Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Overview
Rwanda Parks
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Rwanda.
Gazetted in 2015, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is Rwanda’s newest national park. It consists of the Gishwati and Mukura Forests, which are about 50km/30mi apart. The area between them has been set aside for reforestation. At this point, only the Gishwati sector, an exciting new chimp trekking destination, is developed for tourism.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
The main attraction of Gishwati Forest is a community of chimpanzees. As they are only semi-habituated, seeing these charismatic primates shouldn’t be taken for granted. Although you might come across them while hiking, your best chance of a quality encounter is to head out to their nests before dawn. Watching them wake up, interact and start their daily activities is very special, and so are their loud vocalizations when they spot you.
Scenery
From the guesthouse with its endless views over layers of rolling hills, a well-maintained trail crosses a tea plantation before disappearing into a beautiful secondary forest. The trail follows a lush river valley before coming to a stop at a picturesque waterfall. In 2002 the area was nearly depleted due to illegal mining and farming. Since then, big forestation efforts have accelerated the restoration of the Gishwati and Mukura Forests, which protect 60 species of tree including many hardwoods and bamboo.
Activities
The main activity is guided forest walks through the Gishwati sector. These come with a good chance of encountering semi-habituated chimps, as well as golden monkey and l’Hoest’s monkey, and a variety of forest birds including several Albertine Rift endemics. The guided walks are only available to people staying at Gishwati’s community-owned guesthouse. No organized activities are available at the Mukura sector, but the forest here is rated highly by bird-watchers.
Weather & Climate
Gishwati-Mukura experiences a cool climate. It can rain at any time, but June to September is relatively dry with great hiking conditions. Due to the proximity to the equator, temperatures don’t change much through the seasons – daytime temperatures are usually about 19°C/66°F.
Best Time To Visit
Gishwati-Mukura can be visited throughout the year, but the dry months from June to September are the best for hiking and chimp trekking. Whenever you visit, warm, waterproof clothing and hiking shoes are essential.
