A visit to Akagera National Park

Akagera National park is the only savanna national Park in Rwanda. Situated in the North East of Rwanda, lies on 1122 Kilometer square and it is home to a variety of animals including big five animals namely Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinoceroses. Apart from the big five animals, there are other animals including hyenas, zebras, giraffe and several antelopes like the bushbucks, roan antelope, Topis, klipspringer, Oribis, Cape eland, water-buck, duikers and impalas. Akagera National Park also offers a chance of seeing a variety of bird species; The park counts over 482 bird species of which 100 different species are endemic to the Park which means that they cannot be found in any other place other than the Akagera National Park. A visit to Akagera National Park rewards with a chance to meet these animals in their natural bedding. With the protection and conservation efforts made by the government of Rwanda in line with the restoration of its biodiversity.

The park has almost been destructed after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, almost all animals killed and other freed in neighboring countries. There have been some efforts to rehabilitate the park, eliminate poaching and reintroduce the disappeared animals. In 2017 black rhinoceros were reintroduced to the park from south Africa, followed by another addition in 2019 to make the Park again host the species after 10 years of extinction.

When on a visit to Akagera National Park, expect also to see lions that have been also absent from the park since 1995. In 2015 lions were reintroduced to the park from South Africa to put an end to almost 20 years of absence from the Park.

A game drive in Akagera National Park offers an opportunity to see the wild in nature in a well maintained reserve. Your driver guide will help to navigate in different loops each with specific animals of occupancy. Your journey will start from the south of the park with registration and briefing about the game drive. With your refreshment and packed lunch you will drive throughout the Park up to the northern part whereby you will exit from.

On your visit to Akagera National Park, not only the game drive, you may also do other activities including the following:

Boat ride is another activity inside the park in “Ihema lake” one of the many lakes inside the Park. Different departure schedules are planned throughout the day: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM In the same lake. Private schedules are also booked in preferred hours but with different pricing from the scheduled plans. The same lake also has fishing as another activity offered to visitors of the Park.

Balloon safaris in Akagera National Park the latest added activity not to miss on your visit to Akagera National Park. It will give visitors an exciting new perspective of Akagera’s beautiful and unique landscapes by viewing the park and its surroundings, animals in the park and being able to move to places from all corners of the park that was not unreachable by safaris cars that were mainly following limited routes.

The community around the Park have been part of the park rejuvenation journey by committing to its protection. In return, they benefit by organizing activities offered to tourists including cultural activities offered from the communities around the Park, craft making and guided nature walk line on the Park fence. When on a visit to Akagera National Park, remember to book one of these community and cultural activities or buy souvenirs to support local communities in their development.

On a visit to Akagera National park, you may opt to spend an overnight in the Park. There are a number of accommodations inside the park like Akagera Game Lodge, Magashi and Ruzizi tented Lodge among others. Camping is also another option at designated protected areas, whether you have your own camping materials or without, your chosen tour operator will help you to enjoy this unique experience.

If you are planning a visit to Akagera National Park, all you need to do is to approach a professional tour operator to help work out a suitable itinerary taking into account your interests, time and budget. We at Unique Rwanda Vacation Experts, we will consider every detail of your plan and help you to have the best experience of the Akagera National Park. Send us a request and relax as you prepare for your trip.