Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park.
Akagera National Park is situated in the eastern part of Rwanda. The name of the park comes from the Kagera River, which flows along Rwanda’s eastern border with Tanzania. The park consists primarily of made up of grassland, and it is 2500 square kilometers in size. Akagera National Park is an excellent destination to go on safari in Rwanda. Many people come to the park to see the different animals.
With more animals in the park, Akagera National Park has a lot of different places for them to live, such as open grassland, African grasslands, acacia, wetland, lakes, and more. Akagera National Park is a peculiar national park in Rwanda. It is known as the savannah national park and is the sole location where tourists can see all five of the “big five” mammals while on safari. This is especially amazing on the game drive, when you can see the park from a 4WD, land cruiser safari vehicle.
Attractions in Akagera national park.
- Wildlife.
Akagera National Park is a favorite destination for safaris in Rwanda. It is home to many different kinds of animals, such as lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and leopards. In addition to these animals, the park has hyenas, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, bushbucks, waterbucks, topis, roan antelopes, duikers, impalas, cape elands, and many more. Without rendering beneath the large schools of hippos, crocodiles appear to be delighting in the sun rise near Lake Ihema. And primates like the Vervet monkeys, bush babies, blue monkeys and many more.
- Bird species.
Because there are so many different kinds of environments in Akagera National Park, it is the best place to go birding. The park has over 480 different kinds of birds, such as the beautiful shoebill stork, Caspian plover, Crested barbet, Denham’s bustard, Dimorphic egret, Double-toothed barbet, Eleonora’s falcon, Grasshopper buzzard, Lesser jacana, Lesser moorhen, Marsh owl, Marsh tchagra, Martial eagle, Moustached grass-warbler, Northern brown-throated weaver, Papyrus gonolek, Pennant-winged nightjar, Red-faced barbet, Red-winged francolin, Ring-necked francolin, Ross’s turaco, Ruaha chat, Rufous-bellied heron, Semi-collared flycatcher, Shelley’s francolin and among others.
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Activities to do in Akagera National Park.
- Game drives.
Game drives in Akagera National Park is done in different phases. This is the best part of a tour, especially in the morning when the animals are out and not hiding. This is the best time for tourists to see leopards, hyenas, lions, elephants, buffalos, antelopes, zebras, and other animals. The park also has beautiful wild flowers that give tourists who like to take pictures the best safari opportunities to do so, giving them the best safari memories.
- Bird watching.
If you like birds, Akagera National Park is the most ideal destination to go on a bird watching safari. This is because it gives people the best chances to see beautiful and interesting bird species. For instance, papyrus Gonolek, shoebill stork, weavers, kingfishers, and others. On the other hand, you can see birds in the park during game drives, guided nature walks, boat cruise safaris on Lake Ihema. This gives bird lovers the chance to see aquatic bird species that you wouldn’t see anywhere else in the park. When people go on a bird-watching safari at Akagera National Park, they can see a wide range of beautiful bird species. This makes their safari the most amazing and memorable one they’ve ever been on.
- Boat cruise.
Boat cruise safari in Akagera National Park is the most effective way to see the park’s spectacular creatures, since most of them come to the lake’s edge to drink water or cool off. You can also see a variety of water birds, a school of hippos, and crocodiles while on a boat cruise safari in the park. Mostly in the park the boat cruise safari can be carried out during the day although the private one can be undertaken on the unexpectedly boat ride during their leisure time.
- Sport fishing.
Sport fishing safari can be carried out in Akagera National Park on Lake Shakani, which is prevalent with tourists. You need to make a reservation with the park, and the goal is to catch and release the fish, but you can also keep one fish for dinner if you want. This is one of the best safari moments.
- Cultural Tours.
Near the park’s cattle villages, tourists who come to see Akagera National Park get the best chance to see how people in rural Rwanda live. A Rwanda safari isn’t complete without the cultural tours, where tourists take part in traditional activities like grazing cattle, milking them, and making ghee, yoghurt, and other products from the milk. You can also organize a dinner using the milk products. This will give you the best safari experiences you’ll ever have.
Best time to visit Akagera National Park.
- Akagera national park can be visited at any time of the year, but the best time to go is between June and September, when the weather doesn’t change much and its warmer. During that time, the park’s vegetation can be short, making it easier to see animals. During that time, animals tend to gather around the park’s water sources, making it easier to see them.
Where to stay in Akagera national park.
- Tourists who arrive to explore Akagera national park are stipulated with the different and most effective accommodation facilities that are according to Budget, Mid-range and luxury accommodations that includes the Ruzizi Tented camp, Akagera Game Lodge, Karenge Bush camp, Mutumba campsite, Akagera Rhino Lodge, Karenga Bush Camp, and among others.
How to get to Akagera National Park.
- You are able to reach Akagera National Park from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda while using the Rwamagana town, and using the southern gate, the drive requires you around 2 hours to get there. Also there is air transport alternatives for the tourists who would like not to use the road transport, using Akagera Aviation.