Akagera National Park Rwanda
Akagera National Park is a famous Savanna reserve that lies in the eastern part of the Republic Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. The Akagera name derives from the river that runs along its eastern boundary at a relatively low altitude on the border with Tanzania.
Akagera National Park covers an area of 1,122 sq km which is relatively warm and low-lying, and plains support a cover of dense, broad-leafed woodland with lighter acacia woodland and patches of rolling grassland studded eloquently with stands of the superficially cactus-like Euphorbia candelabra shrub which is quite a remarkable eco-system.
Akagera National Park is resident of wildlife species which include buffalo, elephant, topi, Giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, roan antelope and eland. Other antelope are duiker, oribi, bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, bushbuck, impala and other primates which you see during the day include olive baboons, vervets and the secretive blue monkey. Akagera National Park gives you best ever opportunity to spot rare bird species include Shoebill, Caruthers Cisticola, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Red-faced Barbet, Bennett’s Woodpecker, White-winged Warbler, Broad-tailed Warbler, Miombo Wren-Warbler, and White-collared Olive back, and it has a large number of water birds across East Africa making it the great opportunity to bird lover with over 520 bird species are within the Park
What to do In Akagera National Park
The game drive is the prime activity in Akagera National Park which gives you the enjoyment wildlife nature with beautiful sceneries along the Park. Game viewing offers unique opportunity to spot giraffes, Impalas, Topis, the Zebras, bushbucks, African swallows, eland, the vervet monkeys, warthogs, baboons, Mongoose, the hippos, the crocodiles, as well as the elephants.
As driving from the south heading in North, the tracker offers you the most magnificent views of the top of the mountain across Lake Ihema towards Tanzania with adventurous experience. A night game drive is quite different from the day – at night there is a good opportunity to see the nocturnal animals which include a few leopards, a Lion, with several cats, civets, lions, hyenas all look for their dinner night.
Bird watching
Bird watching experience in Akagera National Park is an awesome experience which always impressed by water birds and forest bird species and many of these are endemic to the Akagera National Park, such bird spices include the gorgeous lilac-breasted roller, black-headed gonalek, heuglin’s robin-chat, grey hornbill, Ross’s turaco, crested barbet, red-faced barbet, swamp flycatcher (Muscicapa boehmi) and many more.
Boat trip on Lake Ihema
The boat trip takes place on Lake Ihema which is the biggest lake in the Park, the boat trip offers beautiful scenery that will expose you to plenty of nature. Boat trip in Akagera National Park is the best way to see the various water birds during your safari in Rwanda. As a result, you will have an opportunity to closely observe these bird species and wildlife mammals that will come to drink water on Lake Banks include; the rare shoebill storks, African fish eagles, crowned cranes and marabou stork’s elephants, buffalos. On another hand, you will see many hippos and crocodiles.
Cultural tours
Akagera National Park has a partnership with the local communities, the freelance community guides have also organized for some interesting safaris as well as cultural adventures for park visitors to participate in. Music and dance play an indispensable role in everyday life here, and performances range from dashing demonstrations of bravery and prowess to humorous songs, light-hearted dances, and rural artistry with roots in traditional agriculture, the Heritage which is the culture of cattle, the local production that’s beers and the bees, arts, and crafts as well as the celebration which is food and festivities. Each of these safaris gives a glance into the life in communities around the park
Fishing on Lake Shakani in Akagera National Park
Fishing as an activity is done on Lake Shakani around the year, spend relaxing day fishing off the lakeshore and then cook your catch over an open fire at the campsite. Where you can come with own gear or rent from the park where you can fish for the whole day from the shores of Lake Shakani as you experience in different methods of fishing Hooking, The Gill nesting, The Lam, The Spearing and shooting method, Cast net, The Scoop net, The Spearing and shooting method. While here, remember the hippos also stay in the water during the day as well as the banks of the shores are also gently sloped you can see any crocodile that is approaching before they consume you. This means that there is nothing to worry about as you are fishing.
Campsites in Akagera National Park
There are three campsites that offer basic facilities for the overnight stays within the park, each campsite has its uniqueness and memorable camping adventure experience depending on which camp you have gone for. They are three in numbers which are Muyumbu, Shakani, and Mutamba Akagera Campsite.
Best time to visit Akagera National Park
Akagera Park has two dry seasons: the long dry season runs from June, July, August, and September (the best time to visit), while the short dry spell lasts from mid-December to mid-February. Visiting Akagera National Park to view the incredible wildlife in their natural environment, you must choose the dry season for a visit.
It because the undergrowth is sparse, and, since animals and birds converge on the water bodies to drink, they are easy to spot and there are also fewer bugs and navigating the forest roads in safari vehicles is a lot easier. These seasons are also perfect for combining your travel with a trek in Volcanoes National Park to view the famed mountain gorillas of Rwanda.
How to get there
Akagera national park is located in the North Eastern region of Rwanda about 110 km from Kigali the capital of Rwanda, which is about a 2 and a half house drive. The Park is beautiful with lush green scenery and lots of wildlife and birds to see.