Akagera National Park

Akagera national park is a unique national park as it is the only savannah national park in Rwanda, the park is a perfect place to visit if you are interest in seeing large animals on your Rwanda safari.

Akagera national park is situated in Eastern Rwanda with Kibungu as the nearest city and serves as the start point for safaris to the park, the park is found on the Rwanda – Tanzania border.

Akagera national park covers an expanse of more than 2,500 square kilometers west of River Kagera which represents the border of Rwanda with Tanzania, the park consists of swamps, open grasslands, lakes, woodland and savannah.

Akagera national park is named after River Kagera / Akagera which runs through the park, the landscape of the park is made of up of open savannah plains, pleasant hills broad leafed-forests, candelabra euphoria trees and lakes teaming with Nile crocodiles and impressive large concentration of hippos

“The complex blend of landscapes, vegetation and animals in Akagera national park makes the park a very unique place on the planet that is worth preserving no matter the cost for the future generations “as stated by Jean Pierre Vande in the Conservation Magazine Africa Environment and wildlife.

The park comprises of steep well cultivated hills and the breezy climate which characterize the rest of Rwanda, Akagera is found at a low altitude on the Rwanda – Tanzania border protecting a typical African savannah terrain of tangled acacia and brachystegia bush, scattered with pieces of open grassland and a couple of lakes surrounded by swamps which follow the winding course of River Akagera.

Akagera national park is a home to a diversity of wildlife and a variety of bird species recorded to be over 500 bird species.

Wildlife in Akagera national park

Akagera national park is a big game haven with herds of giant elephants and cape buffaloes that emerge from savannah woodland to the lakes to drink water. Wildlife in Akagera national include spotted hyenas, leopards, lions, giraffes, zebras, antelopes such as the chestnut – coated impalas, bushbucks, cape elands, tsessebe, Oribis, Common Duiker,  Klipspringer, semi – aquatic Sitatunga Antelopes, roan antelopes, large Eland Antelopes, Bohor Reedbuck, Defassa waterbucks, Topi, Nile crocodiles and hippos found close to the lake.

Akagera national park also host rarely seen animals including the black tailed mongoose, catlike genet, black-masked civet, serval cats, warthogs and bush pigs.

In Akagera national park, there are also primates such as vervet monkeys, olive baboons, wide eyed bush babies and rarely seen blue monkeys.  .

Birdlife in Akagera national park

Akagera national park is a home to a prolific birdlife with over 520 bird species include 100 species that can only be seen in the park, birds in Akagera national park include.

 

• Raptors such as papyrus gonolek, shoebill stocks.
• Migrant bird species such as lesser kestrel and the great snipe
• Zambian home species such as the suaza shrike, arnot chat and the long tailed cistola.

Among the birds in Akagera national parks there is a great numbers of water birds inhabiting with the swamps including the shoebill stork, papyrus gonolek, grand fish eagles among others.

Birds in Akagera national park Include the remarkable 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, and Pied Crow. Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Caruther’s Cisticola

Rwanda Safari activities in Akagera national park

Game drives

Game viewing / game drives are always of full of excitement and surprises in Akagera national park, during this memorable Rwanda safari activity you get to see various animals inhabiting in the park and take as many photo as you possibly could. Expect to see lions, various kinds of antelopes, elephants, cape buffaloes, monkeys, baboons, giraffes among others.

During the game drives, you are accompanied by an experienced guide who is very knowledgeable about Akagera national park and its wildlife, these guides are a source of information and you should utilize them.

Nocturnal game drives

Akagera national park is one of the few national parks in the East African region offering night game drive experience, on this experience spot lights are used to see animals in the night which can be surreal and exciting.

Night game drive offer an opportunity to some of the animals which are hard to see during day most especially predators that come out at night, on this Akagera safari activity expect to see leopards, hyenas, civets and bush babies. You will also be able to see nocturnal birds.

Guided nature walks

Guided nature walks in Akagera national park are done on foot offers you an opportunity to explore various aspects of the park and learn more about the flora and fauna in Akagera.

This activity is very refreshing, interesting and educational. For the purposes of security, you are escorted by an armed ranger in case of any from the animals.

Bird watching

Akagera national park is recognized as one of the Important Birding Areas and rewarding birding spots in spots in Rwanda and East Africa as well, the park is a home to over 520 bird species which makes it a perfect African safari destination for the avid bird water.

Birds in Akagera national park include the rare and threatened Papyrus gonolek, the elusive shoebill storks, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed, Water Thick-knee, fish eagles, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, and Pied Crow. Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers and Grey-backed Fiscals among others.

 Fishing

Akagera national park consists of lakes and the thrilling fishing activity is done along the shores of Lake Shakani, during this activity you will be able to catch tilapia, cat fish and also enjoy watching the hippos, Nile crocodiles and many water birds.

 Boat rides

Boating safaris/ boat rides in Akagera national park are exciting experience done on Lake Ihema, the lake is a home to one of the largest concentrations of hippos in the region and has numerous crocodiles that come to the shores of the lake to drink water and bathe. On the boat ride you will see various water birds, hippos and crocodiles along the shores of Lake Ihema.

How to get to Akagera national park

From Kigali city, it is a drive of approximately 2 hours to get to Akagera national park through Rwamagana. Visitors enter the park using the Southern gate and the Northern Gate is currently used only for exit.

There is an option of flying to Akagera national park which is offered by the Akagera Aviation.

Safari lodges and camps in Akagera national park

Accommodation options in Akagera national park include

• Magashi Lodge
• Ruzizi Tented Camp
• Karenge Bush Camp ( Seasonal)
• Akagera game lodge

 Akagera national park is one of the best national parks in Rwanda and it is worth visiting that is why you should add it to your safari itinerary to Rwanda as well a combined East Africa safari.