Guide Akagera National Park

Guide Akagera National Park : Akagera National Park is the only savannah national park in Rwanda and the best site for big five and Rwanda wildlife safaris, this beautiful park was founded in 1934 during the Belgian colonial rule in Rwanda.

Akagera National Park is found in North Eastern Rwanda on the Tanzania border, the park boast 433 square miles of vast grasslands, rolling highlands and unique papyrus swamps which are home to the diversity of wildlife and give out a gorgeous scenery.

After the Rwanda Genocide of 1994, Akagera National Park’s wildlife had tremendously decreased due to poaching which led to some species into extinction, in efforts to bring back to its former glory many animals where translocated into the park. Today, Akagera national park supports more than 13,000 animals including the Big Five.

The recovery process of the Akagera National Park was under the guardianship of African Parks and it has been a success story as lions and eastern black rhinos have both been reintroduced back into the park successfully.

Akagera national park acts a great additional to your Rwanda safari adventure after your gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes national park and in Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, the park offers visitors a chance to experience a traditional African safari in Rwanda – The Land of A thousand Hills.

Wildlife in Akagera national park

Akagera national park is home to a variety of wildlife including the Big Five – lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, rhinos and elephants. Other animals found in the park include giraffes, zebras, hyenas, crocodiles, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, baboons, bush babies and several species of antelopes like bushbucks, Topis, Oribis, water-buck, roan antelope and duiker, klipspringer, impala and the Cape eland – world largest antelope.

Birdlife in Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is home to a wide variety of birdlife thriving in several habitats of the park, there are over 500 bird species recorded in the park and they include shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed, Water Thick-knee, fish eagles, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, and Pied Crow. Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Caruther’s Cisticola among others

Things to Do in Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park offers a number of amazing safari experience which will give you a true Africa safari Experience in Rwanda.

Game Viewing

Game viewing is the main safari activity in Akagera National Park offered as morning, afternoon and evening / night game drives. Morning game drives depart at 07:30 am and evening game drives depart at 04:30 pm. The night game drives are the most rewarding experience for visitors interested in predators and nocturnal species in action.

Akagera National Park is the only Big Five safari destination in Rwanda meaning it is possible to spot all the members of the Big Five that is lions, elephants, cape buffaloes, leopards and rhinos.  Other animals you will spot in Akagera national Park during game drive safari experience include giraffe, hippos, golden monkey, blue monkeys, zebras and 11 species of antelopes like bushbucks, Topis, Oribis, water-buck, roan antelope and duiker, klipspringer, impala and Cape eland – world largest antelope.

Guide Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park

Guide Akagera National Park : Birding

Akagera National Park is a paradise for birders with over 500 different bird species that have been recorded with the park’s diverse habitats. Birding is a must do activity on a Rwanda safari in Akagera National Park and some of the birds to lookout for include shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed, Water Thick-knee, fish eagles, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, and Pied Crow. Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Caruther’s Cisticola among others.

Guide Akagera National Park : Boat safaris

Boat safaris in Akagera National Park are conducted on Lake Ihema which hosts huge numbers of hippos and Nile Crocodiles, boat safaris depart on a daily with the first leaving at 7:30 am and the last 4:30 pm.

As you sail on the waters, you will see a number of animals such as schools of crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and hippos cooling off on the shores of the lake and many water birds species herons, crested cranes among others.

Guide Akagera National Park : Sport Fishing

Sport fishing in Akagera national park is done on Lake Shekani, you will have a chance to catch impressive fish species and you are given opportunity to smoke it as a prize.

Where to stay in Akagera National Park

There is a range of accommodation in Akagera national park ranging from Budget, midrange to luxury accommodations and they include

  • Shekani Campsite
  • Muyumbu Campsite
  • Mutumba Campsite
  • Magashi camp
  • Ruzizi Tented Lodge
  • Akagera Lodge
  • Karenge Bush Camp

How to Get There

Most safaris to Akagera National Park start from Kigali City the capital of Rwanda and it is a drive of about 2 hours, the drive is from Kigali through Rwamagana town to the Southern gate.

There is an option of flying to Akagera National park using the Services of Akagera Aviation.

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