We're Open8am–6pm SAST
res [at] privatetourscapetown.com
WishlistPartner Portal
Western Province, Rwanda

Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda

Listen

Hear the Story of Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda

A two-minute journey, narrated. Press play and let Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda unfold.

0:000:00
Enquire Now with Beyond Africa Safaris

Rwanda's Newest Park — A Forest Reborn

High on the Congo-Nile divide, where two ancient forests were once all but lost, lies Rwanda's youngest and most inspiring national park. Gishwati-Mukura is a living story of restoration — woodland brought back from the brink, now sheltering chimpanzees, golden and L'Hoest's monkeys and more than two hundred birds. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and gloriously uncrowded, it offers guided forest treks and community walks far from the safari crowds.

Size34 km² of forest
WildlifeChimps, monkeys & 200+ birds
Best TimeJun – Sep & Dec – Feb
Big FiveNearby
Plan Your SafariExplore Experiences
Destination Overview

Why Visit Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda

Rwanda's newest national park (2015)A UNESCO Biosphere ReserveChimpanzees & three monkey speciesExclusive, uncrowded forest trekking

Gishwati-Mukura is Rwanda's fourth and newest national park, gazetted in 2015 and declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2020. It unites two separate forests — larger Gishwati and smaller Mukura — that ride the crest of the Congo-Nile divide in the country's mountainous west. This is one of Africa's most heartening conservation stories: decades of clearing had reduced Gishwati to a fraction of its former size, but a determined restoration effort has brought the forest, and its wildlife, back. Today the reborn woodland shelters a small community of Eastern chimpanzees, together with golden monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, blue monkeys and the black-and-white colobus, as well as 232 bird species, among them Albertine Rift endemics. Visitor numbers are deliberately low, so a guided trek here feels genuinely exclusive — you walk misty ridges and moss-hung trees with a guide and tracker, often without another soul in sight. Chimp and monkey tracking, birding, a waterfall hike and community experiences with the neighbouring farming cooperatives make Gishwati-Mukura a rewarding, off-the-beaten-track addition to a western Rwanda journey.

The Beyond Africa Difference

A forest brought back from the brink — and almost nobody knows it's there.

We take you into Rwanda's newest park with the guides and communities who restored it, pairing it with Lake Kivu and Nyungwe for a western Rwanda journey few ever make.

Worth the Premium

Why It Justifies the Price

Gishwati-Mukura is Rwanda's best-kept secret — here's what makes a visit so special.

A forest reborn

Few places tell the story of conservation so vividly. Gishwati was almost lost to clearing, and its restoration into a national park is one of Africa's proudest recent achievements.

Primates in peace

Track chimpanzees, golden monkeys, L'Hoest's and blue monkeys in a forest that sees only a handful of visitors — encounters feel intimate and unhurried.

Blissfully uncrowded

With deliberately low visitor numbers, you often have the misty trails and ridge-top views entirely to yourself — a rare luxury in East Africa.

Rich montane birding

With 232 species and Albertine Rift endemics, the park is a delight for birders exploring its regenerating canopy.

Community at its heart

The park works hand in hand with neighbouring cooperatives; a community walk to tea farms, tree nurseries and a traditional healer completes the experience.

Curated Itineraries

Luxury Safari Packages

Hand-crafted private journeys through Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda — from our flagship ultra-luxury expedition to exceptional value escapes. Every package is fully tailor-made, privately guided and includes luxury lodges, expert rangers and smooth logistics.

View All Safari PackagesGet a Tailor-Made Quote
Restored montane forest of Gishwati-Mukura, Rwanda
The Gishwati Signature

A Chimp Trek Through a Reborn Forest

You set out with a guide and tracker into the regenerating forest, climbing misty ridges hung with moss and lichen where, only a generation ago, the trees had all but vanished. Somewhere ahead a small community of chimpanzees is stirring — and as their calls ring through the canopy, you follow, often the only visitors in the entire forest. To watch these apes in a woodland brought back from the brink is to witness both wild nature and human hope, entwined.

