Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park

On a visit to Rwanda be rest assured of enjoying an amazing experience on a game drive to Akagera national park. The park is named for the Kagera River which flows along with its eastern boundary feeding into Lake Ihema and several smaller lakes. The park stretches to 2,500 sq kilometers to the eastern part bordering with Tanzania with vast savannah land where you can get to view plenty of wildlife in the country on your safari.

Akagera national part is dominated by swamps and small lakes which flow to river Kagera which add up a great spectacular eco-system and beautiful scenery of the park, being the only wildlife park in the country it’s is where you get to see the Big five wildlife primates, flora, and fauna, bird species among other attractions which can be found along within the park.

Activities that can be carried out in the park

Game drive safaris

Parc National de l’Akagera was gazetted for the conservation of wildlife species and thus after the early wars which occurred in the country and a lot was destroyed in the park, later on, a rival of these adventurous species was re-introduced with some of the big five primates which had been on extinction for example; black rhinos were introduced from Tanzania, seven lions from South Africa and thus the national park is now home to all of Africa’s “big five”: lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalos. Game drives in Akagera national park are conducted out in the morning and evening hours or you can instead request a special full day game drive which can be arranged for you by your travel agency. Be assured of meeting other animals in the park apart from the big five like bushbucks, Topis, Oribis, water-buck, roan antelope and duiker, klipspringer, impala and world largest antelope – the Cape eland and other primate animals like olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, blue monkeys and bush babies who are often seen on night drives.

Game drives in the park are conducted when you’re in your safari vehicle with an experienced driver-guide who is more knowledgeable about the different trails where you can trace what you desire to see most on your safari, you can get to take plenty of pictures from the viewpoint in your vehicle before proceeding back from the activity.

Bird watching experience

Akagera national park is a one-stop center for bird watching experience where the park has over 500 recorded bird species with both endemic, savannah, and as well migratory bird species. Be rest assured to meet some of the rare species like the shoebill stock, red-faced barbets, papyrus gonolex, Giant kingfisher, African Darter, African Wattled Plover, Grey Crowned Crane, Senegal Lapwings, African Openbill stock among others. Indeed birders to this park will be thrilled on their experience as the park has plenty to offer on the safari.

Boat cruise execution

A refreshing moment around the park can be evidenced once you plan for a boat cruise experience, this planned execution is one of a kind where you take a boat ride on Lake Ihema or any other Lakes and Rivers around the park, the activity is carried out during the day where scheduled trips are done in three-shift; in the morning, afternoon and sunset, getting near the water banks here you not only enjoy the fresh air on the lake but rather watch plenty of animals sloping down for shelter and relaxation, more so you get to see plenty of other aquatic life like hippos, Nile Crocodiles, elephants and as well have an opportunity to closely observe various bird species.

Nature walk

Nature can best be enjoyed when you’re up close to everything, visitors to the park can enjoy best the savannah landscape and the neighboring communities through nature trails. Therefore with the help of an experienced guide, you can get the opportunity to see things up close. The exotic plants, colorful butterfly species, the still water in some of the lakes, the water birds, the smaller animals that you couldn’t see quite well on the game drive in a very peaceful environment

Sport Fishing on Lake Shakani

Sportfishing is one of the unique experiences you can encounter on your safari to Akagera national park, the activity is done along the shores of Lake Shakani and the best part of it is that you are given an opportunity to catch one and opt to take it after for a meal, however, this activity requires private arrangement and will require you to book for a separate arrangement before it is done.

Cultural tour

Rwandan culture is symbolized by the long-horned cattle and thus are cattle keepers, getting to know the life around the cattle keeping communities is one of the amazing experiences where you can get to interact with the locals and learn some of the basic cattle keeping practices of converting milk into ghee, making local yogurt and as well directly contribute to local community projects to enhance their standards of living.

How to access Akagera national park

The park can be accessed by either air or road transport whereby by road the drive lasts for two hours from Kigali through Rwamagana town to Akagera national park (entrance is only through southern gate. Northern gate is currently used only for exit) and as well you can book for charted flights through Akagera Aviation to easily access the park.