Akagera National Park, Rwanda-Wildlife Safaris

Akagera National park is a perfect home for wildlife viewing with a variety of animals including, elephants, buffalos, giraffe, zebras, leopards, hyenas, lions. It is also considered a home to various antelopes such as bushbucks, Topis, Oribis, water-buck, roan antelope and duiker, klipspringer, impala and world largest antelope – the Cape eland.

Chances are high of spotting schools of hippos and crocodiles basking in the sun near lake Ihema. The common primates in Akagera national park are olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, blue monkeys and bush babies who are often seen on night drives.

A kagera national park is a protected area situated in Eastern Rwanda, spanning 1122km² along the international border with Tanzania. The park was established in 1934 covering the Savannah, montane and swamp habitatas. A kagera National Park derives its name from River Kagera which flows along its Eastern boundry feeding into Lake Ihema and various smaller lakes. A third of the park is made up of the complex system of the lakes alongside the linking papyrus swamps, hence making it the largest protected wetland in Eastern-Central Africa.

How to get to Akagera national Park

Go on a self drive or guided tour with 4×4 car rental Burundi, to Akagera National Park, which is located 2 ½ hours drive a way from Kigali international airport. Getting to Akagera is best by a 4×4 rental fleet because it is a 4×4 self drive or car rental with a driver in Rwanda.

Akagera National Park- a wildlife destination is located in Eastern Rwanda, 120km from Kigali.

Whereas, a flight to Akagera National park from Kigali is only 22 mins by charter flights from Akagera Aviation Charter helicopter, which also transfers to most parts of the country. There are no domestic flights to the Park.

Things to Do in Akagera National Park

Game Drives in Akagera National Park

Akagera National park game drives are done in 4×4 rental fleets, driving along the tracks, through the green savannah plains, via wide-leaved woodlands and into a home of several mammal species. Most tour guides or drivers taking on the gamedrives know where most animals usually spend their day such as The Defassa Waterbuck, Topis, Bohor Reedbucks, Oribis, Semi-Aquatic Sitatunga, Eland, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Elephants, Lions and the recently reintroduced Rhinos are some of the mammals found in the park.

Night game drive are also memorable to spot nocturnal animals especially the wide-eyed bush babies, serval cats, civets, leopards. Travelers are guided by their flashlight to see these mammals.

Nature Walks

Akagera national park offers incredible nature walks in a few areas of the park alongside a ranger guide. This proves to be good way to explore the park outside of the comfort zone of a 4×4 car. Nature walks allows more time and engagement concerning butterflies, insects and plants that you could easily miss while on a safari.

Fishing at Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park offers an opportunity of sport fishing on both Lake Shakani and Ihema. Bookings are required to made early with the park for sport fishing on this lake. Although the expectation is catch and release, you are given an opportunity to take one catch for a meal if interested.

Birding in Akagera national Park

Akagera National park is the best destination for birding, due because it ahome of about 500 species of Birds. A vid birders are able to encounter and spot a diverse array of bird species such as;  shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed and Water Thick-knee.

Not forgetting fish eagles, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, and Pied Crow. Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Caruther’s Cisticola and more

Boat Safari in A kagera national Park

The best way to enjoy A kagera National Park is by taking a boat ride on Lake Ihema. The boat ride provides an opportunity to come up close with the wild game who come by lake to drink water, while other come for cooling along the lake shores. Besides water birds, there are also schools of hippos and crocodiles by the lake shores.