Akagera National Park: Activities and Attractions

Akagera National Park is situated near Tanzania’s border in eastern Rwanda. Founded in 1934, the park currently occupies 1,200 square kilometers. It was given its name in honor of the River Kagera, which supplies water to numerous lakes in and surrounding the park, including Lake Gishanju, Lake Ihema, Lake Mihindi, Lake Rwanyakizinga, and Lake Shakani. The park is incredibly lovely and picturesque because of these bodies of water as well as the Savannah grasslands, woods, plains, and rolling hills. The history of Akagera National Park is not good. Due to the civil war and genocide in 1994, there was a major refugee crisis, which caused many people to escape the nation through the park .

Following the conflict, the refugees the park was once more used by refugees to enter the nation after the war. Some of the evacuees turned to poaching and felling park trees for wood because they had nowhere to live, food, or accommodations in Akagera National Park. The management of the park faced difficulties during this time since some of the park’s wild creatures went extinct and others were  put in danger of becoming threatened. Domestic animals, especially the long-horned cattle from the area, were gradually taking the place of the park animals. It was not possible to simply  send the folks away with nowhere to go. Half of the park was given by the government to people who had nowhere to go after the war.

The remaining portion was set aside to safeguard the wild creatures that had made it through the human treat. With assistance from the Howard Buffet Foundation and other groups, the Rwandan government and the Africa Parks Network signed a cooperative management agreement in 2010. Together with international wildlife conservation and a number of donors, the park management launched an ambitious program to bring back extinct species like lions and rhinoceroses, while enhancing security measures like fencing and increased air surveillance to prevent poaching.
Since the park now has all five of the big five—buffaloes, leopards, elephants, lions, and rhinoceroses—the program has been a huge success. Akagera is now a one-stop shop for anyone interested in an African safari. Other than the big five.

In addition to the Big 5, the park is home to a variety of Savannah creatures, including warthogs, hyenas, zebras, serval cats, black masked civets, reedbucks, giraffes, bush pigs, side-stripped jackals, Klipspringer, Sitatunga Antelopes, and roan antelopes. Olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and bush babies are a few kinds of primates.The number of bird species has grown to approximately 500 since the park’s alterations began. The birds can be found in a remarkable variety of habitats, such as forests, papyrus swamps, and Savannah plains. Take a boat ride around the park’s lakes to see the endangered Shoebill stork and Papyrus gonolek. The African fish eagle, cormorants, crowned cranes, egrets, herons, marabou stork, and open-billed stork are among the other species.

How to reach Akagera National Park

Access to Akagera National Park is available by road and aircraft. Visitors may get a stunning aerial view of the park from the flight from Kigali. Aircraft arranged by Akagera Aviation serves the park to Kigali and back. Traveling from Kigali to the park on well-paved asphalt roads takes no more than three hours. It takes an hour to go to the park for those who are starting from Rwamagana or Kibungo. Even during the rainy season, cars may travel the 27 km dusty road that leads from the main road to the park gate. A decent four-wheel drive vehicle is necessary because the park’s internal roads are not as good as the ones that go to the gate, especially during the wet season.For roughly $175 for the first half of the day or $275 for the entire day, one can hire a private car and driver from Kigali or the park.The majority of foreign visitors choose convenience and use a seasoned tour operator to arrange their safari. Travel agencies like Naleyo tours and travels will handle all the arrangements, including lodging, transportation, and activity scheduling.

We advise using the services of a travel operator if you have never been to Rwanda or lived there.

Organizations that have planned excursions to Akagera include Naleyo tours and travels. The African fish eagle, cormorants, crowned cranes, egrets, herons, marabou stork, and open-billed stork are among the other species.

Akagera National Park Safari: Principal Activities and Attractions

In addition to other things, Rwanda is well-known for its mountain gorillas and mountain climbing in the Volcanoes National Park. But when in Rwanda, the Big Five are only visible at Akagera.

