Gishwati Mukura National Park Rwanda, History, Map & Animals:
Gishwati Mukura National Park (GMNP) is a small park located in Rutsiro and Ngororero districts northwestern regions of Rwanda covering an area of 35.58km2, with Gishwati forest holding 15.70 sq km and Mukura forest 19.88 sq km established recently in February 2016.
The park is 84Km from Kigali the capital of Rwanda on road, that’s approximately a 3hour journey, 27km from Volcanoes National Park, and 54km fro Rubavu.
For those visiting Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda can also easily access Gishwati-Mukura National park in Rwanda since the two are just so close to each other.
Being one of the few natural forests left in Rwanda, it approximately holds 250species of trees,120 bird species, reptiles, small mammals like wild cats, chameleons, amphibians, primate species including baboons, golden monkeys, chimpanzees, civet monkeys, blue monkeys and so much more.
Gishwati forest was big as 700 sq km in the 1930s, but due to human encroachment, deforestation and all other forms of land degradation, its size reduced to 6 sq km by 2002, but through a lot of conservation efforts, Gishwati is now 15.70 sq km.
In 2016, the ministry in charge of environment decided to combine the two forests and upgraded them from forest reserves to a national park. Gishwati Mukura National Park is a perfect choice for hiking, trekking, bird-watching, biking around the park and nature walks.
Activities In Gishwati-Mukura National Park:
This is one of the places a tourist shouldn’t miss while on his safari journey, with the high Eco-tourism project taking place in the park, there’s a number of activities to be done by the tourists offered by the park and these include;
Primate Watching:
Number of primates that had been lost back then before the government intervened are adding up everyday and have significantly increased with the help of wilderness safaris and other wildlife conservation agencies.
The park holds different kinds of primates including baboons, golden monkeys, chimpanzees, civet monkeys, blue monkeys and so much more. Gishwati-Mukura National Park is on its way of becoming the leading destination of chimpanzees because of the habituation process that’s going on for primate families.
With help of a tour guide, visitors track these primates in their habitats, it’s best done on foot, through the nature walks, you encounter some other creatures like the chameleons, forest brown frogs, wild cats, butterflies, birds and so much more.
Bird Watching:
GMNP is great deal for bird loves.because of the nature of its physical land spaces, it gives splendid views of birds in the forests. It holds over 100 bird species some of which have only been seen in the Albertine Rift.
Some of these birds include, purple-breasted sun-bird, regal sun-bird, Rwenzori turaco, giant eagles, Grey crowned cranes, mountain yellow warblers, wood-hoppers ,weaver birds and so much more making it a very suitable place for nature walks, for bird watching in Rwanda.
Cultural Encounters:
The park management is working hand in hand with the communities living around the park to promote its growth therefore, different cultural activities are organized for visitors to experience and hence benefiting the communities through some donations got from those visitors.
These cultural encounters include visiting individual homesteads, one can chose to even spend a night there to experience there way of living.
Visiting the local communities to learn how to make local crafts, make traditional foods, support there local market businesses, watching or even taking actions in there local dances, songs and so much more.
Nature Walks:
The park management has designed the park in such a way that it has created several trails allowing a tourist to bike through or walk deep into the park to have splendid views of wildlife including the birds, butterflies, monkeys, chimpanzees, different plant species and so much more.
Cycling through the Congo Nile Trail:
This is one of the best cycling experience visitors get while on there safaris in East Africa. It passes along the shores of Lake Kivu and then through Nyungwe Forest.
The Congo Nile trail lies close to Gishwati mukura national park giving visitors to the park an opportunity to have a glance and study rural areas of Rwanda.
The Best Time to Visit Gishwati Mukura National Park in Rwanda;
The best time to visit Gishwati Mukura National Park in Rwanda is during the dry seasons, which typically occur from June to September and December to February.
During these months, the weather is generally more predictable, with lower chances of rainfall, making it easier to navigate the park’s trails and enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife viewing.
Additionally, visiting during the dry seasons increases your chances of spotting wildlife, the forest is clearer, making wildlife viewing more visible. The trekking trails are also drier and walkable.
It’s essential to note that Rwanda’s climate is relatively mild throughout the year, so visiting Gishwati-Mukura National Park is possible at any time.
If you prefer to avoid crowds and don’t mind the occasional rainfall, the wet seasons of March to May and October to November can also offer unique experiences, such as vibrant green landscapes and fewer tourists.
The best time to visit Gishwati Mukura National Park depends on your preferences regarding weather, wildlife sightings, and crowd levels, so consider your priorities when planning your trip to this pristine conservation area.
Accommodation at Gishwati Mukura National Park:
There is a number of accommodations around the park from mid-range to luxury, well equipped, furnished, set to receive visitors most of them have a restaurant and bar and with splendid views of wildlife at the park.
These include; Muhabura mountain lodge, COLIBRI TAVERNE lodge, Colibri Guest house, Kivu Paradise resort
They are Lake kivu Serena hotel, Hill View Hotel Lake Kivu, Ubucuti lodge, Forest of Hope guest house and so much more.
This is one of the places a tourist shouldn’t miss while on his safari journey, with the high Eco-tourism project taking place in the park, there’s a number of activities to be done by the tourists offered by the park and these include bird watching, hiking, nature walks, cultural encounters, and biking.
Akagera national park is the largest of all covering an area of 1,085 sq km located on the north eastern edge of Rwanda, 3hour drive from Kigali.
The newest park i Rwanda is Gishwati-mukura national park that was made from two forests that’s Gishwati forest and mukura forest, located in Rutsiro and Ngororero districts northwestern regions of Rwanda covering an area of 35.58km2.
Being one of the few natural forests left in Rwanda, it approximately holds 250species of trees,120 bird species, reptiles, small mammals like wild cats, chameleons, amphibians, primate species including baboons, golden monkeys, chimpanzees, civet monkeys, blue monkeys and so much more.