AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Akagera National Park is situated in the northeastern Rwanda just at the border with Tanzania. If it is savanna wildlife or the big game that you have always wished to explore while on Rwanda safari and you do not know which park to pay a visit to then it is a high time you achieved your dreams this coming holiday. Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savanna wildlife park that offers you this golden opportunity to catch a glimpse at the big game and variety of savanna grassland dwellers. This spectacular park covers an area of about 1122 square kilometers and features mainly swamps, savanna grassland, acacia woodland and small Lakes. It derived its name from the Akagera River that flows through it. This savanna park was established in 1934 making it one of Africa’s oldest parks.
The attractions in Akagera National Park
Wildlife
Being savanna grassland protected area, varied wildlife species thrive in different habitats in this park. They include African elephants, lions, buffaloes, rhinos, elands, roan antelopes, giraffes, topis, leopards, hyenas, side striped jackal, mongoose, Defassa waterbuck, bushbucks as well as some primates like olive baboons, blue monkeys and bush babies.
Birds
There are over 520 bird species that thrive in this park for you to spot out while on Rwanda safari in this park. They include about 44 raptors species, Palearctic migrants such as gallinago media, the Zambezian biome species such as lanius souzae, cisticola angusticauda, myrmecocichla arnotti as well as water birds. The notable bird species for you to sight at while on safari in Akagera National Park include marabou stork, open billed stork, herons, cormorants, egrets, African fish eagles, papyrus gonoleks, black headed ganolex, lilac breasted roller, heuglin’s roin chat, created barbet, swamp flycatcher, red faced barbet, ross’s turaco among others.
Water bodies
This park features several swamps, lakes and they include Lake Ihema which is the second largest lake in Rwanda. The others include Lake Shakani which inhabits a number of fish, Lake Rwanyakizinga, Lake Gishanju. These water bodies inhabit huge number of hippos, crocodiles and other aquatic life.
What to do while on safari in Akagera National Park
The notable safari activities for you to take park while on holiday in this spectacular savanna park include
Game drives/game viewing
The fact that Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only big five game park plus variety of savanna wildlife dwellers, game/wildlife viewing is undoubtedly the most exciting activity you shouldn’t miss to engage in. On a game drive in this park, you will have clear views over elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards if you are lucky enough, the Maasai giraffes, elands, topis a mention but a few. A side from day game drives; you can as well take part in night game drives which rewards intrepid travelers with amazing views of nocturnal species like leopards, hyenas, civets and others. This safari activity equally takes you about 2 hours.
Boat tours
If you are interested in aquatic life then a boat trip is the best alternative for you. Boat trips are conducted via Lake Ihema which features huge concentration of hippos in East Africa and crocodiles as well as several bird species. Besides, other savanna grassland wildlife species can be spotted along the lake shores especially elephants, buffaloes among others.
Bird watching
Akagera National Park offers refuge to about 520 bird species making it one unique and incredible birder’s paradise. A birding tour in this park rewards you with amazing sights at birds like the papyrus gonolek, shoebill stork, swamp flycatcher, sandpipers, hawk and malachite kingfishers, ibis, plovers, herons, red faced barbet and others. For bird lovers, to have the best of your birding experience in this park, do not forget to come with your camera and binoculars.
Sport fishing
This is one of a few most thrilling water sports you can undertake while on safari in Akagera National Park and offers you opportunity to challenge yourself with sizeable fish in Lake Shakani.
Where to stay in Akagera National Park
To make your safari in Akagera National Park a complete one, there are must be accommodation options for you to spend a night. The notable safari lodges for visitor overnight stay in this park include;
Ruzizi Tented Lodge-a luxury lodging facility in Akagera National Park. This luxury facility comprises of 20 beds and it is set strategically offering clear views of Lake Ihema. Its design blends that of the environment and its materials are eco-friendly. For those who may wish to travel as a family, there is a family tent which accommodates about 4 people plus a tree top tent.
Akagera game lodge-this is set in southern part of Akagera National Park. This is a midrange lodge and comes with stunning views of Lake Ihema. Dereva hotel-this is situated outside Akagera National Park about 40 minutes’ drive to Akagera National Park. Campsites-there are 3 campsites for you to choose for your camping tours. They include Shakani campsite-which is situated along the shores of Lake Shakani thus offering visitors with amazing views of the lake. Besides, it is an area where sport fishing is conducted. Mutamba campsite-this is set on Mutumba hill and comes with breathtaking views of wildlife. The other is Muyumba campsite which is found around the ride over viewing Lake Shakani, Lake Ihema and Tanzania plains.
Getting to Akagera National Park
This park is about two and half hours’ drive off Kigali capital city. You drive via Kibungo or Rwamagana trading center. The park entry gate is about 500 meters off Akagera game lodge. For any plans to pay a visit to this park, you need a 4 wheel drive safari car to help you transverse through the remote routes.
In conclusion, to have the best of wildlife safari experiences in East Africa, Akagera National Park is that one unique savanna park you need to consider a must in your travel plan and you won’t regret in life. This park offers wide range of safari activities for you to take part and all of which reward travel endeavors with incredible encounters.
