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Still debating where you should travel to this year? Some of the world’s leading travel sites have chosen Rwanda as your next destination for unforgettable and unique experiences in 2020.

Find out why Rwanda is ranked one of this year’s hottest travel destinations and learn more about what you can do when visiting. See you soon!

Vogue – Here’s Where to Travel in 2020

Following its horrific genocide in 1994, the East African country has made leaps and bounds to recover from its tragic history, becoming a destination that’s focused on protecting its lush vegetation and precious wildlife. Rwanda’s immense strides in conversation are continuing with Gishwati Mukura, its fourth national park that will open for tourism next year. The biggest draw here is undoubtedly the opportunity to observe the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, and now with the highly anticipated Singita Kwitonda Lodge on the edge of Volcanoes National Park and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in the foothills of the Virunga Volcano Range recently opened in August and November, respectively, there are some seriously posh digs for lounging between life-changing treks. But don’t forget that the country’s Akagera National Park is also home to the Big Five, including the elusive and critically endangered black rhino.
Read more: https://www.vogue.com/article/where-to-travel-in-2020

Forbes – The 20 Best Places To Visit In 2020

Why? ​”Rwanda in general and Kigali as the capital gateway city have really come into their own since the genocide a generation ago,” says Judy Stein, president of The Stein Collective, an affiliate of Ovation Travel Group. Kigali is clean, safe and filled with enlightening cultural experiences from world-class modern art galleries to fashion, local crafts and even a coffee co-op run by women making the world’s best coffee.
Who should go? Adventurous, curious, eco-conscious travelers and conservationists.
Don’t miss: Two new ultra-luxe lodges have recently opened, Singita Kwitonda and One&Only’s Nyungwe House.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2019/10/16/20-best-places-visit-in-2020/?ss=forbes-travel#67c655cb6251

Conde Nast Traveler – 20 Best Places to Go in 2020

A country forever marked by its genocide 25 years ago, Rwanda has made exceptional strides in building itself into a place that celebrates and protects its natural resources. A closer look at the East African nation reveals its focus on the future, with the development of its fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura, set to open next year. As the forest develops, it will eventually connect Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park, creating a wildlife corridor that enables local species like chimpanzees and mountain gorillas to flourish.
Next year it will also be easier to witness wildlife in Akagera National Park, which is home to lions, elephants, and the endangered black rhino, among others, thanks to the opening of the luxury wilderness lodge Magashi Camp.
Read more: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-places-to-go-in-2020

The Daily Beast – The Must-Visit Vacation Spots in 2020

“You can’t really beat the Serengeti during the migration, but on the other hand the Serengeti is very crowded nowadays,” says William Howard, the nom de plume of the editor-in-chief of luxury travel site the Hideaway Report. Instead, Howard says, Rwanda has become popular, particularly “because of the gorillas.” Nearly half of the surviving mountain gorillas in the world live in the Virunga Mountains, of which Volcanoes National Park in the northwest corner of Rwanda is a part.
Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/where-to-go-in-2020-the-must-visit-vacation-spots?ref=scroll

Forbes – Where To Go Next: 27 Best Places To Travel In 2020

If you’re looking for a destination that will take you out of your comfort zone and into the heart of nature, consider Rwanda. Gorilla tourism is alive and well in Rwanda and remains the biggest draw for visitors to the region. As Rwanda becomes increasingly more popular, it has also become known as a luxury safari destination, much like Kenya and Tanzania, its eastern neighbors. Travelers to Rwanda will likely fly into the country’s capital Kigali, a vibrant and exciting city. From there, journey to one (or more!) of the many luxury lodges that await to please and pamper in between gorilla treks. Travel northeast from Kigali to Wilderness Safaris’ new Magashi lodge in Akagera National Park for game drives to see the Big Five.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2019/12/18/where-to-go-next-best-places-travel-2020/#549fb8782387

Conde Nast Traveler – The Best Hotels and Resorts in the World: The 2020 Gold List

Pint-size Rwanda has become one of Africa’s most buzzed-about—and exclusive—destinations, and nowhere more so than the gorilla-rich Virunga Mountains. Top-notch operators Singita and One&Only have opened here, and very lovely they are, but Wilderness Safaris’ Bisate Lodge was the original. Arranged like giant birds’ nests around the natural amphitheater of an eroded volcanic cone, its six thatched pods are inspired by the former royal palace in the southern city of Nyanza. Inside, the swooping ceilings and woven-grass walls curve around to huge windows with knockout views of the peaks where Dian Fossey studied gorillas.
Read more: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-hotels-in-the-world-gold-list

