Gishwati Mukura National Park Rwanda.
Gishwati Mukura National Park is Rwanda’s newest and smallest National Park covering 34sqkm. In 2015, the park emerged from Gishwati forest and Mukura forest thus Gishwati Mukura national park which is least visited due to newly park. Along the diverse Albertine Rift, the park is on the ridge which separates the Congo and the Nile water catchment areas.
The park inhabits various primates, birds, reptiles and tree species including the endangered species that is the Eastern Chimpanzees. While in the park, more primates are spotted that is golden monkeys, blue monkeys and L’Hoest’s. Despite the park having thick forests, it’s a home of 232 bird species including the Albertine endemic species, thus making it the birding paradise for bird lovers. The park is managed and protected by Rwanda Development Board which is a government agecy in charge of touristic attractions in Rwanda.
What to see in Gishwati mukura national park?
Primates
Despite the fact that Gishwati mukura national park is a forest, it is a best destination for chimpanzees tracking, golden monkey tracking and L’Hoest’s. However, the primate population of chimpanzees is reduced due to poaching and habitat loss in the park. During the tracking, visitors are briefed to pack cameras,wear comfortable hiking boots, hiking sticks, water & snacks, raincoat, long trousers, and long t-shirts. While tracking, they are guided by the rangers to protect them from wild animals in the forest. It is advised always to book permits in time to avoid inconveniences since the number of trackers are limited .
Nature walks and hiking.
Nature walks and hikings are commonly done as a spiced activity to have the best time during the travel. Nature walks and hiking in Gishwati mukura national park is the best moment that’s done in the morning hours, afternoon hours and evening hours to relax and have a peace of mind. During the nature walks and hiking in the forest, the visitors will be led by guides taking them through local communities surrounding the park where visitors spot local markets, joins traditional dances, visiting local doctors and many more activities.
Birding.
Gishwati mukura national park is the best birding paradise for bird lovers. Despite the fact that the park is forestry, various bird species are spotted in albertine rift valley. These include Grey Crowned Crane, Martial Eagle, Mountain Yellow Warblers, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-throated Alethe, Regal Sunbird, Ruwenzori Batis, Ruwenzori Turaco, Weaver birds, Wood hoopoes, Strange weavers and the Stripe-breasted Tit. While in the jungle searching for birds, visitors are allowed to use binoculars and cameras to take photos of their choice where flora and founa will be spotted as well. visitors are briefed to lower their voices during the nature walk and hiking in the jungle where they will listen to singing birds in trees.
Biking.
The park offers the best biking experience trails passing through the shorelines of Lake Kivu and then through Nyungwe forest. To explore rural Rwanda and study how life in rural Africa looks like, visitors will spot Congo Nile trail during the biking since it’s near Gishwati Mukura national park.
Where to stay in the park?
Apart from the Gishwati lodge in the park, there are few high quality lodges in Gishwati Mukura national park since it’s new and is rarely visited compared to other national parks like Volcano national Park, Akagera national park, and Ngungwe national park. The more the visitors in the park, the more the hotels and lodges in the park where the revenue is used to improve on the infrastructure network in the park as well as improving on the government revenue.
How to access the park
Despite the fact that the park is located in northwestern part of Rwanda, it is at the center of Volcano national park and Ngungwe national park. However the park can be accessed by driving 2-3 hours at a distance of only 27km from Kigali. For those who prefer flights to the park, they are also allowed to fly from Kigali international airport for about 45 minutes.
The activities in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park in Uganda can be combined with Gishwati Mukura national park. Despite the fact that Uganda neighbors Rwanda, the Bwindi and Mgahinga Park are spotted in north western part of Uganda and so is Gishwati Mukura national park where gorilla trekking in Uganda can be spiced with chimpanzees or golden monkey tracking in Rwanda.
Apart from Gishwati Mukuru national park, what are other national parks in Rwanda?
Volcano national park .
Volcano national park is a best destination for mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Rwanda. The park is located in north western part of Rwanda neigbouring Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park in Uganda but sharing a conservation area with Congo in virunga conservation area. The park was the base for the primatologist Dian Fossey who dedicated her life on gorillas by making research about them but unfortunately died and buried in the park. Volcano national park is also a birding paradise for bird lovers during trekking in the jungle. some of the things to pack during trekking are cameras, raincoat, comfortable hiking boots, long trousers, long stockings, long t-shirts, hiking sticks and water &snacks.
Ngungwe national park.
Ngungwe national park is the oldest and largest park in Rwanda thus making it rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. The park is located in south western part of Rwanda habouring small population of chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift and birds. However there are other spiced activities like canopy walk where the Isumo waterfalls will be spotted, hiking and nature walks, troop of Ruwenzori colobus monkeys at Gisakura and many more.
Akagera national park.
Akagera national park is also the oldest and thickest forest in eastern part with best activities that a visitor can’t afford missing while in Rwanda. The park covers 1122sqkm and was named after Kagera River that flows in Rwanda from Tanzania. The park being rich in biodiversity, it’s a home of various wildlife like elephants, lions, buffalos, leopards, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, antelopes and different bird species like forest birds, wood land birds like kingfishers, Egyptian birds, African fish eagle, African harrier hawk, African jacana, Bateleur, Squacco heron and many more.
