Akagera National Park is located in the eastern part of Rwanda. The park derives its name from Kagera River, which flows along Rwanda’s eastern border with Tanzania. The park is composed of grassland, sitting on over 2500 square kilometers in size. Akagera National Park is the best place to go on safari in Rwanda for those seeking adventure
The park is covered with open grassland, African grasslands, acacia, wetland, lakes making it a perfect home for the animals. Akagera National Park gives one an optimistic outlook of the the big five while your n your safari game drive whether morning or evening.
Attractions in Akagera National Park
Wildlife
Akagera National Park is a popular safari destination in Rwanda. It is home to many different kinds of animals, the incredible big five mammals such as lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and leopards. In addition to these animals, the park has hyenas, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, bushbucks, waterbucks, topis, roan antelopes, duikers, impalas, cape elands, and many more. Without leaving the big groups of hippos and crocodiles that can be seen on your boat cruise along lake Ihema.
Bird species
Are you a bird lover or been craving a birding experience? Akagera is the perfect place for you. The park has over 550 different kinds of birds, such as the beautiful shoebill stork, Amur falcon, Blue-headed coucal, Booted eagle, Blue-spooted wood dove, Cabanis’s bunting, Caspian plover, Grasshopper buzzard, Lesser jacana, March owl, Martial eagle, Papyrus gonolek and among others.
Activities to do in Akagera National Park
Game drives
There are different ways to explore the Park and game drives is the best way to do this. This is the best part of a safari, especially in the morning when the animals are out, active and not hiding like leopards, hyenas, lions, elephants, buffalos, antelopes, zebras, and other animals, without forgetting watching various colorful bird species. The park also has beautiful wild flowers that give tourists who like to take pictures the greatest chances to do so, giving them the best safari memories.
Bird watching
If you are interested in birds, Akagera National Park is the best location to go on a bird watching safari. This is because it gives people the best chances to see beautiful and fascinating bird species. For instance, Marsh tchagra, papyrus Gonolek, shoebill stork, Marsh owl, Ross’s turaco, weavers, kingfishers, Shelley’s francolin, Short-tailed pipit Sooty falcon, Western reef heron and others. On the other hand, you can see birds in the park during game drives, guided nature walks, boat cruise safaris on Lake Ihema. This gives bird lovers the chances to see aquatic bird species that you would not see anywhere else in the park. When people go on a bird-watching safari at Akagera National Park, they can see a wide range of beautiful bird species. This makes their safari the most amazing and memorable one they have never experienced.
Boat cruise
Boat cruise safari in the Park is the best way to see the park’s animals, since most of them come to the lake’s edge to drink water or cool off. You can also see a variety of water birds, a school of hippos, and crocodiles while on a boat cruise safari in the park.
Most of the time, boat cruise safaris can be done during the day in the park, but private ones can be done upon request, at night or on an unplanned boat cruise.
Sport fishing
Akagera National Park gives you an opportunity to carry out sport fishing on Lake Shakani. However, one ought to make reservations before to avoid any inconveniences. You will also enjoy fish dinner from the fish you caught.
Cultural Tours
Tourists who come to discover Akagera National Park have an opportunity to experience the rural Rwandan life near the park’s cattle settlements. A Rwanda safari is not complete without doing the cultural tours, where tourists take part in traditional activities like grazing cattle, milking them, and making ghee, yoghurt, and other products from the milk. You can also use the ingredients from the milk products to make dinner with the other tourists hence giving you the best safari experiences you will ever have.
Best time to visit Akagera National Park
The Park can be visited at any time of the year, but the best time to go is between June and September, when the season is warmer. During this period, the park’s flora can be thick, making it easier to see animals. At this time, animals tend to gather around the park’s water sources, making it easier for tourists to see them.
Where to stay in Akagera National Park
Tourists who come to visit Akagera National Park are stipulated with the multiple and ideal accommodation facilities that are under Budget, Mid-range and luxury accommodations that includes the Ruzizi Tented camp, Magasha camp, Akagera Game Lodge, Karenge Bush camp, Mutumba campsite, Akagera Rhino Lodge, Karenga Bush Camp, and among others.
How to get to Akagera National Park
You can find Akagera National Park from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda while using the Rwamagana town, and using the southern gate, the drive takes you around 2 hours to get there. Akagera Aviation is another way for people who do not want to take the road to get around the island.