Akagera National Park is the top destination not only in Rwanda, one will have to visit this country through the land of the 100 hills. Although Rwanda is and locked country, it has a lot of tourist activities and attractions that you will need to see, and these are very interesting.

Rwanda has gotten most of the tourist attractions, and most of the visitors come to the country to enjoy the many tourist attractions. Akagera is the major destination, and it is usually done by the people for whom it has been built to ensure that visitors who come to the country also enjoy nature.

This is the only savannah national park in Rwanda and the whole of Africa, and you will learn how the unfolding events have come to shape the Akagera National Park.

Akagera National Park is the largest protected area in Rwanda and is known as the biggest protected wetland sanctuary. The park has all of the animals that have since adapted to the savannah environment. It is found in the eastern part of Rwanda, on the border with the Republic of Tanzania.

Mostly, the Akagera national park is dominated by the swamps, the low hills and the mountains, the woodland vegetation cover as well as the grassland areas, and this is very much dominated by the interesting. All of the interesting wildlife activities and attractions that are found in the great safari ecosystems make this park one of the greatest in the whole of East Africa.

 

Attractions in Akagera National Park

Wildlife of Akagera

As I have said earlier, the park is dominated by the savannah grassland, which is the only park that is known for its wonderful and only savannah park in the park. Because of the vegetarian types, the park provides a habitat for several wildlife species, which has attracted many animal species.

The major wildlife species of the Akagera National Park include the Oribi, zebra, elephants, buffaloes, topi, Defassa waterbuck, roan antelopes, waterbuck, hyenas, impala, and mongoose species, among others. When you visit the forested areas, you will find more primates, including in the swamps and savannah plains, among others.

Several bodies of water within Akagera National Park

Several bodies of water are found within the Akagera National Park and these bodies are found around the protected areas. Some of the water bodies within the Akagera National Ark include Lake Ihema, the Gisanju, and Lake Mihinidi. These offer visitors the best spots where they can see wildlife, especially during the dry season. The river Akagera is also the best water body within the park and goes to Lake Victoria through Tanzania, and this is the place where you will encounter and see the shoebill species.

Birds of the Akagera National Park

The Akagera National Park is home to over 500 different bird species. More species of birds can be seen, and this is what makes it the best safari. Akagera National Park is home to augur, buzzard, fish eagles, pied crow, sacred and Hadada Ibis, shoebill, long-crested Eagle, Grey-backed Fidcals, Carruthers Cisticola, Glareola nordamanni, Gallinago, Red-faced Barbet, and other bird species.

Activities in Akagera National Park

Game drives

Game drives are the major tourist attractions in the Akagera National Park and it is the only place where game drives are carried out in the whole of Rwanda. On the game drives in the Akagera National Park, you will see all of the animals, which include lions, leopards, buffaloes, bushbucks, and others. You will get the chance to see the animals hunting in this great park.

Birding

With over 500 species, Akagera National Park offers a birding experience that includes both water birds and woodland and savannah birds. Some of these bird species include the American fish eagle, the open-billed stork, and egrets, among others.

Cultural Tours in Akagera

You can also take cultural tours near Akagera National Park, such as to the Humure refugee village, where you will meet people who fled Tanzania due to political turmoil. When you arrive at the Humure refugee hamlet, you will be greeted by a guide who will show you around the village and tell you about the life of the refugees.

Boat cruise

A boat cruise is a water cruise experience that is done on Lake Ihema in the Akagera National Park, and here you will have a lot of fun. In Akagera National Park, there are two different boat trips you may take, one in the morning and one in the evening, all of which will provide you with unforgettable experiences. Herbivores like zebras, impalas, and others can be seen grazing in the plains during the morning boat trip.

You will also observe a variety of bird species, including water birds such as the African Fish Eagle, African jacana, great cormorant, American dipper, and Billon’s crake. Crocodiles, hippos, and buffalos are among the amphibious creatures that can be observed swimming in the water.

How to access Akagera National Park

The park is located within the entertainment region of Rwanda, and the nearest city to Akagera National Park is Kibungo, where visitors can be reached by road transport and air transport. This is very interesting. The park is 135 kilometers from Kigali town, which takes about 2-3 hours to travel.

It takes an hour to drive from Kibungo/Rwamagana to the park’s main entrance gate, which is 500 meters from Akagera Game Lodge. When traveling by car, it is safer to utilize a 4×4 wheel vehicle to help you manage the park’s slick paths. Although there are no domestic flights to Akagera national park, Akagera Aviation offers a 22-minute helicopter journey from Kigali city to Akagera national park. Contact Fun Ride Safaris for more Akagera National Park experiences.