Wilderness Safaris is in the first stage of developing an exclusive primate trekking experience in Rwanda’s Gishwati-Mukura National Park (GMNP) – as part of a multi-phased conservation and tourism management programme.

The first phase will start later in the year with the opening of the Forest of Hope Guest House and Camp Site at the Gishwati Research Station alongside the park, in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Forest of Hope Association (FHA).

The FHA is a Rwandan NGO that focuses on the conservation of the park and engagement with local communities, to play an important role in its protection.

The new camp site offers camping facilities for a maximum of eight campers. The serviced guest house will feature two double en-suite rooms for four guests, offering three meals a day and non-alcoholic beverages.

Guests can explore the forest and see some of the world’s last remaining chimpanzees, golden monkeys and mountain monkeys in their natural habitat.

“The potential of Gishwati is undeniable, and we feel privileged to partner with the RDB and FHA to make a positive contribution to the protection and conservation of the park, and to unlock the tourism potential of this remarkable area,” said Wilderness Safaris MD, Rob Baas.

Guests visiting the Gishwati Research Station will be invited to visit the onsite indigenous tree nursery and to plant a tree as part of their reforestation efforts, as large parts of the park were cleared – a result of human settlement, agricultural practices and illegal mining – before and after the 1994 genocide.  

“We are also collaborating with Wilderness Safaris in the areas of tourism, conservation and community development, focusing on chimpanzee monitoring and habituation, community education, tourism product development and more,” said FHA Co-ordinator, Thierry Aimable Inzirayineza.