Gishwati-Mukura National Park is a newly created protected area largely dominated by a tropical rainforest. This park formed after merging of 2 spectacularly beautiful forest reserves- Gishwati and Mukura Forest Reserves. This makes it Rwanda’s 4th National Park and untapped destination. The 3 original Rwanda National Parks consists of Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park and Volcanoes National Park.
Where is Gishwati-Mukura National Park found?
Gishwati-Mukura Park is located in Northwestern Rwanda nearby Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri. The park is set on the ridge which separates the Congo and Nile water catchment areas in Rutsiro and Ngororero districts. This is the smallest of all the four parks in Rwanda, spanning up to 34sq.km. Gishwati-Mukura NP was officially designated as a National Park in Rwanda in 2019 and its gates opened to tourists in 2019.
Tourism Attractions in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Most of Gishwati-Mukura National Park attractions have not been fully explored and include;
Primates
Gishwati-Mukura N/Park protects a combination of unique attractions in Gishwati & Mukura Forest Reserves. They include vervet monkeys, pottos, 20 chimpanzees, blue monkeys, galagos, l’hoest monkeys, golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, silver monkeys and others. Besides primates, the park is home to wildlife such as chameleon, Southern tree hyrax, black fronted duikers and great lake bush vipers.
Floral species
Gishwati-Mukura NP is a forest dominated park and its floral species comprise of more than 60 tree species. These include hardwood and bamboo.
Bird species
Bird record of 232 bird species survive in the Gishwati-Mukura NP diverse habitats making it one of the special locations to enjoy birding tour in Rwanda. The bird check-list in this park include black faced apalis, dusky crimson wing, handsome francolin, red-throated alethe, mountain yellow warblers, Abyssinian ground thrush, martial eagle, white headed wood hoopoe, grauer’s swamp warblers, strange weaver birds, grey crowned cranes, purple breasted sunbird, regal sunbird, and others.
What to do
Primate trekking/chimpanzee tracking
The top experience that Gishwati-Mukura National Park offers the world is primate tracking or chimpanzee trekking. The park supports diversity of significant primates and you will have ample time to observe the daily behaviors of chimpanzees. Many other species of primates will be spotted including olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and others.
Birding
Gishwati-Mukura N. Park is found in the area where most Albertine rift endemic species reside. The bird record in Gishwati-Mukura include stripe-breasted tit, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turacos, purple-breasted sunbird, grey crowned cranes, red-tailed alethe, martial eagle, regal sunbird, and many others.
Community visit
Cultural tours provide an incredible option to tourists to explore in depth about community based tourism projects and its impacts on local residents. This includes a close interaction with local residents in their community; learn more about Rwandan cultures and traditions.
Nature walks
With guided nature walks, visitors get a chance to immerse themselves into the park’s hidden treasures. The on-foot walk takes you close to variety of floral and faunal species, and the park has three amazing trails worth conquering on a nature walk. The walking trails include Matyazo Hill trail, Waterfall trail, and Umushwati trail, etc.
Cycling/biking on Congo trail
Cycling/biking excursions at Gishwati-Mukura NP take cyclists to the remotest part of the park and surrounding communities. The Congo divide Nile trail is one of East Africa’s longest nature walking/cycling trails. Cycling excursions through this trail also allow you to view Lake Kivu.
When you should consider visiting the Park
Like most Rwanda National Parks, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is open for safaris all year-round. The best time to enjoy most safari activities in this park is during the dry season –June till early September or travel to the park from December to February. If you are interested in the scenic vegetation cover of the park, then plan your tour around the wet or rainy season –March to May or October to November.
Accommodation to book
Gishwati-Mukura National Park is still a new park and has fewer lodges. For visitor overnight stay, consider reserving Gishwati Lodge and Forest of Hope Guesthouse or choose any of the hotels/lodges around Rubavu, Volcanoes N/Park and Karongi.
How to get to Gishwati-Mukura from Kigali capital
Road travel from Kigali to Gishwati-Mukura National Park is 2 to 3 hours and from Rubavu, visitors can spend 40 minutes driving.