Activities to do in Gishwati- Mukura National Park.
Are you planning your dream safari and wondering about the activities to do in Gishwati- Mukura National Park. It offers various safari activities for travellers, and this blog will discuss the top activities to enjoy on a safari in the park. Gishwati- Mukura National Park is a prominent safari destination in Rwanda, established in 2015 to protect the Albertine endemics that existed at that time. It’s located in western Rwanda along the Albertine Rift. The park consists of two separate forests: the large Gishwati Forest and the smaller Mukura Forest. It has rich biodiversity, home to more than 60 tree species, 100 butterfly species, 5 primate species, 20 mammal species, and 230 bird species in Gishwati Forest and 163 bird species in Mukura Forest. The park’s rich biodiversity is supported by the mix of ecosystems which provide habitats such as wetlands, tropical rainforests, montane forests, and grasslands. The park offers various activities to travellers, such as bird watching, nature walks, golden monkey tracking and chimpanzee tracking. If you are seeking a true African adventure, Gishwati- Mukura National Park should be included on your bucket list as it offers exceptional safari experiences.
Activities to do in Gishwati- Mukura National Park.
Bird Watching.
Bird watching in Gishwati- Mukura National Park is a rewarding activity that gives bird lovers an opportunity to explore the sweet, melodic songs and sounds of various unique bird species in their natural habitats. The park is home to more than 230 birds in Gishwati forest and 163 in Mukura forest. These birds include water birds, forest birds, migratory birds, and Albertine endemic species. Birding is led by a knowledgeable park guide who identifies birds and provides important information about the bird species encountered in the park. Bird lovers will encounter various bird species including Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Rwenzori Nightjar, Square-tailed Nightjar, Little Swift, Red-chested Flufftail, Black Crake, Gray Crowned-Crane, Black-headed Heron, Hadada Ibis, African Harrier-Hawk, Hooded Vulture, Tawny Eagle, African Goshawk, Black Goshawk, Black Kite (Yellow-billed), Mountain Buzzard, Augur Buzzard, Verreaux’s Eagle-Ow, Red-chested Owlet, African Wood-Ow, Speckled Mousebird, Narina Trogon, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Crowned Hornbill, Gray-headed Kingfisher, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Lesser Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Elliot’s Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Olive Woodpecker, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Eurasian Kestrel, Rwenzori Batis, Chinspot Batis, Northern Puffback, Lüdher’s Bushshrike, Tropical Boubou, Willard’s Sooty Boubou, Albertine Boubou, Many-colored Bushshrike, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Lagden’s Bushshrike, Gray Cuckooshrike, Black Cuckooshrike, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Northern Fiscal, African Golden Oriole.
Chimpanzee Tracking.
Chimpanzee tracking is one of the best activities to do in Gishwati- Mukura National Park. This allows primate lovers and nature enthusiasts to have a close encounter with chimps. This is the second place in Rwanda where travellers can see chimpanzees in their natural habitats after Nyungwe Forest National Park. Gishwati -Mukura National Park is home to over 30 chimpanzee individuals. Chimp tracking begins with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the activity. Later, participants meet their assigned park guide, who leads them through the forest in search of chimpanzees. The duration of chimp tracking is between 2 and 4 hours, depending on their movements, and once located, participants spend one hour with them observing their behaviours. They have the opportunity to see them playing, feeding, and mothers taking care of the young ones, which is one in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Nature Walks.
Nature walks in Gishwati- Mukura National Park are the most enjoyed activities in the park by nature lovers, which gives them an opportunity to explore the park’s rich biodiversity and the stunning views. These are guided activities led by experienced park guides who provide insights about the park’s habitats encountered. There are well maintained trails which are used for nature walks, and these provide excellent chances of encountering various birds and animals. Some of the things to encounter include animals like duikers, forest elephants, vervet monkeys, birds like Narina Trogon, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Crowned Hornbill, Gray-headed Kingfisher, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Lesser Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, tree like bamboo and hardwoods.
Golden Monkey Tracking.
Golden monkey tracking is one of the most interesting activities to do in Gishwati- Mukura National Park that allows nature lovers to have a close encounter with these playful monkeys. Golden monkeys are very playful, and they live in groups of up to 60 individuals. Tracking is a guided activity led by an experienced park guide who provides information about the park’s inhabitants encountered. The duration is between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the movements of these playful monkeys as they keep on moving from one place to another in search of food. When located, participants spend one hour with them, observing their behaviours; they can see them playing from tree to tree, feeding, grooming, among others. Golden monkey tracking in the park creates unforgettable experiences for nature lovers.
