Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savanna wildlife park, home to all the big 5 game. This park is located in Eastern Rwanda, established in 1934 and has land area coverage of 1122sq.km. Akagera NP derives its from Kagera River, a river which flows through its Eastern border with Tanzania. Kagera River empties its water into Lake Ihema and many other small lakes in the park and its surrounding.
Akagera National Park is an extensive savanna park with breathtaking landscape. The park’s landscape features bush and acacia vegetation cover. Akagera NP is considerably the largest wetland protected area in East-Central Africa. Swamps and many small lakes dominate this park. Its significant network of water sources and distinct landscape make it one of the most scenic [arks and a rich eco-system.
History
Akagera National Park was established as Rwanda National Park in 1934 and the primary reason was to shelter its diverse animal species and unique vegetation. This is recognized as the Africa’s biggest wetland protected, during establishment, it covered the land area of 2500 sq.km. Its area size reduced by half when the refugees of the 1994 Rwanda genocide returned. A portion of the protected area’s land was given to most refugees to settle and as a result, wildlife conservation became a little challenging.
Attractions in Akagera National Park Rwanda
Wildlife/Animals
Akagera National Park is a splendid park, with animal spotting highlights including large and small mammal species. The diverse animal species in Akagera N/Park include cape elands, roan antelopes, African elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, lions, klipspringers, vervet monkeys, topis, hyenas, oribis, olive baboons, impalas, leopards, rhinos and more.
Bird species
Akagera National Park is home to diverse bird species which thrive in its varied habitat. Its diverse habitats accounts for 500 bird species making it a remarkable birding destination. The birds of Akagera National Park include shoebill stork, squacco herons, African darters, African wattled plovers, water thick-knee, long-toed thick-need, giant kingfish eagles, African open bill stork, Senegal lapwings, grey crowned cranes, long-crested eagles, cattle egrets, pied crow, fan-tailed widowbird, hadada ibis, black-headed & vieillot’s black weaver birds, Augur buzzard, carruther’s cisticolas, knob-billed ducks, fulvous whistling duck, white-faced whistling ducks, red-billed ducks,
Crested francolins, red-winged francolins, coqui francolins, blue quail, shelley’s francolins, ring-necked francolin, grasshopper buzzard, Caspian plover, Northern brown-throated weavers, Denham’s bustards, lesser moorhen, blue-shouldered robin chat, cabanis’s bunting, booted eagle, tabora cisticolas, western reef heron, ruaha chat, and more.
Activities to do in Akagera National Park
Game drives
Akagera National Park is the only National Park in Rwanda where game drives are conducted. The rest of the parks are forest-dominated and frequently visited for primate encounters except Akagera. A guided game drive in Akagera NP takes in the different game trails in the Northern section of the park and offer clear view of wildlife species including the zebras, Maasai giraffes, African bush elephants, buffaloes, cape elands, rhinos, lions, leopards and 100s of bird species.
Boat cruise
If you enjoy viewing aquatic life, then you have every reason to be on a launch/boat cruise on your next Rwanda safari in Akagera National Park. The 2 to 3 hours launch trip gets you exposed to a variety of aquatic life including hippos, crocodiles and birds. Day boat cruise excursion in Akagera NP is done along Lake Ihema.
Birding
Bird watching in Akagera NP offers birder a great opportunity to identify diversity of birds. The available birds to be identified on birding tour in Akagera National Park include water thick-knee, long-toed thick-need, giant kingfish eagles, African open bill stork, Senegal lapwings, grey crowned cranes, long-crested eagles, cattle egrets, pied crow, fan-tailed widowbird, hadada ibis, black-headed & vieillot’s black weaver birds, Augur buzzard, carruther’s cisticolas, knob-billed ducks, fulvous whistling duck, white-faced whistling ducks, red-billed ducks,
Crested francolins, red-winged francolins, coqui francolins, blue quail, shelley’s francolins, ring-necked francolin, grasshopper buzzard, Caspian plover, Northern brown-throated weavers, Denham’s bustards, lesser moorhen, blue-shouldered robin chat, cabanis’s bunting, booted eagle, tabora cisticolas, western reef heron, to mention but a few.
Sport fishing tours
Located in Akagera NP, Lake Shakani is the main location where sport fishing excursions are carried out. On Lake Shakani, expect to catch unique fish species and also get a chance to have one for a meal.
Cultural tours
Next to Akagera NP are many cultural/communities to be visited for cultural interactions. The cultural tour in Akagera is a perfect opportunity for you to experience the actual rural Rwandan life and how rear cattle. It offers insight into the community-based tourism practices.
Hot air balloon tours
Hot air balloon excursions provide amazing opportunity for you to enjoy aerial view of Akagera National Park’s diverse wildlife species. This is done in the morning accompanied by bush breakfast and in the evening, but comes with champagne.
When should you travel to visit Akagera National Park Rwanda?
Akagera National Park is a special wildlife park with its gates open all year round. But the dry season –(June, July, August to September or December, January to February) is the best time to plan your tour to Akagera NP. The wet season (March to May/October to November) is perfect for bird watching.
Where to stay
Safari lodges in Akagera National Park include Karenge Bush Camp, Magashi Camp, Akagera Game Lodge, Rusizi Tented Camp and Dereva Hotel.
How to reach this Park
From Kigali, you can leave early morning or afternoon –depending on the arrival time or pick up time the next day after arrival at Kigali. Drive for 2.5 hours from Kigali to the Eastern province of Rwanda to explore and experience Akagera National Park.