Smarter Travel – The 12 Best Places to Go in 2020

Start the year off right by traveling to Rwanda, a country that’s enjoying something of a tourism boom: January is the projected opening month for the One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, a beautifully designed resort in the jungles of the Virunga volcano range. And in late 2019, the $25 million Singita Kwitonda Lodge opened in the same region. Both of these new high-end luxury accommodations promise ultra-comfortable lodgings and only-in-Rwanda views, as well as unforgettable encounters with the region’s captivating mountain gorillas.
Highlights and attractions for travelers in the “land of a thousand hills” include the fascinating King’s Palace and nearby Ethnographic Museum, Kigali’s bustling Kimironko Market, and Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla-naming ceremony at Volcanoes National Park.
Read more: https://www.smartertravel.com/best-places-to-travel/

Travel Pulse – 20 Travel Destinations Poised For Popularity in 2020

The instability of the 1990s long past, Rwanda is one of Central Africa’s most stable democracies. The prime attraction is Volcanoes National park, where visitors can glimpse gorillas, golden monkeys, and other primates. Rwanda also leads environmental efforts in Africa, so don’t pack any plastic bags in your luggage—they’re banned in the country and will be confiscated at Customs.
Read more: https://www.travelpulse.com/gallery/destinations/20-travel-destinations-poised-for-popularity-in-2020.html?image=19

Travel and Leisure – The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

Safari goers take note: new lodges are springing up in the Land of a Thousand Hills. November saw the opening of One&Only Gorilla’s Nest. Set in a jungle sanctuary of eucalyptus trees at the base of the Virunga Volcano Range, the lodge gives travelers the chance to get up close and personal with gorillas in their natural habitat. Singita Kwitonda Lodge in Volcanoes National Park opened a few months earlier, in August — the high-design property offers eight suites and a private villa for rent. Before game drives and gorilla treks, visitors meet in the property’s conservation room, where a selection of maps, books, photos, iMacs, and TV screens teach guests about the region’s endangered mountain gorillas.
Read more: https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/best-places-to-travel-in-2020

Departures – 2020 Vision: The Top 20 Destinations You Should Be Traveling to Next Year

People have long been traveling to countries in Africa to get a close encounter with wild animals. However, nothing—absolutely nothing—compares to trekking with gorillas in Rwanda. The experience is only offered through a handful of responsible operators, who will quietly and respectfully take visitors to where these massive creatures live. There, guests can sit and watch the magnificent animals in their natural habitat, and leave forever changed. If you want to try it for yourself stay at a place like Kwitonda Lodge, which wakes guests up in the early hours to visit the gorillas. And, you’ll be in good company as Prince Charles is expected to visit the region in 2020, too.
Read more: https://www.departures.com/travel/travel-bucket-list#11

Fodors – Top places to go in Africa & the Middle East in 2020

Looking into the eyes of a mountain gorilla in the lush labyrinth of Volcanoes National Park is a humbling, transformative experience—but it’s not Rwanda’s only draw. The small Central African nation has emerged as a sustainability leader, remarkably only 25 years post-genocide. Rwanda was one of the first countries to ban plastic bags as well as actively work to conserve the critically endangered black rhino, which can be spotted on a game drive through Akagera National Park. Almost devoid of animals 10 years ago, African Parks worked with the Rwanda Development Board to replenish the wildlife population in the park, and it’s now home to the Big 5.
Read more: https://www.fodors.com/go-list/2020/africa-middle-east#rwanda

Travel Lemming – The 30 Top Emerging Travel Destinations for 2020

Rwanda’s tourism scene is most famous for the opportunity to come face-to-face with the world’s most enrapturing creature on one of its spectacular mountain gorilla treks. But Rwanda’s conservation success story is about more than just gorillas: Akagera National Park offers the chance to see the Big Five on a more traditional safari, while Volcanoes National Park invites you to explore its fire-spewing namesakes. And with the World Economic Forum recently naming it the safest country in Africa and RwandAir slated to open direct flights from JFK to Kigali, 2020 is the best year yet to travel to Rwanda.
When to Visit: Mid-December to early February; June to September
Top Attractions: Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Ethnographic Museum, Kigali Genocide Memoria
Read more: https://travellemming.com/2020-emerging-destination-awards/

