Gishwati-Mukura National Park’s wildlife
The western province of Rwanda is home to Gishwati-Mukura National Park, which is situated in the Rutsiro district and the four nearby districts of Mushonyi, Kigeyo, Nyabirasi, and Ruhango. The park, which is about 34 square kilometers in size, was first established as a forest reserve in 2015 when the Rwandan government joined Gishwati and Mukura forest reserves under the low passes. The park’s goal was to preserve a lot of biodiversity while also promoting the travel and tourism sector. Rwanda’s recently established Gishwati-Mukura National Park is well-known for its wide variety of primates, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
At an elevation of roughly 2000–3000 meters above sea level, Gishwati-Mukura National Park encompasses portions of the Congo Nile Divide forest, including Mukura Forest Reserve, and extends up to Nyungwe Forest National Park and the nearby Kibira National Park in Burundi.
There are more than 84 kinds of trees and shrubs known to exist in Gishwati-Mukura, including many native hardwoods and bamboo. Golden monkeys, blue and white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and four kinds of primates, including 20 Eastern chimpanzees, can be found in the forest of the park, which is renowned for its diverse wildlife. The serval, the southern tree hyrax, the black front duiker, the red river hog, and Felis aurata are among the other mammals that call the park home.
More than 350 different species of birds can be found in the park, with over 232 species observed in Gishwati forest and over 163 in Mukura forest. Of these, 20 are endemic to the Albertine Rift, and other forest birds like the White-backed, Hooded, and White-headed vultures, Bateleur, Martial Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Dwarf Honeyguide, Lagden’s Bushshrike, and Shelley’s Crimsonwing can be found in the reserve.
Some of the creatures that can be easily seen during a Rwandan wildlife safari in Gishwati-Mukura National Park are listed in this guide.
Chimpanzees from the East
The largest animals that occupy a significant amount of the Gishwati-Mukura National Park are eastern chimpanzees. Among the chimpanzee species found in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the Gishwati-Mukura chimpanzees. The main activity conducted in the forest at Gishwati-Mukura National Park is chimpanzee tracking. Depending on the day and the path followed in the forest, you may be able to encounter Eastern Chimpanzees as well as other primates including baboons, Golden Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, and L’Hoest’s Monkeys while trekking Rwandan chimpanzees in the park. Similar to other parks, Eastern Chimpanzee tracking begins here in the morning with a briefing on the dos and don’ts. After that, you will be led by a park ranger into the forest to look for the chimpanzees, and you will have an hour-long contact with them. You will also have the chance to witness other mammals, such as duikers and birds, while on your chimp hike in the park.
Monkeys with golden coats
Previously restricted to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, golden monkeys are now also present in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. One of the two places in East Africa where hiking for golden monkeys is still possible is Rwanda. Unique and affectionate, fascinating golden monkeys are only found in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park, and Gishwati-Mukura National Park in Rwanda. They are distinguished by their stunning golden bodies.
Monkeys in the mountains
Over 13 groups of mountain monkeys, totaling an estimated 150 individuals, may be found in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. The delicate blace face of the mountain monkey, also called the “L’Hoest monkey,” is framed by white ruff. The park’s most notable inhabitants are the mountain monkeys.
Jackal with side stripes
Gishwati-Mukura National Park is also home to side-striped jackals, which are nocturnal, dog-like social predators that weigh between 7 and 12 kg. They are omnivores that consume terrestrial birds like the Handsome francolins, small mammals, falling fruit, and the remnants of dead animals.
The African civet
The African civet, a solitary mammal with a distinctive body coloration of black and white stripes, is also found in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. It is omnivorous and favors woodland and riverine environments.
Serval feline
The serval is a tiny feline, weighing between 13 and 18 kilograms. Servals, who are usually found in grasslands, have long necks, long legs, and enormous ears that allow them to hear quite well. Throughout their territory, servals are mostly nocturnal, but occasionally they may be active during the day.
Genet Servaline
In Gishwati-Mukura National Park, servaline genet may also be seen. The servaline genet is that. Its long tail is ringed with narrow white and large black rings, and its body hair has black spots on the sides, back, and neck.
Many species of reptiles, including the Great Lakes bush viper, several chameleon species, including the Ruwenzori three-horned chameleon, and skinks, including the African striped skink, may be found at Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
With more than 230 bird species, including both woodland and Albertine Rift unique species, Gishwati-Mukura is a veritable birder’s paradise. Cardinal woodpecker, purple-breasted sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Grauer’s swamp warbler, booted eagle, Abyssinian ground-thrush, Ruwenzori Batis, Woodhoopoes, grasshopper buzzard, black-faced apalis, red-faced barbet, Martial Eagle, short-tailed warbler, handsome francolin, strange weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, yellow ramped tinker bird, salty flycatcher, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Yellow Warbler, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, grey-crowned crane, and great blue Turaco are just a few of the birds that can be seen during a Rwandan safari in Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Accessing the National Park of Gishwati-Mukura
It will take you roughly two hours to drive from Kigali to the park. A chartered aircraft from Kigali to Gishwati-Mukura is an alternative for individuals who would want to travel by air. You can combine your visit to Gishwati with gorilla trekking in Uganda because you can also reach this park from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Accommodations at the National Park of Gishwati-Mukura
Camps and lodging facilities have not yet been established because the park is still in its early stages of construction. Gishwati Lodge is the greatest place to stay in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. This is a high-end lodge. In the Gishwati-Mukura National Park, it is the greatest lodge. Less than 15 people can stay in the six opulent chalets at Gishwati Lodge at once, so we advise making reservations at least a month before your park visit. Since it takes 30 minutes to drive there, you can also choose to stay in Kivu, Rubavu, or Volcanoes National Park, which is closer to the park than the others.
