Activities to Do in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Activities to Do in Gishwati-Mukura National Park; Gishwati-Mukura National Park is Rwanda’s youngest park, formed in 2015 by the amalgamation of Gishwati and Mukura forests. It is the smallest park within Rwanda, consisting of only 34 square kilometers, and is also Rwanda’s least visited park.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park is located on a ridge standing between the Congo and Nile basin catchment areas along the Albertine Rift Valley, qualifying it as a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction for nature enthusiasts. The park is inhabited by a wide array of primates, birds, reptiles, and tree species.
Species identified in this park include endangered Eastern Chimpanzees, coexisting with golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and blue monkeys within the forests’ boundaries. A total of 232 bird species have so far been identified within the park’s boundaries, some of which can only be found within the Albertine Rift Valley, and thus Gishwati-Mukura National Park is one of Rwanda’s best bird-watching sites.
This park has a history of imminent destruction due to settlement, cattle Ranching, and illegal mining. Before its protection in 2015, the region’s ecosystem stood on the brink of destruction due to these unforeseen hazards. Today, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is one of Rwanda’s best sites for an encounter with a thriving and reclaiming ecosystem, qualifying Rwanda’s conservation journey with an important step within the scope of eco-tourism adventures within Rwanda’s geographical boundaries.
Activities That Can Be Done in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Gishwati-Mukura National Park provides a wide range of activities for those who would like to explore and appreciate the park’s natural beauty. Some of these include bird watching, viewing some of the park’s primates such as chimpanzees and monkeys, guided walks, camping, and picnics. All these allow one to appreciate nature in different aspects and appreciate the beauty of the park’s wildlife and landscape up close. Moreover, these activity options will allow one to appreciate the park’s natural ecosystem in different ways and understand why conservation is a significant activity within this ecosystem despite its fragility.
Nature Guided Walks
The park has a network of established routes suitable for nature walks conducted by guides. Nature walks will afford you an opportunity to encounter the natural beauty of the forests personally. During these walks, you will be able to see butterflies, chameleons, insects, and birds.
The forests support more than 60 types of trees, some of which include bamboo, ferns, mahogany, orchids, and other newly planted ones, such as eucalyptus and hagenia trees. Other creatures you may see during the walk include primates and mammals. Plant and animal species will be explained to you by the guides you will be with during walks so that you can understand the biodiversity present in the park and the conservation efforts being carried out.
Primate Tracking
Primate tracking is among the key things you can do in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. During this tour, you will be able to see some of these primates, including golden monkeys, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and even baboons. When you undertake this tour, you will be taken through a briefing on some of the rules you need to follow during the tracking adventure. But with a guide from the park rangers, you will be able to walk into the jungles in search of these wonderful creatures. Other animals you will be able to see during this adventure include duikers and birds of different species.
Bird Watching
Gishwati-Mukura is one of Rwanda’s premier bird-watching venues, with well over 232 bird species discovered in this region. Birders will be treated to a wide array of bird species, some of which can only be found within the Albertine Rift region, such as the Grey Crowned Crane, Martial Eagle, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Purple-breasted Sunbird, and the Ruwenzori Turaco among others, making birdwatching a serene means of appreciating the park’s natural setting since one is able to observe and capture pictures of these colorful birds within their natural habitats.
Visit to the Waterfall
Kazeneza Falls is one of the most beautiful locations within the park. Hiking to the location of the falls is one of the most common activities enjoyed by many tourists because it provides a perfect blend of exercise and scenic views. The hike will take you through the forests to the location of the falls, where you will be treated to spectacular views and sounds of the falling water. It is one of the best ways of appreciating the landscape and tranquility offered by the park.
Mountain Bike and Cycling
For bicycle enthusiasts, the Congo Nile Trail is a great adventure activity for biking. This biking route takes you along the shores of Lake Kivu, with a further passage through some sections of the Nyungwe Forest. This makes it a great adventure activity because you will see Rwanda’s landscape from a different view, which would otherwise be an unsatisfying look for bicycle enthusiasts who yearn for a fresh look outside.
Community-Based Activities
Many people who visit this park appreciate interacting with the local community living around the park. There are a variety of things you can do, including staying on a farm, watch a performance of local traditional dance, learning about making handicrafts, and visit a tea plantation. It is even possible to learn from local healers who use local plants for healing. Such engagements with the community will afford you an opportunity to appreciate the local lifestyle amidst the animals and forests.
Top Gishwati-Mukura National Park Attractions
The park is teeming with wildlife, especially primates such as chimpanzees, golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys. Bird enthusiasts will be treated to a piece of heaven with 232 bird species, some of which include those found in the Albertine Rift region, such as the Grey Crowned Crane, Martial Eagle, and Mountain Yellow Warbler. The park’s varied landscape makes it a haven for wildlife observation and photography, where one can encounter a wide array of animals and plant species within their natural habitats.
Getting to Gishwati-Mukura National Park
The park can be reached via road from Kigali, which takes a period of two hours. For an alternative means of a faster journey, one can use chartered planes that fly from Kigali to the park. There is an opportunity for a regional tour, including a visit to Gishwati-Mukura National Park if one intends to visit other locations such as the Ugandan Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla Park, which is a significant advantage given the park’s location in Rwanda.
Where to Stay
Because Gishwati park is a younger park, the options for where one can stay in the area are a bit limited. However, the most preferable location for staying would be Gishwati Lodge, a luxury lodge with a few chalets capable of handling only 15 customers at a given time. It would be most advisable to advance your bookings for whichever accommodation you have chosen, preferably a full month prior to your tour dates. Other locations, such as Kivu, Rubavu, and Volcanoes National Park, will only take 30-minute drives to reach Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Why Choose Elephant Whispers Safaris
Elephant Whispers Safaris is a professional tour and travel company providing its services in Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, and Tanzania. They are full members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) and have ties with the relevant wildlife authorities. They are reliable and reputable tour operators who will acquaint you with the much-needed information for your tour, whichever form it may take – a safari, gorilla tracking, or a cultural tour. With a network of local professionals, they will make sure you get the best out of your Rwanda tour to Gishwati-Mukura and other destinations.
