Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is the only savannah national park in Rwanda and the only Rwanda wildlife safari destination located in the Eastern region of Rwanda. Akagera covers an area of 2500 square kilometers composed of African savannah landscape of acacia and bush with patched of open grassland and numerous swampy lakes that is Lake Ihema, Lake Shakani and other smaller lakes.
Akagera gets its name from Akagera river flowing along Rwanda’s eastern boundary with Tanzania, Akagera river feeds Lake Ihema and other smaller lakes in and around the park. Akagera protects an exceptional biodiversity and it is the only place in Rwanda to see most of large mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, lions and leopards. There are other small mammals found in Akagera include antelopes, bushbucks, topis, impala, Klipspringer, duiker, roan antelope, oribis, waterbuck, hippos, crocodiles, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, bush babies among others.
The park is an important birding area in Rwanda and an excellent Rwanda birding safari destination, the park is a great habitat for over 500 bird species including shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed, Water Thick-knee, fish eagles, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, Pied Crow, Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Caruthers Cisticola among others.
Things to do in Akagera national park
Game drives
Akagera is the only savannah national park in Rwanda where Rwanda game viewing safaris are done, game drives in Akagera national park done in 4X4 wheel safari vehicles with open roof tops allowing you to spot many animals such as elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, giraffes, among others. Game drives in Akagera are best done in early morning and evening, game drives also offer an opportunity to enjoy viewing the beautiful landscape of the park and takes scenic pictures if you are a photographer.
Birding
The park is a popular destination for Rwanda birding safaris and an important birding area in Rwanda, Akagera national park boosts more than 525 bird species including savannah birds, water birds and raptors which make the park a birding haven for bird enthusiasts. Birds in this park reside in the three habitats of the park that is savannah, mountain and swamp, some of the birds spotted in Akagera during Rwanda birding safari include shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed, Water Thick-knee, fish eagles, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, Pied Crow, Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Caruther’s Cisticola among others.
Boat safari
Boat safari in Akagera national park is a thrilling adventure offered on Lake Ihema, Lake Ihema is the second largest lake in Rwanda situated in the south region of the park. The lake is fed by the Akagera River covering 90 kilometers, during your boat safari on the cool waters of Lake Ihema you get an opportunity many animals living in water that is hippo and crocodiles. Many other animals such as elephants, antelopes are spotted drinking along the shores of the lake, the shores of Lake Ihema surrounded by seasonal and perennial papyrus swamps are a home to many bird species such as jacanas, herons, sandpipers, hawk, shoebills, plovers, papyrus Gonolek, malachite kingfisher among others which are also spotted during boat safari in Akagera national park.
Sportfishing
Sportfishing in Akagera is a bonding adventure for tourists done on Lake Shakani. Lake Shakani is situated is the only lake in Rwanda where Rwanda fishing safari is offered, the lake is situated in the southern region of the park in a few kilometers northeast of the park’s headquarters. Tourists wishing to do sport fishing in Akagera national park are required to make a booking to get permission to do the activity, fish species such as catfish and Tilapia are caught during sport fishing in Akagera.
Cultural tours
Around Akagera, there are local communities where Rwanda cultural tours are offered, the local communities along the boundaries of the park are typical cattle rearing communities and visiting these communities offers an opportunity to get an insight in the local lifestyle of these people. During Rwanda cultural tours in the local communities in Akagera national park you will have an opportunity to participate in traditional cattle grazing, milking of the cattle, traditional way of storing milk in calabashes for preservation, process of converting milk into different products such as traditional yogurt, ghee and many others.
How to get to Akagera national park
Akagera is a very accessible Rwanda safari destination situated in a drive from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda through Rwamagana to town, it is a drive of approximately 2 hours to arrive to the park’s entrance. Akagera national park is entered using the Southern gate (the only entrance gate) and the northern gate is currently used only for exit purposes.
Accommodation in Akagera national park
In Akagera national park, accommodation is offered in a various safari lodges and tented camps which are categorized as luxury, midrange and budget, safari lodges and camps in Akagera include Mugashi lodge, Ruzizi Tented camp, Karenge Bushcamp, and Akagera game lodge.
