restaurant in the main homestead. It was One&Only Nyungwe House and now sits in Kerzner's rare finds collection.

Chimpanzee treks start early and need a permit, and the canopy walkway is about an hour's walk from the Uwinka visitor center. The resort also runs tea-picking and brewing sessions, forest hikes, birding and stargazing, and monkeys often pass through the grounds. Kigali is about five hours away by road. A helicopter from the Volcanoes area takes about 35 minutes, and RwandAir flies daily from Kigali to Kamembe, the nearest airport.

It suits couples and families with teenagers who want a comfortable base for primates and a few slower days after the gorillas. Chimp trekkers must be 15 or older. The trade-off is distance: it is far from everything else in Rwanda, so plan on a flight or a long drive each way, and the chimp treks start early, cover rough ground and are not guaranteed.