Akagera National Park Rwanda is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining sanctuary for savannah species in Rwanda. Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park is one of the most beautiful Rwanda national parks that travellers on Rwanda safaris can visit while on Rwanda safaris. Akagera National Park Rwanda is not what it used to be more than 20 years ago for the fact that the 1994 Rwanda genocide had devastating effects on the park.
Akagera National Park is protected by African Parks in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board, and with the tremendous efforts exerted, Akagera National Park is now one of the most amazing and visited Rwanda safari destinations. Together with Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda safaris take travellers to enjoy the amazing beauty of Rwanda.
Akagera National Park Rwanda Location
It is located in the eastern part of Rwanda, one of the most beautiful countries in East and Central Africa with a thousand hills. Akagera National Park is a total area of 2500 square kilometers, named after the Kagera River which flows along the estern boundary of Rwanda along with Tanzania. Kagera River feeds into Lake Ihema and other smaller lakes in and around Akagera National Park.
Akagera National Park protects a variety of wildlife species in Rwanda, given it is the one best savanna national park in Rwanda that travellers who visit Rwanda can visit for amazing Rwanda safari tours. Rwanda wildlife safaris are very amazing experiences that every traveller who gets to visit Rwanda should look forward to, any time of the year. There are so many attractions in Akagera National Park, and activities in Akagera National Park that travellers can do while on Rwanda wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park.
Attractions in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park big 5
Akagera National Park big 5 animals are one of the reasons why travellers visit Akagera National Park. the Akagera National Park big 5 animals include lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos, which when in the company of an experienced guide you can spot while on Akagera National Park game drives.
Other animals in Akagera National Park
Apart from the Akagera National Park big 5 animals, there are a number of other animals in the park that travellers can see while on various activities in Akagera National Park. Other animals in the Park that travellers can see include antelopes, bushbucks, topis, oribis, water-buck, duikers, impalas, the Cape Eland, among so many others.
Birds in Akagera National Park
Birds in Akagera National Park are one of the attractions in Akagera National Park. There are well over 500 bird species in Akagera National Park that travellers can see while on various Akagera National Park safari tours. Akagera National Park is a true birder’s paradise, with a wide spectrum of bird species including Augur Buzzard, Long-Crested Eagle, Pied Crow, Viellot’s Black Weaver, African Darter, Squacco Herons, African Wattled Plover, Papyrus Gonolek, among so many others.
Akagera National Park Activities
There are a number of activities in Akagera National Park that travellers who visit Rwanda on Akagera National Park tours. Below are some of the most done activities in Akagera National Park by travellers who visit Akagera National Park;
Akagera National Park game drive
Game drives in Akagera National Park are the most done activity ion Akagera National Park. Game drives in Akagera National Park are done while in safari vehicles, throughout the day. Akagera National Park fame drives can be done early in the morning as well as all throughout the day, giving you an opportunity to see the various wildlife in Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park game drive experiences give you a chance to see animals like elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, among so many others.
Birding
With the various bird species in Akagera National Park, birding is one of the activities in Akagera National Park that travellers can do while on Akagera National Park Safaris. Birding can be done while on other activities in Akagera National Park say game drives, boat cruises, or even on nature walks in Akagera National Park.
Boat Cruises
Boat cruises in Akagera National Park Rwanda is one of the best ways to spend your afternoons in Akagera National Park. Boat safaris are done on Lake Ihema, giving you an opportunity to see more animals and birds especially water animals and birds, as well as appreciate the landscape and scenery there is.
Cultural Tours
Cultural tours near Akagera National Park can be arranged for and done by tourists who visit Rwanda on Akagera National Park tours. Cultural tours give you an opportunity to observe or participate in the traditional practices of the locals say cattle grazing, milking, traditionally store milk in calabashes, among so many other activities. Cultural tours in Rwanda allow you an opportunity to appreciate the culture and way of life of the tribes in and around Akagera National Park.
Sport Fishing
Sport fishing in Akagera National Park gives tourists who visit Rwanda on Rwanda tours an opportunity to sport fish on Lake Shakani. Sport fishing requires tourists to get special permits, well in advance. Sport fishing allows you to catch and release, or even on rare chances be allowed to take your catch for a meal.
How to get to Akagera National Park
Going on Akagera National Park tours in Rwanda and wondering how you shall get to the park more so if on self-drive Rwanda safari tours, do not fret. You can get to Akagera National Park by driving from Kigali through Rwamagana town. Akagera National Park can be accessed by only the southern gate, and the northern gate is used strictly for exit only. A drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park is only about 2 hours.
Travellers not interested in taking the 2 hour drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park can choose to fly to the park using Akagera Aviation.
Best time to visit Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park can be visited all throughout the year. The best time to visit Akagera National Park is during the dry season, when the grass is shorter and the various animals in Akagera National park do converge in the few waterholes available for a dip or drink. Travellers after game drives in Akagera National Park can visit in the dry season in the months of June to August and December to February. Travellers interested in birding safaris in Akagera National Park can be visited in the wet season especially in the months of November and April when there are migratory birds in Akagera National Park.
Akagera National Park Accommodation
There are a number of accommodation in the Park that travellers who visit Rwanda on Akagera National Park tours can stay in whilst enjoying their Rwanda wildlife safari in the park. Some of the Akagera National Park accommodation that you may book into include Magashi Lodge, Rusizi Tented Camp, Akagera Game Lodge and Karenge Bush Camp among so many others.
Akagera National Park is the only savannah park in Rwanda that travellers who visit Rwanda can visit for amazing Rwanda wildlife safari tours. Get in touch with a reputable tour operator to help you create one of the best Rwanda safari tours to enjoy Akagera National Park safaris, and beyond if you still have time say Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking in Rwanda.