Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is situated in Rwanda and provides all types of visitors with fantastic Rwandan wildlife safaris. Your best destination for a safari is Akagera National Park. Located at a relatively low altitude near Tanzania’s border, Akagera National Park features 1,200 km2 of drafted, farmed hills that resemble those in Rwanda. In 1934, it was formally declared a national park with the aim of protecting the various wildlife species that call the densely forested Savannah grasslands, marshes, and mountains home.

It was named for the majestic Akagera River, which flows along the eastern border and empties its freshwater into several lakes, including the well-known Lake Ihema. It is also known as the remote source of the River Nile.  Beautiful, picturesque scenery can be found throughout the park, such as the Savannah grasslands with their lush vegetation and acacia woodlands, home to a variety of wildlife including buffalo, hyenas, crocodiles, zebras, antelope, chesnut-coated impala, oribi, and pods of hippos.

Akagera National Park, often regarded as one of the most picturesque in all of central-eastern Africa, boasts an amazing diversity of life, from rare and elusive birds that frequent the marshes to huge herds of herbivores that graze the broad plains. With the reintroduction of lions and rhinos, Akagera today has healthy populations of these animals in addition to elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and leopard. The rivers are also home to hippopotamuses and massive crocodiles.

Akagera is the largest protected wetland in eastern-central Africa, covering 1,200 km² of land, of which a third is covered by water. It is a breathtaking open expanse of nature with wetlands and lakes. Papyrus gonolek and red-faced barbet are two of the endemic species that birdwatchers might look for at Lake Victoria.

Akagera is a lovely and easily accessible park. For those residing in Rwanda, it can serve as a quick escape, an intriguing complement to Nyungwe National Park, or a simple add-on prior to or following a gorilla visit. Considering its modest size, Akagera is home to a diverse range of animals. The amount of animals in the park has significantly increased since African Parks was requested to take over management in 2010. Enjoy fantastic animal sightings without the crowds at Akagera, which is still a relatively untapped gem.

Activities in Akagera National Park

Wildlife Game Drives

Due to the numerous trails that are typically taken to witness animal species including buffalo, elephants, hippos, zebras, crocodiles, giraffes, hyenas, leopards, lions, antelopes, birds, bush babies, etc., game drives are a particularly popular activity in Akagera National Park. Beautiful undulating hills merging with picturesque lowland water features and wetlands can also be seen when on a wildlife drive.

Bird Watching

According to Birdlife International, Akagera National Park is a well-liked spot for bird watching in Rwanda and an Important Birding Area. Birdwatchers can look for rare species like the locally found red-faced barbet and the nearly threatened papyrus gonolek, which are only found in papyrus wetlands. With so many water birds, the boat safari on Lake Ihema offers a fascinating bird watching experience. While on the wildlife drive, more birding is done, with the option to make stops at other intriguing locations.

Boat Cruise

When the animals are visiting the waters for a drink in the afternoon, taking a boat ride on Lake Ihema is a pleasant activity. Additionally, it’s the ideal location for basking crocodiles, schools of hippos, and aquatic fowl. Four boat cruises are planned each day at 7.30 a.m., 9 a.m., 3.30 p.m., and 5 p.m. Non-scheduled, private visits are an alternative that can be planned at different times to accommodate the client’s schedule.

Fishing

Sport fishing is a thrilling activity that may make the entire vacation in Rwanda truly remarkable and unique if done with staff fishing equipment and a legal permission. Because of their enormous abundance in the seas, tilapia are the most commonly caught fish.

Guided Nature Walks

Akagera provides the chance to stroll around and take in the breathtaking surroundings while listening to the diverse melodies of singing birds. It’s a relaxing stroll through the park with beautiful views of the surrounding areas and animals.

On a community walk, you will explore the neighborhoods that are not part of the park, where you may experience the customs and traditions of the Kinyarwanda people, including their varied cattle-keeping activities. You will see several processes related to processing, storing in calabashes, and preserving milk.