The distinct landscape of Akagera National Park adds to the distinctive experience of safaris for individuals who appreciate the natural world. The park’s topography, in particular its undulating hills and valleys, offers excellent opportunities for photographing and observing wildlife.

Due to its proximity to Kigali, Akagera is becoming more and more well liked among both domestic and foreign travelers. If time is not on your side, you can opt to take a boat ride and game drive at Akagera National Park for one day. It is best to visit the park right now before it gets too crowded, as is the case with other area game parks. There are presumably more female guides and employees in Rwanda than elsewhere because the country’s present administration supports gender equality. Visitors interested in learning more about conservation and other park management initiatives are welcome to take a tour of the park management’s offices. One must obtain clearance in order to drive through the park or participate in any of its activities. Reservations are required for certain activities, such as boat cruises and game drives. Let us examine the actions in detail:

Game drives:

 In the plains, hills, and lakes, game drives can be conducted in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Since the Rwanda Development Board and African parks began to work together, the park’s roadways have been well developed. It is necessary for visitors to rent a tour vehicle capable of navigating the park’s rugged terrain. Because they are educated about the area and will take care of the park entrance fee in Akagera National Park, park guides are crucial during the wildlife drive.

Park is educated about the region and will show you where to go while imparting crucial facts about the various species. One of the rare locations where nighttime game drives can be scheduled is Akagera. Using spotlights and an open-roof vehicle, night game drives enable guests to see nocturnal creatures such as hyenas, leopards, nightjars, genets, and mongooses. During the day, it is exceedingly difficult to spot these creatures and birds. For visitors from outside the country, night game drives run between $40 and $30.00 and last for two to three hours.

Boat Trips:

 Lake Ihema is a well-known destination for boat excursions. Elephants, hippos, and crocodiles may be seen drinking along the shoreline throughout the boat ride. Numerous bird species, including the African darter, African jacana, blue-headed coucal, cormorant, fish eagles, kingfishers, marsh flycatcher, and open-bill stork, have their breeding grounds in the lakes and adjacent wetlands. The boat journey costs forty dollars for guests from other countries.

There might only be room for 11 persons in the boat.

Birdwatching:

Over 450 species can be seen during birdwatching in Akagera. Fewer species of Albertine Rift and forest birds exist than in Nyungwe Forest. The lilac-breasted roller, black-headed gonolek, suaza shrike, double-toothed barbet, Meyer’s parrot, Ross’s turaco, red-faced barbet, and long-tailed cistola are a few of the species. Despite their tiny numbers, the huge Shoebill stock can be seen throughout the park. Fishing for species like tilapia and catfish is excellent around Lake Shakani’s shoreline.You will notice a lot of animals and birds drinking along the shore while fishing.Fishing competitions are regularly held, with the opportunity for the winners to cook and consume their catch as a prize.

Nature walks:

A park guide can assist in scheduling nature walks within the park. You can get a sense of the park’s rich biodiversity by taking a stroll through some areas of it. Following designated park pathways that lead to forests, lakes, and marshes is part of the nature walking experience.

Strolling along the Park Fence:

In keeping with the nature walks, guests have the option to accompany a fence attendant and park rangers for a stroll around the perimeter. The security fence has made it easier to prevent poaching and other disputes with nearby residents. The two-hour, seven-kilometer hike costs nothing and offers fantastic views of the wildlife park.

Cultural Visits:

In order to permit visitors to engage in cultural visits, the administration of Akagera National Park works with neighboring villages. Guides from the community lead these tours. Tourists get to see how the people prepare meals, brew beer, care for their longhorn cows, and commemorate key times of the year on these cultural excursions. Visitors can participate in the milking process, sample some of the cuisine, and dance to folk and local music. At most, three hours pass during the visits.

