Rwanda is a beautiful country placed with many ecosystems, Gishwati Mukura is one place full of Primates, and it is the top newest conservation area of the country formed, this is a combination of the Gishwati forest an extension of the Nyungwe Forest National Park and Mukura Forest. It is the fourth park of Rwanda, forming a total space of 34 square kilometers inclusive of a safe buffer zone to animals, the forest is tucked along the border that connects the Congo and Nile water catchment area, the incredible biodiverse environment is a hot spot of wildlife inclusive of the endemic species.
The national park gives a colourful review of the biodiverse environment comprised of a number of vegetative cover, it is a mixture of bamboo forest, swamp vegetation, and grassy lands, the park tree species are quite of a high number and ecological importance, example tree species include the giant tree ferns, Carapa Grand Folia. This is the most common tree species in the national park, the canopy of trees provides habitat to many animals that love to jump and hang in the trees, Like the chimpanzee which is Said to share over 98% of the human DNA, they are social intelligent species of the park known for their large charter sound, the mountain monkey is known also as the L’hoest monkey, it is one of the most striking features in the park, with its golden brown eyes and the puffy white cheeks, they enjoy feeding on fruits and leaves of the forest, other park animals include the Side stripped Jackal, they are nocturnal species looking like domestic dogs and are omnivorous in nature, African civet, and many forest amphibian species like the forest frogs and lizards.
Gishwati Mukura National Park is home to many birds of the African tropical forest, 14 birds have been recorded endemic to the park among theb160 species example birds include the Rwenzori turaco, great blue turaco, dusky crimson wing, handsome francolin, Martial eagle, grey crowned crested crane, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, strange weaver,. The presence of the top attractions of the national park presents an ample time to do activities like the guided nature walk, tracking chimpanzee in the national park, this may not give you the same experience as when you are in Nyungwe because the chimps of this area are less Habituated, Birding in Gishwati Mukura National Park, this has been identified as An important birding area with many species endemic to the region.
The park is located in the north east part of Rwanda, it can be accessed from Kigali International Airport, the forest has a tropical rain climate and therefore it is important to carry warm clothes, rain gears as it is most likely to rain anytime, it is best visited during the long dry season between June- Septembers. Visits to the national park require to book a place of stay an example Facility is the forest of hope guest house, this place has not fully been organized for accommodation and therefore there might be a lesser choice of where to stay.