Akagera National Park Rwanda.
Rwanda’s eastern region is home to Akagera National Park, which offers breathtaking scenery, a diverse array of wildlife, and thrilling Rwanda safari experiences. Akagera has something for everyone, whether you’re a passionate wildlife photographer, a nature lover, or just looking for a different kind of adventure.
Akagera National Park, which is more than 1,200 square kilometers in size, is a vast wilderness that has yet to be discovered. The park offers a wide variety of settings to explore, from rolling savannah plains and picturesque lakes to deep woods and spectacular mountains. You can expect to come across a diverse range of wildlife species when exploring the park, such as zebras, giraffes, buffalos, lions, elephants, and more. More than 500 different bird species can be found at Akagera.
How to get to Akagera National park?
The Park is just under 2 hours drive from Kigali city the Capital of Rwanda and therefore can be accessed in just one day for those who have limited time to spare. The park can also be accessed using a Helicopter in just 25- 30 minutes from Kigali. Private charter flights are available on a daily basis from Kigali.
What to do in Akagera National park.
- Game drives in the Savannah.
During the day, a game drive in Akagera National Park takes you along the routes, across verdant savannah plains, past broadleaved woods, and into the home of several mammal species. Your tour guide will make an effort to drive by the locations where the majority of animals typically spend their days. A day game drive can reveal a variety of wildlife, including the Semi-Aquatic Sitatunga, Defassa Waterbuck, Topis, Bohor Reedbucks, Oribis, Eland, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Elephants, Lions, and the recently reintroduced Rhinos.
During a night game drive, you can venture into the wild to see nocturnal creatures, such as serval cats, civets, leopards and wide-eyed bush babies.
- Fishing
You can opt to go fishing in Lake Ihema in Akagera national park. Set your rode and hooks in the calm waters of lake Ihema and relax as you listen to the sounds of birds, hippos and other wildlife s you wait for your catch.
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Community visits and Cultural experiences.
Our Community Freelance Guides have created a number of cultural experiences to share with visitors by collaborating with Akagera workers and other communities. On a farm in the Eastern Province, discover the customs around milking cows. Alternatively, you can spend time with makers of honey and beer made from bananas to gain insight into the local manufacturing process. All proceeds of these community visits go back to the members and communities being visited. Therefore incorporating a visit to these communities during your Rwanda safaris is worth the effort.
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Nature walks.
In certain sections of the park, ranger-led nature walks are provided by Akagera National Park management. This is a fantastic way to tour the park without using a car when going on a game drive. Additionally, it gives you more time and opportunity to interact with butterflies, insects, and plants that you may otherwise miss on a safari.
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Bird watching.
Akagera national park has about 480 and different species of birds, making it a bird watchers paradise. With the diverse habitats that the park has to offer from forests, savannah, wetland and lakes one should expect to see a number of bird including the Shoebill stork among others. For more information about bird watching check our bird watching safari options.
- Walk in the Line
An activity that is led by the community guides and it takes 2 hours was introduced by African parks an entity responsible for managing and protecting Akagera park to give an insight to tourists into the different conservation efforts or the organization. Walk in the line gives you an opportunity to experience a morning in the shoes of one of Akagera’s fence attendants, who patrol a section of the 120-kilometer perimeter fence every day to ensure it is secure and in working condition. These seven-kilometer paths, which run alongside the park’s exterior, start at the entrance and lead visitors into the hills. Reaching the summit will place you atop a ridge with incredible panoramas in all directions.
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Boat ride safari
Relax on a boat cruise as you look out for wildlife both at the shores and the waters of Lake Ihema. The Boat ride safari offers you an opportunity for an up-close viewing of wildlife and animals as they drink waters and sun bath at the shores. Some animals you should expect to spot on the boat safari, are crocodiles, hippos, elephants and so much more.
Best Time to Visit Akagera
The dry season, which runs from June to September, is the ideal time to visit Akagera National Park since it is less covered in foliage and makes it easier to see the wildlife, which congregates near water sources. But Akagera offers unforgettable experiences all year round, with a distinct charm for every season.
Accommodation- Where to stay in Akagera.
Akagera national park has a number of hotels and accommodations ranging from basic camping grounds to Luxury 5 star Lodges. Listed below are some of the Hotels that we recommend you stay in whilst visiting the park.
Camping
Akagera has two camps located in the south of the park that is Muyumbu and Shakani. Muyumbu is located on the ridge that overlooks Lake Ihema and Shakani whereas Shakani is located on the lake shores with flashing water. Other campsite include Mutumba and Miyindi. Camping rates rage between USD 25 per person per night and USD 50 per person per night.
Mantis Akagera Game Lodge.
Perched above the savannah at the southernmost point of Akagera National Park, Mantis Akagera Game Lodge provides magnificent views of Lake Ihema and the surrounding area from a high viewpoint. With over 60 rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a conference space and an amazing pool deck, Akagera game lodge is the ideal place to stay while visiting Akagera National Park’s natural wonders or for a business retreat. Akagera game Lodge is perfect for large groups and retreats, conferences and meetings.
Ruziz Tented Lodge,
With a maximum capacity to 20 guests, Ruzizi is nestled on the edge of Lake Ihema just about 6km from the park headquarters. This luxury eco-lodge set back from the tranquil shores of Ihema, with nine tents that are concealed by fruiting fig trees and swaying palms. A gorgeous balcony that overlooks the lake is accessible via wooden walkways that border a thatched dining and reception area.
Magashi tented Camp.
Magashi’s eight tented rooms, are nestled on the banks of Lake Rwanyakazinga, to welcome guest visiting Akagera and want exclusive privacy and stay in the wilderness. Offering the best meals, the chefs at Magashi camp offer you a mix of local, regional and international dishes. Stay at Mgasha to enjoy an epic Akagera wildlife safari.
Samples Safaris to Akagera National Park.
6 days Wildlife and gorilla tracking safari Rwanda