The Gishwati Forest National Park, which is spread out over the hilltops not far from the beaches and resorts of Lake Kivu and Gisenyi, is currently in the vanguard of Rwandan conservation.
Following large-scale refugee movements into the hinterland during the genocide in the 1990s, the region experienced severe deforestation. The barren slopes and undulating fields within today are proof of this.
Nevertheless, initiatives are being taken to revitalize the wilderness, and plans have been established to plant thousands of new trees by the year 2020. However, the area is undeniably stunning, with lush mountains and woods that are home to L’Hoest’s monkeys and chimps!
