Visit Gishwati Mukura National Park

Track down Gishwati – Mukura National Park in Rwanda – the heart of Africa. The park is unique to its own due to the several species of wildlife and other biodiversity that inhabit it. It is noteworthy that the park is home to a family of 20 chimpanzees, L’hoest’s and the rare blue monkeys. These combined with the lush vegetation and the rolling hills and valleys in gratified patterns make it an amorous destination providing few and far between solid experiences to travelers. 

History of Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

Before the national park, the land where Gishwati-Mukura lies was once covered by dense tropical forests that stretched up to Nyungwe. However, these charming rainforests have been prone to deforestation for an estimate of five decades prior. Part of the forest was cut down for human settlements and the others for purposes of agriculture.

In 2015, the government of Rwanda signed a conservation deal with the World Bank to conserve the forest and also the wildlife that inhabits it instead of leaving it to the tree cutters, firewood collectors and carbonaris. Later in 2016, a law was passed by the Rwandan government and the park was gazetted which subsequently led to tourism practices in that area.

Location of Gishwati-Mukura National Park and how to access it.

This serene park is located in the northwest of Rwanda just a few kilometers from Lake Kivu. It is just an approximate three to four hours’ drive from the Kigali capital. The national park can be accessed by various modes of transport ranging from road, water and air. By road transport, it can be accessed through Musanze along the Rubavu – Karongi road. It can also be accessed by water transport in cozy boats on Lake Kivu whereas by air transport a visitor gets a helicopter from Kigali International Airport to Gisenyi Airport.

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ATTRACTIONS IN Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

The national park has dreamy attractions that make it stand out from all the rest in Rwanda and these range from wildlife to vegetation types that are thin to the ground in Rwanda and a few other parts of Africa.

The national park is inhabited by various species of wildlife categorized into mammals and reptiles. These high-powered wildlife species are a key attraction to visitors all over the world to come and spend time with them in their natural habitats. Wildlife in this park includes Galagos, pottos, chameleons, side-stripped jackals, serval genets, common genets, Rwenzori sun squirrels, L’hoest’s and blue monkeys.

The national park is home to over 200 species of birds that feed in the tropical rainforests and on the nearby lake Kivu offering great chances for visitors to the park to observe them in their social interactions. These birds encompass Rwenzori apalis, archers ground Robin, strange weavers, Kivu ground thrush and crested cranes.

Amazing floral tree species are also found in this area and these provide euphoric sceneries for photography and film-makers. These scenes act as great spots for beautiful photos to travelers which adds up to the experience they get in the country. The species incorporate; prunus Africana, giant tree ferns and carapa grandiflora.

It is important to highlight that there are various waterfalls in this national park and these are found on rivers that flow through the national park feeding the forests and other biodiversity. The rivers comprise Secoko, Sebeya, Satinyisi, Pfunda and Ruca Nzogera

Rwanda stands out as a country with extremely beautiful people that are so hospitable yet so entertaining. A trip to Gishwati-Mukura National Park allows visitors a chance to experience the traditions of these wonderful people such as handcraft makings, beekeeping skills, cattle farming since they are famous herdsmen and exciting cultural music, dance and sensational drama.

ACTIVITIES IN Gishwati-Mukura National Park

The national park is home to various species of primates such as chimpanzees, golden monkeys, blue monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys that can be tracked down in the tropical rainforests that form part of the National Park. These provide an exhilarating adventure to visitors as they get to have a glimpse into their social interactions and day-to-day way of life.

The National Park has anxiety-free forests combined with patterns of hills and valleys that offer an outstanding ground for activities of nature walks and hiking which by the end of the trip elevates and adds up to the total experience of travelers.

Bird watching is yet another sensational activity that cannot be missed when you talk of Gishwati-Mukura National Park. Several bird species can be found in this national park and these include cranes, egrets, cinnamons and the famous turacos.

Community encounters in this national park are also possible and they are made to the settings of the indigenous Banyarwanda. These offer visitors a chance to have a glimpse of what living in Rwanda would look like.

BEST TIME TO VISIT Gishwati-Mukura National Park

It is important to note that the park can be accessed at any time of the year although there are those seasons that are better than the rest and these are the short dry seasons that run from January to February and also the long dry seasons which are even more exciting, that run from June to late September.