  • Track a small, wild community of Eastern chimpanzees
  • Walk misty, moss-hung ridges on the Congo-Nile divide
  • Experience a forest — and its wildlife — restored from near loss
  • Enjoy the rare privilege of trekking with no crowds
Plan This Experience
Safari Experiences

Unforgettable Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda Experiences

Chimpanzee in Gishwati-Mukura, Rwanda
Primate Trek

Chimpanzee Tracking

Half to full dayFrom $70

Trek with a guide and tracker in search of Gishwati's small community of Eastern chimpanzees. Numbers are low and the forest steep, but sightings in such an intimate, uncrowded setting are all the more rewarding.

Primate loversAdventurous trekkersOff-the-beaten-track travellers
Book This Experience
Golden monkey in Rwanda's western forests
Primate Trek

Golden & L'Hoest's Monkey Trek

Half dayFrom $50

Seek out Gishwati's troops of golden monkeys and the striking, chestnut-backed L'Hoest's monkey, along with blue monkeys and colobus, on a guided walk through the regenerating woodland.

Primate loversPhotographersFamilies
Book This Experience
Ridge-top views over Gishwati-Mukura, Rwanda
Guided Walk

Ridge-Top Forest Hike

Half to full dayFrom $40

Follow trails along the crest of the Congo-Nile divide through moss-hung montane forest, with sweeping views over the hills towards Lake Kivu and, on clear days, the Virunga volcanoes.

HikersNature loversPhotographers
Book This Experience
Forest interior of Gishwati-Mukura, Rwanda
Birding

Waterfall Hike & Birding

Half dayFrom $35

Hike through the forest to a hidden waterfall, spotting some of the park's 232 bird species along the way, including Albertine Rift endemics, turacos and sunbirds in the regenerating canopy.

BirdersHikersNature lovers
Book This Experience
Hills and tea country around Gishwati-Mukura, Rwanda
Culture

Community Forest Walk

Half dayFrom $30

Meet the communities restoring and protecting the forest on a walk to tea plantations, a tree nursery, a traditional healer and local craft cooperatives — a warm, grounding insight into the human side of conservation.

Culture loversFamiliesConscious travellers
Book This Experience
Luxury Accommodation

Premier Lodges & Retreats

Handpicked luxury lodges ranging from award-winning ultra-luxury suites to exceptional value properties — every lodge delivers a world-class safari experience.

Forest of Hope Guest House image 1
1 / 3
$$

Forest of Hope Guest House

The park's own community-run guest house sits right on the forest edge — a simple, welcoming base whose proceeds support the restoration and the neighbouring cooperatives.

  • Community-run lodge
  • On the edge of the forest
  • Simple, comfortable rooms
  • Local hospitality

Community conservation lodge

From $120/nightEnquire Now
Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel image 1
1 / 3
$$$$$

Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel

Many visitors pair Gishwati with a stylish stay on nearby Lake Kivu. Cleo, at Rubavu, offers contemporary luxury and a rooftop pool within easy reach of the forest.

  • Elegant lakeside base nearby
  • Rooftop pool & spa
  • Day trips to Gishwati
  • Panoramic Kivu views

Boutique lakeside hotel

From $400/nightEnquire Now
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel image 1
1 / 3
$$$$

Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel

For those combining Gishwati with Nyungwe to the south, this comfortable hilltop hotel offers sweeping forest views and a restful base between the two parks.

  • Hilltop forest views
  • Cottages & suites
  • En route to Nyungwe
  • Restful mountain setting

Established forest lodge

From $320/nightEnquire Now
Secret-Forest Romance

A Wilderness All Your Own

For couples who crave the road less travelled, Gishwati offers a rare privilege — a misty, restored forest almost entirely to yourselves, paired with the beaches and sunsets of nearby Lake Kivu.

Trek in private

With so few visitors, your forest walks feel utterly exclusive — just the two of you, a guide and the wild.

Ridge-top views

Picnic on the Congo-Nile divide with views towards Kivu and the volcanoes — a romantic reward for the climb.

Lake Kivu nearby

Combine the forest with barefoot days and sunset cruises on the shores of Lake Kivu, just down the hill.

A story to share

Witness a forest reborn together — a hopeful, meaningful backdrop for the start of married life.

