Gishwati-Mukura National Park in northwestern Rwanda is the country’s fourth and newest national park, covering approximately 34 square kilometres of restored montane forest in two separate forest blocks: Gishwati Forest in Rutsiro District and Mukura Forest in Ngororero District. The park was established in 2015 and opened to visitors in December 2020, with activities currently available only in Gishwati Forest, which has constructed hiking trails, a park office, and accommodation at the Forest of Hope Guest House. Chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey tracking, guided birding, waterfall hikes, and primate walks are the primary activities, with entry and activities booked through the park office or Wilderness Safaris, which co-manages Gishwati. The park is 2 to 3 hours by road from Kigali.
Approx. 20 habituated chimpanzees in Gishwati Forest
Permits issued through RDB; rates similar to other parks
Present in Gishwati Forest alongside chimpanzees
Less commonly available than at Volcanoes NP
232+ bird species including 15 Albertine Rift endemics
Day walks from Forest of Hope Guest House
Kazenenza Waterfall is the main waterfall hike
Half-day guided walk
Forest of Hope Guest House (required for all park visits)
Contact Wilderness Safaris or park office to book
Approximately 2 to 3 hours by road
Western Rwanda, nearest large town is Rubavu (Gisenyi)
Chimpanzee Trekking Tours in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati Forest is the park’s leading primate activity, with approximately 20 habituated chimpanzees available for visitor encounters. The Gishwati chimpanzee population is small compared to Nyungwe’s estimated 1,000 individuals, but the forest’s more compact size and open trail system make close encounters possible and the trek duration manageable. Chimpanzees in Gishwati live alongside other primates including golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, and black-and-white colobus monkeys, meaning the approach through the forest can produce multiple primate sightings before the main chimpanzee encounter.
Permits for chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati are issued through the Rwanda Development Board, and all visits to the park must be arranged in conjunction with a stay at the Forest of Hope Guest House as per the current park management requirement. This requirement makes Gishwati-Mukura different from Rwanda’s other national parks and effectively means that a day trip to the park without accommodation is not currently possible. Visitors planning a chimpanzee trekking itinerary that also includes Nyungwe typically choose Nyungwe for larger chimpanzee troop sizes and more established infrastructure; Gishwati offers a quieter, more intimate alternative for visitors seeking a less-visited forest experience.
Golden Monkey Tracking in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Golden monkeys (Cercopithecus kandti) are present in Gishwati Forest alongside chimpanzees, making this one of only a few locations where both species can be tracked in the same forest on the same trip. Golden monkeys in Gishwati are endemic to the Albertine Rift and were among the first primates to recolonise the restored forest after the park’s establishment and reforestation programme began in 2015. The most commonly booked golden monkey tracking experience in Rwanda remains at Volcanoes National Park, where two habituated troops of up to 100 individuals each produce more reliable and visually dramatic encounters; Gishwati’s golden monkey population is smaller but equally valid for visitors specifically based in the Rubavu area.
The forest restoration programme underway in Gishwati since 2015 has been transformational for golden monkey habitat: the regenerating canopy and bamboo understory have expanded the available range within the forest block steadily each year. Rwanda Development Board and Wilderness Safaris report continued population growth among golden monkeys in Gishwati, with new individuals recorded in the tracking zones each year. This makes Gishwati a living example of active forest restoration producing measurable wildlife recovery outcomes.
Birding Tours in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Gishwati-Mukura National Park holds 232 bird species with 15 Albertine Rift endemics, making it a worthwhile birding destination for visitors combining a western Rwanda circuit with Nyungwe or Lake Kivu. Target species for birding tours in Gishwati include the Ruwenzori turaco, Archer’s ground robin, Ruwenzori batis, long-crested eagle, Ruwenzori nightjar, paradise flycatcher, grey-crowned crane, dusky crimson wing, mountain yellow warbler, and the regal sunbird. The forest’s restoration means that previously absent species are gradually returning to the habitat, and bird records from the park are updated regularly by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and RDB monitoring teams.
Guided birding walks in Gishwati depart from the Forest of Hope Guest House and cover the park’s established trail system over 3 to 5 hours. The best birding conditions are early morning from 6:00 AM when forest birds are most vocal and active. Mukura Forest, the second block of the park, holds 163 bird species and is not currently accessible to visitors due to the absence of trail infrastructure; access to Mukura’s bird diversity requires monitoring the RDB website for updates on when visitor access will open.
