Rwanda’s fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura is made up of two separate forests – the larger Gishwati
and small Mukura, forming a total of 34 square kilometers plus a buffer zone. The forests sit on the
ridge which divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the incredibly biodiverse
Albertine Rift in the west of the country. It is made up of 60 species of tree, including indigenous
hardwoods and bamboo. Gishwati is home to a group of 20 chimpanzees which live alongside golden
monkeys, L’Hoest’s and Blue Monkeys. Birds are well represented too, 232 species have been seen at
Gishwati and 163 at Mukura, among them Albertine Rift Endemic species and forest specialists.
The park is currently part of an ambitious landscape restoration program. The area hard largely
suffered due to resettlement, illegal mining in the mineral-rich forest and livestock farming.
Since 2015, efforts to restore the environment include tree planting, soil restoration and
stabilization of the slopes and down stream flow regulation. Activities in the park are not yet
open to the public. When ready they will include a guided nature hike, guided chimpanzee and monkey
tracking, bird watching and a visit to the waterfalls.
Meanwhile there are Community-based activities going on which include a farm stay, a live cultural
dance, making handicrafts, beekeeping, a tea plantation tour and the chance to learn from
traditional healers, who use natural plants to support modern medicine and synthesized drugs.
