Remarkable Bird watching in Gishwati-Mukura national park

Remarkable Bird watching in Gishwati-Mukura national park : Gishwati-Mukura national park is the newest national park in Rwanda that was established in 2015 after merging Gishwati and Mukura forest. The main purpose for the establishment of the national park is to conserve a number of wildlife species that are found in both the forests though it is the smallest among the national parks in Rwanda with a total of 34 square kilometers, there’s a lot still in the park that can be discovered like different apes species, attractive views, as well as bird species when you participate in Gishwati- Mukura national park. The park is well known for being a home of over 60 species of trees, a number of Rwandan wildlife and over 278 different bird species.

Bird watching treks in Gishwati-Mukura national park is one of the great activities done in the park by many visitors who travel here, the park offers an extraordinary opportunities for birders to indulge in to the park’s rainforest to recognize diversity of bird’s species. The forest houses over 278 species of beautiful birds, with a huge population of the birds in the park consists of Albertine Rift Endemic species and the forest birds.

Birding tours in Gishwati-Mukura National Park are best carried out with lead of an experienced guide. The park guides have worked for long in this park and they have knowledge of every kind of bird you will be interested in, note that 10 of the 232 bird species in Gishwati-Mukura feature on the IUCN red list of rare and threatened species. There are basically two birding sessions in Gishwati-Mukura national park. The morning and the evening birding safaris, all these begin with the briefing. The briefing is mainly done to give a deep insight into the guidelines to be followed while spotting different kinds of birds.

Sighted species of birds in Gishwati-Mukura national park.

The following is a list of birds found in Gishwati Mukura such as Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Black Faced Apalis, Strange Weaver bird, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s Swamp Warblers, Regal Sunbird, Red-Throated Alethe, Rwenzori Batis, Grey Crowned Cranes, Mountain Yellow Warblers, Dusky Crimson wing, woodhoopoe, purple-breasted sunbird, martial Eagle ,Lagden’s Bushshrike, dusky crimsonwing , Tawny Eagle, Black Cuckoo, Gray-headed kingfisher, Black-billed Turaco, Pied Crow, Black-throated Apalis, Angola Swallow, Hooded Vulture, Blue-spotted wood Dove, Mountain Buzzard, Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Tropical Boubou, African Stonechat, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, White-browed Crombec, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Black Goshawk ,Dusky-brown Flycatcher, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Blue-headed Sunbird, Western Citril, Strange Weaver, Black-crowned Waxbill, African Pipit, Cape Wagtail, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird among others. Beside birds Gishwati Mukura National Park is home to a number of primate species including the Chimpanzees, baboons, the Blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Golden monkeys and other animals like the duikers.

When is the best time to go birding in Gishwati-Mukura national park?

Birding in Gishwati-Mukura national park can done throughout the year, however the park is always wet. Therefore, the best time to go birding in Gishwati-Mukura national park is during the dry season that runs from June to August, and December to February when rains are less expected. This is also the best time for chimpanzee tracking and other park activities. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Other activities to combine with birding in the Gishwati-Mukura national park

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati Mukura is the main activity that is carried out in the park and for tourists interested in the activity, you should note that it starts early in the morning where tourist will be met at the park reception area where you will participate in the briefing session which involves being briefed about the rules and regulations to follow during chimpanzee Monkey trekking

There are a number of monkey species that can be seen when you visit  Gishwati Mukura national park which will give you an amazing experience  during your Rwanda safari   and some of the different monkey species that you will get to track includes L’hoest’s monkey, golden monkey, Mona monkey, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, silver monkeys, baboons among other interesting primate species that you will get to observe in the wild, take pictures of for an amazing and rewarding experience during your wildlife safaris in Rwanda.

Visit the waterfalls

There’s more that can also be discovered in Gishwati Mukura national park when you visit the kazaneza waterfalls that are situated in the middle of the park. the waterfalls offer rewarding views in the park that are worthy of photography, you can also take picnics while at the falls and also get to watch a number of primates that get to visit the falls to quench their thirst from the bottom of the falls.

What to pack on a birding safari in Gishwati-Mukura national park

The essentials to consider on your birding safari adventure in Gishwati-Mukura National Park such Binoculars for zooming small birds from a distance, Good camera to enable you take as many photos as possible, Field Clothes such the rain gear, gardening gloves, hiking boots/shoes among others. We strongly encourage birders to pack light, closed and waterproof shoes, Several toiletries like tissues, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, hair gels and sanitary wear for the case of women, Pack insect repellants to protect you from dangerous insect bites, Extra batteries and power bank to avoid your gadgets from blacking out in the middle of the experience among others.

Where to say on a birding safari in Gishwati-Mukura national park

Birders wanting to stay a night or more on a birding safari in Gishwati-Mukura national park, there are so many accommodation facilities available for tourists to stay around this park. Accommodation facilities include Emeraude Kivu resort, Golden monkey hotels, INZU Lodge, peace guest hotel, KCCCEM guest house, The Uwinka campsite, Gisakura family hostel, Muhabura Mountain Lodge, and Comoran Lodge among others.