Artful Escapes: Wilderness Bisate Reserve

A thousand shards of glass illuminate the lounge at Wilderness Bisate Reserve, a new four-villa sister property to Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The emerald, chartreuse, and amber tiles undulate in a chandelier that inversely traces the skyline of the dormant Virunga volcanoes, which guests of this exclusive camp can view through grand parabolic windows. The glass is all recycled, as are many of the materials interior designer Câline Williams-Wynn and architect Nicholas Plewman incorporated into the project, including the domed fiber-thatch roofs made from discarded plastic. “Rwanda environmentally is very conscious,” says Williams-Wynn.

What wasn’t upcycled was sourced from local craftspeople. “I like to showcase what Rwanda can do,” says Williams-Wynn, who’s worked with the Wilderness brand for 15 years. Geometric Imigongo prints chart bold patterns across the upholstery. Rwandan slate tiles encircle the conical fireplaces (two in every 2,282-square- foot villa), and curving walls of sepia brick support the swooping ceilings made from rib cage beams and basket-woven bamboo. Sheepskin and cowhide reference the agricultural heritage of the area, while floral embroidered pillows echo the blooms visitors encounter in the park.

However, most guests don’t come for livestock and flora but for the famed gorillas, which live on the parkland near Bisate Reserve and can be seen during private treks. The brand has been in Rwanda since 2017, and in June, it will further expand its footprint with Wilderness Magashi Peninsula in Akagera National Park, helping cement the East African nation as a safari must-visit.

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2025 Summer Issue in the section “Artful Escapes.” Subscribe to the magazine.