We had the entire forest to ourselves — just us, our guide and the monkeys. Then Lake Kivu for sunsets. Perfect and private.
Grace & MichaelHoneymoon · 1 night Gishwati, 2 nights Kivu
Gishwati felt like a secret. Knowing the forest had been saved made it all the more moving.
Ines & ThéoHoneymoon · Forest of Hope Guest House
Plan Your Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda Honeymoon
Photo Gallery
Wildlife Highlights

Wildlife You'll Encounter

Chimpanzee in Gishwati-Mukura

Chimpanzee

A small, wild community lives in the restored Gishwati forest

Golden monkey in Rwanda

Golden Monkey

Troops of the endangered golden monkey forage in the regenerating canopy

L'Hoest's monkey, Gishwati

L'Hoest's Monkey

A striking Albertine Rift endemic, chestnut-backed and white-throated

Blue monkey in Gishwati

Blue Monkey

Common in the mid-canopy alongside the black-and-white colobus

Colobus in Gishwati

Black-and-White Colobus

Elegant, long-tailed colobus move through the treetops

Gishwati forest birdlife

Albertine Rift Birds

232 species, including regional endemics, inhabit the reborn forest

Gishwati vs Nyungwe

Two Western Rainforests Compared

Rwanda's western forests differ in scale and character — here's how the newer Gishwati-Mukura compares to vast Nyungwe.

FeatureOkavango DeltaOther Safaris
SizeSmall, intimate (34 km²)Vast, ancient (1,019 km²)
CrowdsWonderfully uncrowdedPopular but well-managed
Signature wildlifeChimps, golden & L'Hoest's monkeysChimps & 400-strong colobus troops
Star experienceExclusive forest & primate treksThe canopy walkway
StoryA forest restored from near lossA primeval, Ice Age survivor
Best roleThe off-the-beaten-track gemThe rainforest headline
Planning Your Visit

When to Visit Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda

Long Dry Season

Jun – Sep

The dry seasons make the steep, misty forest trails firmer and more comfortable for chimp and monkey tracking.

Wildlife: Prime conditionsWeather: Warm days, cool nights, little rain

Short Dry Season

Dec – Feb

A second fine window between the rains, with warm, largely dry days and green surrounds.

Wildlife: ExcellentWeather: Warm & mostly dry

Green Seasons

Mar – May & Oct – Nov

The green seasons cloak the regenerating forest in lush growth and superb birding, though trails are muddy and wet.

Wildlife: Good year-roundWeather: Lush and green, frequent afternoon rain

Month-by-Month Guide

Wildlife ViewingWeatherValue
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to Know

Useful Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda Travel Tips

The practical details that make a real difference — gathered from years of sending travellers into this region.

Come prepared to hike

Gishwati's trails are steep and often muddy. Waterproof boots and a reasonable level of fitness make the primate treks far more enjoyable.

Treat it as a gem, not a headline

Wildlife numbers are lower than the big parks — come for the exclusivity, scenery and conservation story rather than guaranteed sightings.

Base yourself on Lake Kivu

With limited lodging in the park, many travellers stay at Rubavu on Lake Kivu, an easy drive away, and visit Gishwati on a day trip.

Pack for rain

As a montane forest, Gishwati is often wet and misty. Bring a good rain jacket and a dry bag for your camera.

Do the community walk

The community forest walk — tea farms, tree nurseries and a traditional healer — is a highlight and directly supports the restoration.

Bring binoculars

With 232 bird species and treetop primates, good binoculars greatly enhance the forest experience.

Location & Access

Getting to Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda

1.8000° S, 29.3667° E

Nearest Airports

  • Kigali International (KGL)Main gateway — 3–4-hour drive

Driving Routes

  • Kigali160 km — 3–4-hour drive
  • Lake Kivu (Rubavu)— — 1.5–2-hour drive
  • Volcanoes NP— — 2.5–3-hour drive

Gishwati-Mukura lies in the mountainous west between Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe, close to the northern shore of Lake Kivu. It is most easily visited as part of a wider western circuit — many guests base themselves at Rubavu on Lake Kivu, an hour and a half away, or break the journey between the gorillas and Nyungwe. Kigali is a scenic three-to-four-hour drive.

