Gishwati Mukura National Park
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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. Activities in the park are due to begin in 2019 and include a guided nature hike, guided chimp and monkey tracking, bird watching and a visit to the waterfalls.
The area was nearly depleted largely due to resettlement, illegal mining in the mineral-rich forest and livestock farming.
The formalization of its National Park status in 2015 aims to help redress the balance, to increase the number of trees to improve soil fertility, stabilize slopes and regulate stream flow.
It will also contribute to improving the livelihoods of the population living in the surrounding areas, which in turn offers the forest a better chance of regeneration in tandem with the potential to raise living standards in the longer term.
Community-based activities 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
The government body responsible for managing the Gishwati Mukura National Park is the Rwanda Development Board with support from several wildlife conservation Agencies. has no specific visiting time although we would recommend that it’s better to visit this pure wonder National park during the dry season (June to September) during this time there is a lot of wildlife concentration around the lake making it easier to spot as many wild Animals and Birds as possible.
The greatest health risks in Rwanda are accidents and malaria. Much of Rwanda lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a major concern, but the disease is present and prophylactic drugs are recommended. Travellers should seek professional medical advice on taking anti-malarial medicines and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, especially between dawn and dusk.
Travellers should ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, following the advice of their local healthcare provider, and should consider bringing a small first aid kit. A certificate of yellow-fever vaccination is required.
As of 1st January 2018, nationals of all countries receive a visa on arrival at Entebbe International Airport and all land borders.
Gishwati Mukura can be reached by air and road. The nearest airport and link to the park is Kigali international airport in Rwanda’s capital Kigali. RwandAir Qatar Airways, Turkish Airways, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and KLM all have flights to Kigali international Airport. Rwanda being a small country we don’t advise any domestic flight to any of the Rwandese National Parks. Road transport is the best way one can enjoy the full beauty of this magnificent Country
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Costs
A single entry tourist visa costs US $50 (exclusions apply for select countries and is valid for 30 days.
A single entry conference visa costs US $30 and is valid for 30 days.
A multiple entry business visa costs US $50 and is valid for one year.
The East African Tourist Visa (EATV) covers Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, costs US $100 and is valid for 90 days.