Other activities outside the park:

Tourists can do a few things in the capital city of Kigali as well as close to the park. Seeing the Rusumo Falls, the Presidential Palace, the Museum, the Kigali City Markets, the Genocide War Memorial Centers, and Museums are a few examples of such activities. On the approach to the park, those who would like to purchase mementos might make a stop at one of the neighborhood art and craft stores.

When is the ideal time to visit Akagera National Park for a safari?

In the Akagera National Park, safaris are scheduled all year round. There are no official holidays, and tourism-related events take place every day, including on the weekends. The dry season is when most visitors want to visit the park.Certain months in March and April experience the rainy season, which makes driving on the roads challenging. The months of December through February are the ideal times to visit the park. Even though the rains had ended by then, the park’s greenery from the previous wet season remained. Many of the waterholes dry up during this time of year, and the animals go to the few pools that remain. Unlike during the wet season, this makes it simple to find them all at once. The dusty roads and high temperatures may be too much for some tourists to handle.

Things to think about while organizing a trip to Akagera National Park

Due to its tropical location, Rwanda may include insects and diseases to which visitors from other countries may not be immune. Before visiting Rwanda, it is imperative that you visit your physician and have a yellow fever vaccination.Since the park is home to Tse Tse flies and mosquitoes, try to bring malaria medication. Additionally, open car windows are common during game trips, which increases the risk of unpleasant insect bites.For this reason, using an insect repellent is essential to keeping mosquitoes away. Additionally, you might want to wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, and muted colored clothing.

Where to Stay in the National Park of Akagera

Unlike many other national parks where camping is unrestricted, budget and daring guests can put up their own camp within the park. However, stay on the lookout for invaders, particularly baboons and insects that enjoy robbing campers. A hotel with more permanent structures would be a better choice if you have an insect phobia. It is quite exciting to camp and party in the African bush, especially with friends. especially with friends. There are three campgrounds that are reported to charge $20 per person per night to foreign tourists.  The lodges vary in style from opulent tents to permanent masonry buildings. Let us take a closer look at a few of the hotels.

Ruzizi Tented Lodge:

The park management constructed the luxurious Ruzizi Tented Lodge in 2013, with all proceeds going toward environmental conservation initiatives. It is located close to the park office and is made up of nine exquisite safari tents that are solar-powered and constructed using native designs.

To keep guests safe from hippos and crocodiles that are close to the lake, the tents are raised. Each tent can house two individuals. There can only be twenty people staying at the lodge at a time, and the tents are opulent and quite comfortable. Its proximity to Lake Ihema allows for the observation of the animals drinking and eating nearby. The food is excellent and fresh, with both local and foreign specialties offered.

Akagera Game Lodge:

 Despite having opulent amenities, the Lodge offers great value for money when compared to the others because its costs are not as costly. It is crucial to make reservations weeks in advance because it is highly sought-after by park visitors, particularly if you intend to visit during the weekend. Unlike Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge is more of a hotel with permanent brick structures rather than tents. The Lodge is situated at the shore of Lake Ihema, inside the park. With amenities like a tennis court, conference center, and swimming pool, the lodge has a stunning exterior. The lodge has sixty rooms with separate entrances for singles, families, and children. It is possible to obtain Budget, midrange, and deluxe accommodations are available. This might be the best location if you are looking for game drives, birding, or fishing. Baboons are a great sight, especially when they visit the compound and its environs.

 Dereva Hotel:

Is a low-cost lodging option situated outside the wildlife park. Travel time by car from the hotel to the park is about forty minutes.Self-contained rooms with WiFi, phones, and flat-screen TVs are available for singles as well as twins. There are various-sized meeting rooms as well as a lounge area.

Karenge Bush Camp:

This opulent camp is only available from June to August and from December to February during peak seasons. The personnel looks after guests with exceptional professionalism.

The services are Full board is provided, and guests can anticipate comfortable accommodations, three meals a day, and water.

Magashi Lodge:

Is a brand-new, opulent hotel that was just established not too far from the park’s main administration buildings but in a private region. More privacy will be available for individuals who want more private moments.