Government has approved a concession agreement between Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Imizi Ecotourism Development Ltd for conservation and tourism management of the newly created Gishwati-Mukura National Park. The park has been undergoing restoration under a project by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) since 2014. In a recent interview with Patrick Nsabimana, the coordinator of the project, he said the tourism development master plan and biodiversity survey for the park have been completed and that tourists could start visiting soon. Some of the attractions include wildlife and game viewing, trekking and hiking, landscape and nature viewing, adventure and sports activities, community-based tourism, culture and heritage. For Gishwati area specifically, the attractions are Gishwati forest, Pfunda river, Sebeya river, waterfall trail, Umushwati trees trail, Rushubi Tea trail and Gishwati community trail. For Mukura area, the attractions include Mukura Forest, Satinsyi River, Rucanzogera River, Secoko River, Mukura bike trail, Rucanzogera trail and Mukura Area Community Trail. Three tourism development zones have been identified with tourist attractions namely “Umushwati Tourism Zone” at the north-west gate of the park, Bitenga/Sebeya Tourism Zone at the north-eastern gate and Rucanzogera Tourism Zone at the South Gate. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
