Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda Wildlife Safari Tours
Gishwati-Mukura is the newest National Park in Rwanda. It was formed by joining the two forests of Gishwati and Mukura. The park is found close to Lake Kivu and is an excellent example of Rwanda’s conservation efforts. During and after the genocide, refugees encroached on forested land leading to severe deforestation and land degradation.
The government with support from partners like the World Bank has rejuvenated the entire landscape by re-planting trees and re-settling local people who had encroached on the forest. In 2020, Gishwati-Mukura National Park was designated a World Biosphere Reserve at the 32nd session of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
Rwanda’s fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura is made up of two separate forests – the larger Gishwati and small Mukura, forming a total of 34 square kilometers plus a buffer zone. The forests sit on the ridge which divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the incredibly biodiverse Albertine Rift in the west of the country. It is made up of 60 species of tree, including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo.
The Giswati Makura Landscape is critical in protecting biodiversity. The reserve is recognized for its two primate species: the Eastern Chimpanzee and the Golden monkey, which are endemic and endangered. Other species such as the Side-striped Jackal, a variety of bats, and small mammals claim this forest as their home.
Gishwati is home to a group of 35 chimpanzees that live alongside golden monkeys, L’Hoest, and Blue Monkeys. Birds are well represented too, 250 species have been seen at Gishwati and 163 at Mukura, among them Albertine Rift Endemic species and forest specialists.
The brown forest frog along with multiple species of toads are also some of the amphibian life found in the forest. Concerning reptiles, the Great Lakes bush viper and multiple species of chameleons are also found living in the Gishwati Forest
Things to Do:
Activities in the park started in 2019 and there are many interesting activities in the park. Gishwati and Mukura Forests are very unique places and it’s wonderful to just go for a hike and experience the rainforest. There are great hikes in the park some of which pass by one of the many beautiful waterfalls in the park. There are also several other interesting wildlife species in the forests apart from the chimpanzees. Some of the activities include;
Chimpanzee Tracking:
A population of around 35 chimpanzees remains in Gishwati Mukura National Park. Since Gishwati Forest was only recently made into a national park and has been closed to visitors for many years, this group of chimpanzees has not been habituated. This means that they are not used to humans yet, however, chimpanzee trekking is still possible in Gishwati Mukura National Park, but not in the same way as one of the habituated groups in other areas such as Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nature walks:
The main activity is guided forest walks through the Gishwati sector. These come with a good chance of encountering semi-habituated chimps, as well as golden monkey and l’Hoest’s monkey, and a variety of forest birds including several Albertine Rift endemics. The guided walks are only available to people staying at Gishwati’s community-owned guesthouse.
Hiking:
Gishwati Forest has several hiking trails of varied difficulty and offers the chance to see different animals, birds, and plants. As Gishwati Forest is a national park, all park activities are done together with a qualified guide.
There are three hiking trails in Gishwati Forest. Umushwati Trail passes right through the forest and is 8 km long. The waterfall trail starts close to the Forest of Hope Guest House and is 7 km long. Matyazo Hill trail is 3 km long up to the highest point in the park at 2469 m and can be combined with Umushwati Trail.
Bird watching:
Gishwati Forest is a truly unique birding habitat with several endemic birds and more than 250 recorded species including the white-headed wood hoopoe and mountain yellow warbler to mention a few.
Golden Monkey Tracking:
The golden monkey is one of the most famous of the primate species and can be found in large groups throughout the forest. Trekking these primates can be an interesting experience and you are sure to see many alongside other interesting animals during your trek. Golden monkey trekking starts early in the morning with a professional guide from the park. You will spend several hours trekking through the forest in search of one or several groups of primates. The park rangers will locate or know the approximate whereabouts of the primates before your arrival and they need to be pre-booked through the park office or your agent.
Cultural experiences:
Since the Gishwati-Mukura was at some point occupied by people, as the government and other conservationists tried to revive it again, they had to come up with ways in which the surrounding communities could benefit from tourism hence coming up with products such as traditional healing, dance and drama, and handicraft making. The locals make some products and sell them to the tourists.
Accommodation:
You do not have to worry about accommodation when on your safari to Gishwati-Mukura, The park has some of the best facilities so far for an overnight stay and these include;
Gishwati Lodge:
It is a luxurious lodge with great views of the beautiful landscape of the park; also activities like chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, photography, and bird watching can be well enjoyed by visitors staying at the lodge.
Gishwati Lodge is an extraordinary and comfortable lodge that provides visitors with an adventurous, luxurious, and elegant feeling; in other words, it is a home away from home.
The staff is well skilled, deliver service on time and the food served is just tasty. This luxurious eco-lodge has 6 rustic cottages that accommodate 12 guests; it is a sister property to Bisate Lodge located in the habitat of the endangered Gorillas-Volcanoes National Park.
Forest of Hope Guest House:
Visitors can stay at Forest of Hope Guest House which opened its doors to the public in 2020. It is a requirement that you stay in the guest house to visit Gishwati Forest National Park. The guest house has 2 twin en-suite rooms and a campsite. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to guests. The guest house is located on top of a hill with views over the forest.
Best time to visit:
Gishwati-Mukura can be visited throughout the year, but the dry months from June to September are the best for hiking and chimp trekking. Whenever you visit, warm, waterproof clothing and hiking shoes are essential.
Book and Arrange with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the Gishwati-Mukura National Park in Rwanda.
Email: info@ultimatewildsafaris.
Mobile: +256 705 087 706 / 760 282 342
