Akagera National Park.
This beautiful savannah National Park in Rwanda is located near the Tanzanian border in the northeast of the nation. It is primarily made up of little lakes and wetlands that run into the River Kagera. Stunning scenery is created by the interconnected system of water sources and the distinct terrain. This ecosystem is truly amazing. River Kagera, which supplies water to several bodies of water, including Lake Ihema, is the obvious source of the park’s name.
Akagera National Park boasts breathtaking beauty, surrounded by cultivated hills that are a common feature of Rwandan landscapes. Although it does retain the overall rough topography that is so typical of Rwanda, the landscape is low and consists mostly of grass, thick and thin woodlands, and shrubs that resemble cactus, Euphorbia candelabra.
The national park was named after the Kagera river, which flows along the eastern edge of the park and drains into several lakes, the largest of which being lake Ihema. A complex system of lakes and interconnecting papyrus marshes makes up the largest protected wetland in central Africa, encompassing approximately one-third of the region. It is actually recommended that you avoid Akagera if you are purchasing a Rwanda safari package, as it is reportedly the best place in the country for wildlife safaris.
In the late 1990s, a large number of former refugees relocated to the savannah area of the park after the Rwandan civil war ended. The western boundary was gazetted in 1997 due to a dearth of accessible land, and a significant section of the property was granted to returning refugees for farming purposes. The park was formerly almost 2500 km2 bigger than it is today. Even though the majority of the best savannah grazing land is now beyond the park’s borders, what’s left of Akagera is some of the most diverse and gorgeous land in Africa.
In 2009, the Rwanda Development Board and the African Parks Network entered into a 20-year renewable agreement for the joint management of Akagera. The Akagera Management Company was founded in 2010 to share management of Akagera National Park.
Over the next five years, US $10 million will be invested in Akagera to create a 120-kilometer western boundary fence and reintroduce black rhinos and lions.
Wildlife in Akagera National Park.
Animals in Akagera national park.
Akagera National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, including lions, hyenas, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, leopards, and hyenas. There are several different kinds of antelope that call that place home, including the world’s largest antelope, the Cape eland, as well as duiker, klipspringers, bushbucks, Topis, and Oribis.
You can come across herds of hippos and crocodiles lazing in the sun close to Lake Ihema. The most common primates in Akagera National Park include olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and bush babies, which are often seen during night drives.
Birds in Akagera national park.
The varied ecosystems of Akagera National Park provide good habitats for 500 different species of birds. Birds to watch out for include the incredible shoebill, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed, and Water Thick-knee.
Some bird species that are more likely to be spotted are Pied Crows, Augur Buzzards, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Fish Eagles, Cattle Egrets, and Hamerkops. Caruthers’s Cisticola, Grey-backed Fiscals, Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers, and Fan-tailed Widowbirds.
Activities in Akagera National Park.
Game drives in Akagera national park.
Akagera National Park offers wildlife drives in safari vehicles early in the morning with the goal of spotting the reintroduced lions, hyenas, and leopards. This is due to the fact that predators prefer to hunt at night or in the early morning, when the sun is rising and they usually conceal. In addition to the carnivores, take in the landscape of this beautiful park and the presence of several other large animals, including giraffes, antelopes, elephants, and buffaloes. The beautiful wildflowers and surrounding environment will provide inspiring photo opportunities for any budding photographer.
There are also nightly wildlife drives organized by the park administration, Akagera Management Firm. Usually, these take place between 6 and 8 p.m. and continue approximately two hours. To aid you in seeing the numerous species of nighttime fauna, a spotlight will be at your disposal. Perhaps the lions or perhaps the leopards will show themselves to you while they hunt.
Bird watching in Akagera national park.
The Akagera National Park in Rwanda is a prominent and well-known site for birdwatching. Akagera National Park is a haven for birdwatchers, offering a chance to observe not only popular species like egrets and different Kingfishers, but also endangered ones like the papyrus gonolek and shoebill. You can go birdwatching on a boat safari on Lake Ihema, a guided nature walk, or a wildlife drive. When birdwatching on Lake Ihema, one will be delighted to spot aquatic species that they would not normally notice when taking a nature drive over the Savannah grasslands. Overall, because it’s so easy and varied to see the birds at Akagera National Park, we highly recommend birding there.
Boat safari on lake Ihema in Akagera national park.
The ideal way to spend a day in Akagera National Park is by boat on Lake Ihema. Most animals are sheltering in the shade from the heat of the sun, while some are going to the water to drink and cool off. At the lake’s edge, you can spot crocodiles and hippos swimming in groups, in addition to a variety of water birds. In addition to the scheduled daily boat trips, individuals can schedule a private, on-demand boat ride whenever it’s convenient for them.
Sport fishing in Akagera national park.
For sport fishing, Lake Shakani is accessible from the park. This lake requires reservations from the park in order to go sport fishing. You are given the choice to retain one fish for dinner if you so want, though catch and release is the recommended method.
Cultural tours near Akagera national park.
Discover the cow-raising-centric rural Rwandan communities surrounding Akagera National Park. You can see or take part in the customary activities of milking cows, storing preserved milk in calabash, and grazing them. After that, you help to process milk into different products like ghee and regular yogurt, and then you use some of the milk product ingredients to create a meal. In addition to sharing in this authentic cultural experience, the locals who surround the park can profit from it to supplement their income from agriculture. In the end, this is advantageous to the park’s wildlife and conservationist culture.
How to get to Akagera National Park.
To get to Akagera National Park from Kigali, go through Rwamagana town (entry is via the southern gate only). Right now, the northern gate is only utilized for departure. It takes about two hours to drive all the way to the park gate.
Flights to the park are provided by Akagera Aviation for individuals who would prefer not to drive the two hours.
When to go to Akagera national park.
You can visit Akagera National Park all year round. Nonetheless, the dry season of January and the months of July through September are the greatest times to explore this park. The wet season, which lasts throughout the months of March, April, and December, is one of the several seasons experienced in Akagera National Park.