Gishwati Mukura National Park is Rwanda’s Newest National Park, located in the country’s western Province ahead of Nyungwe National Park, between districts Ngororero and Rutsiro districts near Lake Kivu. The National Park is approximately a 4 to 5 hours drive from Kigali city. Officially gazetted as Rwanda’s fourth National Park, Gishwati Mukura National Park sits on a 34 kilometres total land area on the ridge of the Congo Nile basin, it is made up of two separate forests, one large Gishwati and a small Mukura forest reserve, and it’s from these two forests that the National park derives its name.

The park is an interesting and diverse National Park that was officially gazetted and newly established in 2015 under formalization and restoration in order to protect the rich biodiversity of Gishwati Forest that was once a greater forest reserve, which used to extend west as far as Lake Kivu, into the tropical rain forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo and stretching to the southern province into Nyungwe National Park, but unfortunately got depleted due to resettlements, farming, illegal mining of minerals leading to deforestation and degradation.

The new Gishwati Mukura National Park having been restored to 67% and still under conservation programs, is home to a great number of primate species featuring a group of 20 Chimpanzee primates, different species of Monkeys which include Golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys as well as white and Colobus monkeys. The National Park also shelters a variety of bird species with 232 birds in Gishwati Forest and 163 species in the Mukura Forest reserve among them being the Albertine Rift endemics. Incredibly diverse plant species are also found in this park and these feature 60 tree species which include indigenous hardwoods and bamboo among others.

The National Park has been opened to Tourists and quite a number touristic activities that provide authentic and incredible adventure moments take place already. Tourists are now able to go for guided Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris, Golden Monkey Trekking and other monkey species tracking adventures, Bird watching, and guided nature hikes among others that may include community visits.

To get a lot more of Rwanda discoveries, Tourists visiting Gishwati Mukura National Park, can also combine it with Gorilla Trekking adventures, Volcanoes hiking and a lot more of activities in Volcanoes National Park, a visit to the beautiful and magnificent Lake Kivu, and also due to its proximity to Nyungwe National Park, there is a chance to do double primates trekking, the canopy walk in this Nyungwe Forest and get soaked into the soul of nature in the dense tropical rain forests for the most amazing adventure experiences. Akagera National Park in the eastern province of Rwanda is also another option after visiting Gishwati Mukura National Park for Wildlife safaris.

Contact our tour consultants and reservations team at Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris if you’re planning an adventure safari to Rwanda and let them put together for you the most rewarding and perfectly tailored safari package for the best of Rwanda discovery which will include your visit to Gishwati Mukura National Park.

Tourist Activities in Gishwati Mukura National Park.