Long ago the mid altitude mountain range that extends in a North - South orientation all along Lake Kivu (generally referred to as the Congo - Nile divide) was covered with dense forests, most of which have now vanished. Around 30km outside the lakeside town of Gisenyi a remnant of this great forest still survives; Gishwati Forest. An ambitious project has been approved by the Rwandan authorities, aiming at re-foresting a much larger area of the Congo - Nile divide around Gishwati and in the longer run at re-connecting Gishwati forest with the Nyungwe Forest National Park through a natural forest corridor of more than 50km.
A small relict population of Chimpanzees still survives in the Gishwati forest and is the focus of the most urgent conservation efforts. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is suporting the Gishwati Forest Conservation project in the development and promotion of nature orientated eco-tourism in the forest.
Two very scenic hiking trails are now open to visitors. They give the opportunity to discover the forest habitats; primary forest, degraded forest, and regenerating forest and to understand better the formidable challenge at stake. And for the lucky visitors there is the chance of observing wild chimpanzees in their natural environment.