Where To Go

Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda on the Map of Africa

See where this region sits and tap any glowing marker to open another destination our specialists know first-hand.

SerengetiMasai MaraAmboseliSamburuTsavoLaikipiaLake NakuruBwindiVolcanoesKrugerPanorama RouteSabi SandsCape TownGarden RouteEastern CapeDurban & KZNJohannesburgOkavango DeltaChobeVictoria FallsSouth LuangwaBazarutoEtoshaHwangeMana PoolsCape WinelandsSossusvleiSkeleton CoastMakgadikgadi PansLake KaribaMatobo HillsGreat ZimbabweKibale ForestQueen ElizabethMurchison FallsKidepo ValleyLower ZambeziKafueLiuwa PlainVictoria Falls (Zambia)Lake Manyara National ParkMoremi Game ReserveNgorongoro Conservation AreaNyerere National ParkRuaha National ParkTarangire National ParkThe Kalahari DesertThe Linyanti & Selinda ConcessionsDamaralandFish River CanyonSwakopmundThe Namib DesertQuirimbas ArchipelagoNiassa Special ReserveGorongosa National ParkMaputo & the South CoastAkagera National ParkGishwati-Mukura National ParkKigaliLake KivuNyungwe Forest National Park
East AfricaGishwati-Mukura National ParkHigh on the Congo-Nile divide, where two ancient forests were once all but lost, lies Rwanda's youngest and most inspiring national park.Discover Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Extend Your Journey

Destinations to Add to Your Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda Safari

A Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda safari pairs beautifully with the regions below. Our team stitches them into one unhurried journey — flights, transfers and timing handled end to end.

Lake Kivu, undefined

Lake Kivu

Base yourself on the nearby lake and combine forest treks with restful beach days.

Explore Lake Kivu
Nyungwe Forest National Park, undefined

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Continue south to the vast ancient rainforest and its famous canopy walkway.

Explore Nyungwe Forest National Park
Volcanoes, RwandaRwanda

Volcanoes

Pair with the mountain gorillas to the north for a complete western-forest circuit.

Explore Volcanoes
Frequently Asked Questions

Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda Safari FAQ

It is Rwanda's newest national park, gazetted in 2015 and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2020, and it represents one of Africa's great forest-restoration success stories. A woodland once nearly lost to clearing has been brought back, and now shelters chimpanzees, golden and L'Hoest's monkeys, colobus and 232 bird species — all in a gloriously uncrowded setting.

Yes. Gishwati is home to a small community of Eastern chimpanzees that can be tracked with a guide and tracker. The group is small and the forest steep, so sightings require patience — but the intimacy and lack of crowds make the experience deeply rewarding.

Gishwati-Mukura is far smaller and much less visited than Nyungwe. Where Nyungwe is a vast, ancient rainforest with a famous canopy walkway, Gishwati is an intimate, restored forest offering exclusive primate treks with few other visitors. Many travellers combine the two.

Gishwati lies close to the northern shore of Lake Kivu — around 90 minutes to two hours from Rubavu (Gisenyi). This makes Kivu the most popular base for visiting the park, combining forest treks with relaxing lakeside days.

The park protects a small community of chimpanzees, plus golden monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, blue monkeys and black-and-white colobus, along with 232 bird species including Albertine Rift endemics. Sightings are less guaranteed than in larger parks, but the exclusivity is the appeal.

Yes. Its compact size means a single full day, or an overnight stay, is enough to enjoy a primate trek or forest hike. It works beautifully as a half-day or full-day addition to a Lake Kivu stay, or as a stop between Volcanoes and Nyungwe.

Lodging options are limited, in keeping with the park's low-key character. The community-run Forest of Hope Guest House sits on the forest edge, while many visitors prefer the wider choice of hotels on nearby Lake Kivu at Rubavu, or combine Gishwati with a stay en route to Nyungwe.

Start Planning

Plan Your Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda Safari

Join 200,000+ travellers who have trusted us with their African safari dreams since 2008. Our expert team will craft a tailor-made Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda itinerary perfectly suited to your style, budget and dates.

🏆 18+ Years of Excellence⭐ 5-Star TripAdvisor🌍 200,000+ Travellers
Get a Free QuoteWhatsApp Us
Chat