What is the best time for golden monkey trekking in Rwanda’s Gishwati-Mukura National Park?  Gishwati-Mukura National Park in Rwanda is the latest and newest national park to be created in Rwanda. The park is open all the time and can be visited throughout the year to trek and see the golden monkeys. The rainy season may present the best opportunities for the visitors to see the golden monkeys because the rain season increased the food availability in the park and therefore the species cannot move long distances in search of food and thus can be spotted nearby the visitors during the rainy season majorly happens in May and October. However, the major problem with the dry season is that the trails become slippery and this makes the hiking experience so intense and difficult as compared to the dry season. Most visitors have narrated that the best time to go to Gishwti-Mukura National Park for Golden Monkey Trekking is during the dry season nor the drier months which happens in June up to September.  During the dry season, trails are dry and the vegetating cover is transparent as compared to the rainy season thus making it easy to see the golden monkeys in this park.

Golden Monkey trekking in Gishwati-Mukura National Park is the key activity as visitors seeing the golden monkeys can as well see other primates within the forest especially Chimpanzees, baboons, Blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys among others. Golden monkey tracking starts very early in the morning with park officials briefing the visitors about what they are supposed to within the forest in search of golden monkeys and after briefing the activity commences and upon seeing the Golden Monkeys, you will be allocated only one hour to see and interact the monkeys.  Therefore, you will get a chance to see the Golden monkey as you see other animals such as duikers and different bird species. It’s very possible for you to do a golden monkey trekking in Gishwat-Mukura National park and then do the Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park at the same time/on the same safari package.

Gishwati-Mukura National Park harbors several primates that include reptiles, birds, tree species, and other primate’s Safaris including chimpanzees. Chimpanzees in Gishwati Mukura National park live happily with Golden monkeys and other monkeys especially the Blue monkeys. They’re also more than 232 bird species with those endemic to the Albertine Rift making it the best destination for bird lovers in Rwanda as the destination country. Due to human activities, the Gishwati-Mukura forest had got depleted as it had become a grazing ground, and place for carrying out all illegal mining activities but later the government stepped up and gazetted the forest as the National park in 2015 and this has promoted the conservation efforts of the National Park.

Other Activities to do in Gishwati-Mukura National Park other than Golden Monkey trekking

Guided Nature Walk

Gishwati-Mukura National park has got different trails well established to guide visitors in the forest during the guided nature walks. There is a lot to encounter during the guided nature walks in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. Get filled with the natural beauty of the forest and its occupants such as birds, insects, primates, and butterfly species. Unique ancient tree species are found in the forest and these include ferns, Mahogany, eucalyptus, Macaranga, Polysciasis Fulva, Hagenia Abyssinica, orchids, Dombeya Torrida among other tree species. You will be able to see all these tree species.

Bird watching safaris

Gishwati-Mukura National Park is one of the parks that offer amazing bird-watching safaris in Rwanda. There are over 232 bird species that inhabit Gishwati-Mukura National Park and these include among others Ruwenzori Batis, Regal Sunbird, Wood hoopoes, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Yellow Warblers, Ruwenzori Turaco, Martial Eagle, Stripe-breasted Tit, the Grey Crowned Crane, Strange weavers among others.

Primate tracking/watching in Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

Primate watching is the major tourism activity done in Gishwati-Mukura National Park, with this activity, you will be able to encounter and see different primates including baboons, golden monkeys, blue monkeys among others. The activity still begins with a briefing about the does and don’ts while on primate tracking within the forest. It is rangers that lead you to the forest as you feel free to ask them any question you feel like asking. Encounter more mammals and birds as you enjoy the primate trekking in Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

Biking and Cycling via the Congo Nile Trail in Gishwati-Mukura National Park

This is one of the wonderful trails that most visitors follow when visiting Gishwati-Mukura National Park. It provides the best experience with visitors cycling up to the shorelines of Lake Kivu via Nyungwe Forest National Park. Visitors can also decide to go and tour different communities adjacent the park and engage in different community-based activities such as beekeeping, plantation farming tours, enjoy the live cultural dance of the people, and have a glimpse at traditional herbalist who uses traditional medicines and herbs to treat fellow local community members and get cured.

Tours to the Waterfall in Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

Visitors visiting Gishwati-Mukura National Park can also follow the waterfall hiking trail that provides one of the best adventures. The hiking trail will lead you to Kazeneza waterfall which is found in the middle of the forest to provide you with good-looking views of the park and its associated features like primates and chimpanzees.

How to get to Gishwati-Mukura National park for golden monkey trekking

Gishwati-Mukura National park is located in Rwanda and visitors can access the park by flying to Kigali international airport and then drive for about two hours on the road from Kigali to the park, chartered flights can also be organized for those interested in air transport from Kigali international airport to Gishwati-Mukura National Park. Visitors can also get to Gishwati-Mukura National Park through Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park in Uganda which makes it possible to combine the safaris to Gishwat-Mukura National Park with gorilla tracking in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park or Mgahinga national park.

Where to stay while doing golden monkey tracking at Gishwati-Mukura National Park

There are few accommodation facilities around Gishwati-Mukura National Park in Rwanda and this has been attributed to the fact that the park is the newest of all parks in Rwanda. However, the best accommodation lodge available is known as Gishwati Lodge. The lodge provides luxurious accommodation facilities and services for visitors and comes with 6 perfect chalets each taking nit more than fifteen guests at once. This means that visitors interested in staying at this lodge must book it early in advance to avoid inconveniences. Gishwati-Mukura national park is close to Kivu and volcanoes national park and therefore we recommend that you can book an accommodation facility around these places as you do your chimpanzee tracking in Giswati-Mukura National Park.