In the heart of the Albertine Rift lies Gishwati–Mukura National Park, formed by the merging of two once-separate forests: Gishwati Forest and Mukura Forest.

Gishwati–Mukura spans roughly 35.58 km² in Rwanda’s Western Province (covering parts of Rutsiro and Ngororero districts).

This area sits on a ridge that divides the Congo and Nile water-catchment basins — making it part of the vital watershed network within the Albertine Rift.

Gishwati–Mukura was officially gazetted as a national park in February 2016, becoming Rwanda’s fourth national park.