Gishwati Mukura, Rwanda’s fourth national park, spans 34 square kilometres and includes a buffer zone. It is composed of two distinct forests, the larger Gishwati and the smaller Mukura. The woods are located in the highly biodiverse Albertine Rift in the west of the country, on the ridge that separates the water catchment zones of the Congo and the Nile. It is composed of sixty different species of trees, including bamboo and native hardwoods.
A group of twenty chimpanzees inhabit Gishwati, where they coexist with blue, golden, and L’Hoest monkeys. There is also a good representation of birds; 232 species have been observed at Gishwati and 163 in Mukura. These include species that are endemic to the Albertine Rift and forest specialists. In 2019, the park opened for guided nature hikes, guided chimpanzee and monkey tracking, bird watching, and waterfall visits.
Rwanda’s fourth national park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park, was established in 2015. The government of Rwanda has worked very hard to establish the nation as a top travel destination in East and Central Africa, as seen by the establishment of Gishwati Makura National Park. Rwanda’s tourist industry is expanding rapidly in the wake of the establishment of the Congo Nile Trail, the rehabilitation of royal historical sites, the opening of the Musanze caverns, the introduction of professional bird watching, and the creation of this new national park.
Things to do in Gishwati – Mukura National Park
Primate Tracking
Because of poaching and habitat destruction, Gishwati-Mukura’s chimpanzee population was on the verge of extinction. Because of government action and the assistance of other international wildlife conservation organisations, their numbers have considerably increased. Expect to witness L’Hoest’s monkeys, baboons, golden and blue monkeys, off-course chimpanzees, and baboons during your visit to the park. They become so accustomed to people that they are able to tolerate them in their midst as a result of the habituation process. In Rwanda, Gishwati-Mukura is quickly rising to prominence as a top chimpanzee trekking site. Like all park activities, chimpanzee tracking begins with a briefing from the park headquarters regarding the activity, what to expect, and what to bring.
Bird Watching
Since over 235 species of birds, including the endangered Albertine Rift like the Rwenzori Blue Turaco, have been sighted in this forest, bird watching is an essential part of GishwatiMukura National Park’s tourism offerings. The Regal Sunbird, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, Woodhoopoe, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Martial Eagle, Strange Weave, Grey Crowned Crane, Dusky Crimson Wing, Mountain Yellow Warblers, and Red-throated Alethe are just a few of the birds that can be found at the Gishwati Mukura National Park.
Cultural Expeditions
The management of the park works closely with the surrounding community to market the park as a posh ecotourism destination. In order to accomplish this, the park hosts a variety of cultural events that both benefit the neighbourhood and give tourists a taste of local culture. In Gishwati, cultural interactions take place through visits to individual homesteads or small villages. Visitors can learn how to produce local crafts and cook traditional cuisine while staying with a local community or individual homestead. To get a taste of the way of life of the locals, you can spend a night in one of the homes or visit the farmers in their gardens. As an alternative, you can decide to go see local cultural performances, such as plays, dances, musicals, and storytelling. If you’re feeling very daring, you may go see one of the traditional healers and discover how they gather herbs from the trees to treat common illnesses in people. The Rwanda Development Board and the Great Ape Trust are partners in promoting local art and cultural dances.