Gishwati-Mukura National Park wildlife Safari Experience in Rwanda : Gishwati-Mukura National Park is a world-renowned safari destination and offers visitors an unrivaled wildlife experience. The park is home to over 380 species of animals, including lions, elephants and buffalo. The diverse landscape of the park offers breathtaking views and a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy during their stay. Gishwati-Mukura National Park is located on the border between Rwanda and Burundi and is about a 5 hour drive from Kigali on good road conditions. It is one of the most popular destinations in Rwanda and offers a wide range of activities for visitors including game drives, bush walks, bird watching and swimming in the river.
The history of the park can be traced back to the early 1970s when the government recognized the need for the conservation of wild animals in Rwanda. The government leased a 1000-acre parcel of land from a private farmer and established the National Park in 1974. The name Gishwati- Mukura was derived from the two rivers that run through the park – the Gishwati River and the Mukura River. The park was subsequently expanded to encompass an area of 2500 acres. In 2005, the government acquired an additional 3500 acres of land to expand the park even further.
There are several attractions in Gishwati- Mukura such as wildlife viewing, climbing Mount Bisoke, waterfall visits, historical and cultural tours, camping, guided walks and hikes. All of these activities offer visitors a unique insight into Rwandan history and culture.
For animal lovers, there are several animal encounters that visitors can take part in at the park. Visitors can have the unique opportunity of feeding the giraffes by hand or hand-feed the monkeys in the monkey forest. They can also get up close to lions, cheetahs and elephants on a game drive tour. Other activities include horse riding, quad biking and swimming at the pool. There are also a number of hiking trails in the park that offer spectacular views of the landscape and an opportunity to spot wildlife along the way, Gishwati-Mukura National Park wildlife Safari Experience in Rwanda
There are a number of hotels near the park that provide a convenient base for visitors to the area such as Gishwati Lodge which is located in the foothills of Mount Bisoke. The hotel provides comfortable accommodation and a full range of facilities including a restaurant and bar. Visitors who stay at Gishwati Lodge can also enjoy meals at the traditional Rwandan restaurant, which is attached to the hotel and serves delicious traditional Rwandan cuisine.
Animals that can be seen include zebras, wildebeests, impalas, waterbucks, reedbucks, warthogs, baboons, black and white Colobus monkeys and hippos. During the dry season, thousands of birds migrate to the area making it the perfect place for birdwatchers.
The best time to visit the Gishwati-Mukura National Park is during the dry season from June to September. During this time the roads within the park are in good condition and visitors will be able to easily access all of the different attractions. After the rain season in March and April, the park can be rather muddy and many of the roads become impassable so it is best to visit the park during the summer months instead.
It is important to note that when driving to the park from Kigali, it is important to arrive at the park entrance by mid-morning in order to avoid delays at the border. Gishwati Mukura is Rwanda’s youngest National Parks and the amazing experiences won’t leave you the same!
