Gishwati- mukura were formerly two separate forests on the edges of the Congo Nile River north of Rwanda near volcanoes national park and south neighboring Nyungwe forest national park. The bio diverse forest was waved away after the 1994 genocide where refugees settled and cleared the forest causing soil erosion due to deforestation, farming, agriculture, illegal mining and local people continuously grabbed forestland to create extended land. Good news is that Rwanda Development Board and Rwanda environment management Authority have worked hand in hand to restore the once lost forest into a famous national park which will be opened for tourism come 2019. Gishwati mukura will increase the number of national parks in Rwanda to four among volcanoes national park for the famous mountain gorillas, Akagera national park for game drive and viewing safari and Nyungwe national park, the home of primates in Rwanda.
The new national park is comprised of Gishwati forest covering a land area of 1,439.72 hectares and Mukura forest covering 1,987.74 hectares of land from where the name Gishwati -mukura is derived. The national park is bio- diverse with a variety of wild animals which include primates like chimpanzees, golden monkeys, black and white Colobus monkeys and other species of mammals include the big cats like serval cats, black front duiker and mammals.
Gishwati mukura national park is also a birders haven with 84 bird species and 20 Albertine endemic species which include the wood hoopes, Rwenzori Turaco, weaver bird species, martial eagle, white headed wood hoopoe, Mountain yellow warbler and Old world warblers among others. Regarding vegetation cover, Gishwati- Mukura national park has extensive flora and fauna covered by 60 species of wood along other indigenous hardwoods like shrubs, blue lichen, giant tree ferns and bamboo forests. These give shelter and food for birds and wild animals in the park.
The project also targets to restore natural forest in Gishwati–Mukura National Park restore buffer zone plantations around the park and plant natural forests 700 hectares and sustainable land management on 1406 hectares while over 18 tree species will be introduced.
officials say the park is being lined up to be recognized by UNESCO World heritage as a biosphere reserve.
The main activities in Gishwati-Mukura national park will include chimpanzee tracking, primate walk,nature walks to the water falls and tea plantation and lastly cultural encounters with the locals.