Southern Rwanda
Gisakura Guest House
Gisakura is a National Park-run guesthouse adjacent to a lush tea plantation just outside the Nyungwe Forest National Park boundary. Accommodation is quite basic and the bathrooms are shared but do have hot water and are kept very clean. Meals are fairly simple but plentiful and the staff are always friendly and hospitable. There is usually a campfire at night offering the perfect opportunity to meet other guests and swap wildlife encounters.
Gisakura Guesthouse is located 2km away from Nyungwe Forest National Park, the largest area of intact montane rainforest in East and Central Africa. The lodge also sits on the edge of the Gisakura Tea Estate and has numerous trails that guests can explore.
The highlight of a visit to Nyungwe Forest is to track and watch the habituated troops of chimpanzees that inhabit the park as well as the 13 other species of rare primates and much other wildlife.
Facilities
Restaurant, lounge, bar, camp fire and private bathrooms with hot water showers.
Local Wildlife
13 species of primate and great ape including habituated chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, Angolan black-and-white colobus, owl-faced monkey and mona monkey. The park is home to a total of 86 mammal and 120 butterfly species as well as 5 species of chameleons and 280 birds including 26 central highland endemics.
Optional Activities
Chimpanzee and primate tracking in the park. Treks to waterfalls and scenic viewpoints and a canopy walkway are also available.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
The walking here is along very steep and slippery trails: the chimps and other primates may be many hours’ walk from the park headquarters and are often fast moving. Thus, a good level of physical fitness is essential.
If you have any questions regarding our Rwanda tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Please find details of the voyage report following our recent holiday to Rwanda…I would like to congratulate you and send a special thank you to everyone at Reef and Rainforest and specifically to those who engineered the Rwanda trip. For me it was a perfect experience throughout, blending the geography, natural history, culture and lifestyles in Rwanda. The group fitted together perfectly and Mike was exceptional and a pleasure to have as our ‘commander’. He was held in high regard by everyone and is a prefect choice to fulfil such an important position.