Waterfall and Forest Hike Tours in Gishwati Forest
The Kazenenza Waterfall hike is Gishwati’s main waterfall trail and runs for approximately 3 to 4 hours round trip from the park office on a guided trail through the restored forest interior. The waterfall descends into a narrow valley with dense fern and moss vegetation on the surrounding banks, and the trail passes through the forest restoration zones where a visible gradient from recently planted trees to older-growth sections documents the park’s recovery in real time. Secondary forest hikes cover the park’s network of newly constructed trails across the Gishwati forest block.
Nature photography is a popular pursuit on all trail walks in Gishwati due to the forest’s unusual combination of mature trees, regenerating understorey, primates at relatively close range, and endemic bird species in concentrated patches. The forest’s compact size and well-maintained trail system allow a full sampling of the park’s accessible wildlife in a single full day, making it practical as a one-night stop between Volcanoes National Park (1.5 to 2 hours south) and Rubavu on Lake Kivu.
Primate Walks and Forest Conservation Tours in Gishwati
Beyond chimpanzees and golden monkeys, Gishwati Forest supports L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys in unhabituated populations that are frequently encountered on guided forest walks without specific tracking permits. A primate walk of 2 to 3 hours through the forest typically produces sightings of two or three species. Rangers point out species interaction and habitat use patterns across the regenerated and original-growth sections of the forest, and the contrasts between different restoration stages make primate walks in Gishwati a more contextualised experience than in older, more uniform forest systems.
The park’s co-management structure between the Rwanda Development Board, Wilderness Safaris, and the Forest of Hope Association incorporates community members from surrounding villages into ranger and guide training programmes. Visitors who ask their guide about the park’s history typically receive accounts that cover the deforestation period from the 1950s through the 1990s, the community programme that began reclaiming and replanting the forest from 2015, and the current monitoring data showing species return rates. This conservation narrative is embedded in the guiding experience at Gishwati in a way that is not replicated at Rwanda’s more established parks.
How to Get to Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Gishwati Forest is located in northwestern Rwanda in Rutsiro District, approximately 2 to 3 hours by road from Kigali and 1 to 1.5 hours from Musanze (Volcanoes National Park). The main approach road runs via Rubavu (Gisenyi) on Lake Kivu, and the park office is situated at the edge of the forest on the main road closest to Rubavu. All visits to Gishwati currently require coordination with Wilderness Safaris or the Forest of Hope Guest House, as independent access to the trail network without accommodation is not permitted under the current management arrangement. The park is accessible by private vehicle; public transport reaches Rubavu town, from which local taxis serve the park area.
Is Gishwati-Mukura National Park worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for visitors combining a western Rwanda circuit with Volcanoes National Park and Lake Kivu. Gishwati offers a genuinely different forest experience from Nyungwe: a smaller, actively restoring forest with the unusual combination of chimpanzees and golden monkeys in the same habitat. It suits visitors with conservation interest, photographers seeking quieter wildlife settings, and those building multi-day Rwanda itineraries through the northwest.
Can I visit Mukura Forest as part of Gishwati-Mukura National Park?
Not currently. Mukura Forest, the second block of the national park in Ngororero District, has no visitor infrastructure or trail system as of 2026. All tourism activities take place in Gishwati Forest only. The RDB has long-term plans to develop Mukura for visitor access; check the official RDB website for current updates before travel.
Do I need to stay overnight to visit Gishwati-Mukura National Park?
Yes, under the current management arrangement. All park visits require a stay at the Forest of Hope Guest House, operated in partnership with Wilderness Safaris. Day visits without accommodation are not currently permitted. This requirement may be updated as the park’s visitor infrastructure develops; verify current conditions with the park office or Wilderness Safaris before planning.
How large is Gishwati-Mukura National Park?
The combined park covers approximately 34 square kilometres, comprising Gishwati Forest (the larger and visitor-accessible block) and Mukura Forest. This makes it Rwanda’s smallest national park by area, significantly smaller than Volcanoes (160 sq km), Nyungwe (1,015 sq km), and Akagera (1,085 sq km). The small size means the park can be experienced thoroughly in one to two days.
What makes Gishwati-Mukura National Park different from Rwanda’s other national parks?
Gishwati-Mukura is the only national park in Rwanda that was established primarily as a forest restoration project rather than to protect an existing wilderness. Much of the park’s current forest was replanted after decades of deforestation from the 1950s onward. Visitors can observe active forest recovery in progress, see primates recolonising restored habitat, and engage with the community conservation model that drove the park’s creation. This active restoration context gives Gishwati a distinctive character not found in Rwanda’s three older parks.