Bisate

With its high domed ceilings and customary thatched roof, the main area at Bisate may look traditional but step inside and you’ll find polished concrete floors, enormous steel-framed windows and exposed bricks that wouldn’t look out of place in a New York apartment. There’s a restaurant and bar, as well as a lounge area and fireplace and elements of green (recycled glass bottle chandeliers, bright napkins, mosaics of tiles) echo the verdant surroundings that burst with birds, butterflies and mammals.

Six domed suites, inspired by the architecture of the royal palace of the monarch of Rwanda, peep above the trees and overlook volcanic slopes cloaked in forest and bamboo thickets. They manage to be both stylish (think geometric cushions, colourful woven screens and furniture and uber-chic lighting) and cosy (all are heated by a central fireplace) and the bathrooms are equally as plush with large tubs and beautiful Africology products. All rooms have a private deck facing Mount Bisoke.

You’re probably at Bisate for one thing – to meet the mountain gorillas – and Bisate doesn’t disappoint. The lodge even aims to expand your experience with hosted presentations and informal chats led by the on-site gorilla expert. Once you've realised your dream, take a guided tour to see the forest's other creatures (golden monkeys, black-fronted duiker and spotted hyena to name a few), investigate the birdlife, and hike to the plateau for 360-degree views that are guaranteed to make you gasp. You can also plant a tree as part of the ongoing reforestation project, and visit the local community with whom Bisate partners with.