Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park Rwanda is one of the best places to go to for Rwanda wildlife safaris. Akagera National Park is the best savannah park in Rwanda from where tourists who do visit Rwanda can enjoy activities like game drives and walking safaris to see the various animals in Akagera National Park. Established in 1939 by the Belgian colonial government for the sole purpose of conserving the wildlife in the park, Akagera National Park once hosted the largest population of wild dogs as well as lions which were hunted to extinction, with the rhino population in the park also drastically reducing over the years. Thanks to the great efforts of the Rwanda Development Board however, restoration works have been fruitful with Akagera National Park slowly returning to her former glory of hosting a variety of wildlife which tourists can see while in the park.
Akagera National Park Location
Akagera National Park is located in the north eastern province, in Kayonza district about 2 and a half hours only from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Akagera National Park covers about 2500 square kilometers, making it the largest protected wetland in Central Africa. Akagera National Park is named after River Akagera that flows along the eastern border with Tanzania, feeding into Lake Ihema and other small lakes.
Akagera National Park is the last remaining home for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. The park is composed of mostly vast open savannah grassland and landscape which includes acacia and bushes. Akagera National Park Rwanda also has a number of swampy lakes, abundant flora and fauna which travellers can enjoy while in the park.
Attractions in Akagera National Park
There are a number of Akagera National Park attractions which tourists can enjoy when they do visit Rwanda on Rwanda safari tours, especially Rwanda wildlife safari tours in Akagera National Park. Below are the various attractions in Akagera National Park that tourists can enjoy while in the park;
Animals in Akagera National Park
The various wildlife in Akagera National Park that travellers can spot while in the park, on various activities in Akagera National Park include buffaloes, elephants, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, lions, topis, duikers, eland, impala, hippos and crocodiles among so many others can be seen while in the park. Animals in Akagera National Park can be seen with game drives in the park, which can be done all throughout the day. Primates like vervet monkeys and olive baboons among others can be seen in Akagera National Park.
Akagera National Park birds
There are over 500 bird species recorded in Akagera National Park, making the park one of the best birding destinations in Rwanda. Birds in Akagera National Park that travellers can spot while on bird watching safaris in the park include African Darter, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Long-crested Eagle, augur Buzzard, Senegal lapwings, shoebill stork, among so many others. Akagera National Park is an Important Birding Area in Rwanda.
Akagera National Park Activities
Game drives
Game drives in Akagera National Park are the most done activity in the park, taking travellers through the vast savannah grasslands of the park in search of the various wildlife in Akagera National Park. game drives in Akagera National Park take place all throughout the day, with the early morning game drives and evening game drives being the most rewarding, as the animals do go in hiding to keep away from the sun sometimes. Game drives in Akagera National Park have travellers spotting a variety of wildlife in the park like elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, zebras and giraffes among so many others.
Birding
Birding in Akagera National Park is popular among travellers who do visit Rwanda for bird watching safaris. Akagera National Park is a birder’s haven, with over 500 bird species recorded to inhabit the park. With a variety of bird species in Akagera National Park, birding safaris are a great opportunity to be done here, giving you an opportunity to spot a variety of birds in the park. Be sure to have a good bird guide, and a pair of binoculars.
Boat safaris
Boat safaris in Akagera National Park take travellers on a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Look out for various animals in Lake Ihema like crocodiles and hippos, as well as other animals on the shores as they do come for a dip or drink say elephants. There are scheduled boat trips on Lake Ihema as well as private unscheduled boat trips as per your schedule.
Sport fishing
Sport fishing can be done in Akagera National Park. Sport fishing in Akagera National Park can be done on Lake Shakani, to catch a variety of fish that can be found in the lake. Sport fishing in Akagera National Park is a catch and release, but can be given an opportunity to have your catch for a meal.
Walking safaris
Walking safaris in Akagera National Park are a great opportunity to explore the park to see more that the park has to offer. Walking safaris in Akagera National Park are done in the company of a park guide, through well set trails giving you an opportunity to appreciate the biodiversity and beauty of the park.
Cultural tours
Cultural tours in Akagera National Park have travellers experiencing the rural Rwandan life of the locals in the communities round the park. You get an opportunity to do various local activities with the people say cattle grazing, milking, among other activities.
How to get to Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park can be reached by both air and road, depending on what you do prefer as a traveller. By road, Akagera National Park from Kigali is about only 2 hours and a half away, driving through Rwamagana town to the southern gate of Akagera National Park. By air, travellers can opt to use Akagera aviation to get to Akagera National Park from Kigali, to see the various Akagera National Park wildlife.
Best time to visit Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park can be visited all throughout the year. The best time to visit Akagera National Park for game viewing is however during the dry season when the grass is thinner prompting easy game viewing, and the animals in Akagera National Park do congregate in the few waterholes available in the park. The best time to visit Akagera National Park for birding safaris is during the wet season which falls in the months of October and November, and March to May.
Akagera National Park accommodation
There are a number of accommodation in Akagera National Park that tourists who do visit Rwanda on Akagera National Park safaris can stay in, say Magashi Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge, Rusizi Tented Camp among so many others. The various accommodation in Akagera National Park are in categories, catering for different kinds of travellers say luxury, mid-range and budget.