Akagera National Park is collectively managed by the African Parks Network & the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). It derives its name from the Kagera River that flows on the Eastern end of the Park. It comprises the scenic Lakes and papyrus swamps, making it one of the biggest wetland conservation areas in Africa. Akagera is sitting at an altitude of 1220m, which is largely composed of the Kagera River Valley & 2000m along the Mutumba Hills.
Prime Attractions to Explore in Akagera National Park
The checklist of attractions to explore during the Rwanda safari in Akagera National Park includes wildlife (the Big 5), bird species, and others. Below is a detailed list of what to see or things to explore on a safari in Akagera Game Park.
Wildlife species
The rich habitats of Akagera National Park support a total of about 90 mammals, including small and large mammals; reptiles, and more. The great wildlife population to explore during an Akagera safari includes leopards, African bush elephants, lions, cape buffaloes, hippos, genets, civets, side-striped jackals, hyenas, crocodiles, and Maasai giraffes. The park also shelters animals like zebras, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, civets, klipspringers, duikers, reedbuck, sitatunga antelopes, roan antelopes, roan antelopes.
The primates that survive in Akagera include the olive baboons, bush babies, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, silver monkeys, and more. The aquatic species are found in the scenic Lake Ihema, and these can safely be explored during a guided launch or boat tour. The additional species of reptiles include Nile monitor lizards and snakes (like puff adder, black mamba, and African rock python).
The bird species of Akagera Game Park
While on the Akagera safari, expect to explore the diversity of bird species. Currently, Akagera alone protects about 520 bird species, including Kittlitz’s plovers, brown-snake eagle, long-crested eagles, yellow-throated long-claws, African darters, grey-backed fiscals, flappet larks, white-backed vultures, viellot’s black weaver birds, Egyptian goose, miombo wren-warblers, green-capped eremomela, and white-backed night herons. Akagera National Park also offers refuge to numerous bird species such as pennant –winged nightjars, lesser moorhens, common squacco, blue-shouldered robin-chats, Amur falcons, little bee-eaters, Augur buzzards, yellow-throated leaf-love, red-billed fire finch, and African spoonbill. Akagera’s additional birds to identify include whistling ducks, Shelley’s francolins, bare-faced go-away, grasshopper buzzards, malachite kingfishers, sooty chats, and more.
Tour Activities to do in Akagera National Park (Rwanda)
The diverse tourism activities to enjoy in Akagera include game drives, boat/launch cruise, hot air balloon rides, nature walks, bird-watching, behind-the-scenes, and more.
Game drive tours
Visit Akagera National Park and enjoy guided or self-guided game drives. These offer incredible sights of diverse wildlife in the savanna plains of Akagera, including the Big 5 and giraffes, antelopes, plus zebras. Visitors get a chance to experience the morning, afternoon or evening/night game drive. During the Akagera’s game drive session, expect to explore tracks like giraffe loop, Rurama, Rwisirabo, Nyamabuye, and Kitabili game tracks. While in Akagera, expect to embark on a tour using a 4WD tourist car, and your session can take about 2-3 hours.
Birding tours
Embark on a journey to explore Akagera National Park’s diverse birds, including endemic and resident species. The park shelters woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and wetlands etc. The key bird species to identify on the Akagera birding excursion include Denham’s bustards, Northern brown-throated weaver birds, ring-necked francolins, Dimorphic egrets, grasshopper sparrows, shoebill storks, and pennant-winged nightjars.
Boat or Launch cruise tours
At Akagera National Park, expect to enjoy the exciting boat cruise tours. Book a boat excursion and enjoy insights into Lake Ihema, including hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. The different boat cruise sessions to choose from for your day include morning starting at 7:30am, 9:00am, and afternoon session at 3pm and 4:30pm.
Hot air balloon excursion
A hot air balloon tour should be a must to include on your bucket list of experiences. Enjoy the captivating views of the big game and other species. Balloon excursions offer unmatched aerial wildlife viewing over the scenic plains of Akagera National Park.
Sport fishing excursions
Join a captivating fishing tour experience and get a chance to catch some of the amazing fish species in Akagera National Park. Lake Shakani is the right location to visit for sport fishing and is known for species of fish like catfish and tilapia. Ensure that you have the right gear to enjoy a sport fishing experience on Lake Shakani, and have the fees cleared to obtain the permit.
The Behind-the-scenes tour experience
The behind-the-scene excursion involves exploring Akagera’s inspirational conservation journey. It offers a more educational part of Akagera National Park and is best done with the lead of an experienced ranger guide.
When is the best time to go for a safari in Akagera?
Akagera National Park is accessible for a wildlife tour at any time of the year. However, the dry season offers the most favorable time for you to enjoy game drives, boat cruise, nature walks, and other activities. This means you can target June to September or December-February of your travel calendar. As an all year round destination, visits can also be paid around the peak wet or rainy season that is from March –May, then from October to November.
Where should you stay?
At Akagera National Park, the common places to consider booking for your overnight stay comprise budget, midrange, and luxury. They include Magashi Luxury Tented Camp, Ruzizi Tented Camp, Akagera Transit Lodge, Dereva Hotel, and others.
How to reach Akagera National Park for a holiday (air or road)
Visitors can reach Akagera National Park by road/air. Departing from Kigali to Akagera can take you only 2-3 hours, and a 4×4 car is the best option for your road travel. Air transportation, on the other hand, provides the quickest option for you to reach Akagera. This is mainly by using Akagera Aviation helicopter services.