Haute Living – The 20 Must-Visit Destinations Of 2020 For Luxury Travelers

For those seeking something different from the norm, Rwanda is that place. This Central African country has awe-inspiring scenery, excitement and adventure. Travelers shouldn’t miss the chimps and the Canopy Walkway of the Nyungwe Forest; volcanoes and gorillas galore at the Volcanoes National Park; and Kigali, a memorial that shows just how far the African country has come since its government-sponsored genocide of the mid-1990s. Hotel brands have taken notice at how well the area has recovered: A second One&Only property, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, a tented camp located in the foothills of the Virunga Volcano Range, joined its first Rwanda property One&Only Nyungwe House in November. Similarly, experiential luxury brand Singita opened a property in late 2019 on the cusp of Volcanoes National Park: Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House.
Read more: https://hauteliving.com/2020/01/20-2020-must-visit-luxury-travel-destinations/678534/

Fathom – Where to Go in 2020: Our Top 10 Picks

Here’s to people and places taking control of their own narrative. It has been 25 years since the Rwandan genocide, and in the last two decades, the rehabilitated government has implemented its progressive vision for transforming the country, resulting in sustained economic growth and substantial improvements in living standards. The nation has been thoughtful about facing its past rather than trying to conceal it. In Kigali, one of the most electrifying capital cities on the continent, one can visit the carefully considered genocide memorial, experience the city’s burgeoning art scene, and take advantage of a restaurant boom that includes Heaven, an excellent eco-friendly dining room and 11-room boutique hotel, The Retreat. A concerted conservation campaign has helped local economies as well as a vulnerable population of apes in the Virunga Mountains, a range of extinct volcanoes covered in mist. Rwanda affords one of the only opportunities to come face-to-face with the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, and anyone who does says it’s life-changing.
Read more: https://fathomaway.com/top-travel-destinations-2020/

Jetsetter – 2020 Best of the Best Hotel Awards

Best Safari Lodge: Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House, Rwanda
Kwitonda, a silverback gorilla who once roamed Volcanoes National Park, lent his name to Singita’s Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House, the latest in luxury lodgings to open in the hills of Rwanda. Just eight suites surround the main lodge, all built from reforested wood and other sustainable materials, and include features like fireplaces, heated plunge pools, and a covered veranda for taking in the property’s 178 acres. Kataza House, a private four-bedroom villa, takes things further with a private chef, media room, and gym. No matter where you choose to unpack your bags, a luxe home base is guaranteed for those with gorilla trekking on the itinerary.
Rwanda’s One&Only Gorilla’s Nest was also named one of the finalists for the award.
Read more: https://www.jetsetter.com/magazine/2020-best-of-the-best-hotel-awards/#best-safari-lodge

National Geographic – On the rise: 20 trending destinations for 2020

Why go now: Seeing mountain gorillas was the original draw for many travelers to Rwanda. “Now the region has a variety of newer travel offerings to help take in more of the country, including luxe new properties such as Singita’s Kwitonda Lodge and new villas at The Retreat in Kigali,” says Gray & Co.’s Gray.
What to do: Fly into Kigali and head northwest to Volcanoes National Park for the active adventures—like gorilla trekking—that Gray & Co.’s bespoke trips specialize in.
Good add-ons for travelers with more time include golden monkey sightings in Volcanoes, the new Mantis Kivu Queen cruise on Lake Kivu, and the Genocide Memorial and Campaign Against Genocide Museum in Kigali.
Read more: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/travel-planner-picks-for-2020/

 

Tripsavvy – Best for a Bucket List: Rwanda

Rwanda’s been on intrepid travelers’ bucket lists for years now, primarily due to its popularity among visitors hoping to see the endangered mountain gorillas that populate the northern part of the country. But with an evergrowing roster of world-class resorts and logistical improvements that make visiting more accessible than ever, 2020 is prime time to check this one off your list.
Read more: https://www.tripsavvy.com/where-to-go-in-2020-4780444

 

Travelandleisure – It List 2020: Our Editors’ Picks of the Best New Hotels in the World

Three of Rwanda’s premiere luxury lodges have been named among Travel+Leisure’s It List 2020 which features the editors’ picks of the best new hotels in the world. Find out what makes One and Only Gorilla’s Nest, Magashi Camp by Wilderness Safaris and Kwitonda Lodge by Singita so special.
Read more: https://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/it-list-the-best-new-hotels