Game drives in Akagera National Park.
Akagera National Park is one of Rwanda’s most visited and only savannah national parks, located in the eastern region near the Tanzanian border. The national park was established in 1934 and covers a total area of 1,200 square kilometers. Akagera National Park is named after the River Kagera and is home to a variety of wildlife species such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, bushbucks, impalas, zebras, giraffes, leopards, rhinos, waterbucks, reedbucks, oribi, crocodiles, hippos, bush pigs, Klipspringer, hyenas, warthogs, and over 500 bird species such as the elusive shoebill stork, grey-crowned crane, African fish eagle, and papyrus gonolek.
Game drives are the main activity in Akagera National Park, and you will be able to explore the savannah plains in a comfortable pop-up safari vehicle with a professional driver. Game drives in Akagera National Park can be done early in the morning, around 7:00 a.m., when animals are most active, or in the afternoon. During the game drives, you will be able to see a variety of animals, including the big five mammals (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos), as well as impalas, topi, elands, bushbucks, zebras, giraffes, oribi, reedbucks, waterbucks, and warthogs.
Akagera National Park also provides night game drives, in which clients can explore the park at night with an experienced park ranger and spotlight torches for a better view of nocturnal animals that become active at night. During the night game drive in Akagera National Park, which lasts about 2 to 3 hours, you will be able to see nocturnal animals such as lions, leopards, hyenas, serval cats, civet, genet, bush babies, mongoose, nightjar, hippos feeding at night, and other animals such as bush pigs, bushbucks, impalas, buffaloes, topi, and waterbucks resting.
Best time to visit Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park can be visited at any time of year, but the best time for game drives is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February because there is less or no rainfall in the national park, allowing for clear views of various animals. During the dry season, many animals gather around water bodies to drink water, giving you the opportunity to see a large number of animals, and the game drive tracks in the park will be dry and passable, making game drives easier.
Where to stay during your Rwanda safari in Akagera National Park?
Akagera National Park offers a variety of accommodation options for your safari, including Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge, Karenge Bush Camp, Akagera Transit Lodge, Akagera Rhino Lodge, Magashi Safari Camp, Akagera Resort and Country Club, Akagera Safari Camp, Vintage Cottages, Nyagasambu Realm Beach Hotel, Dereva Hotel, and Lake Shakani Campsite, among others.
Other Safari activities at Akagera National Park
Apart from the game drives, Akagera national park offers other interesting activities that you can engage in during the Rwanda safari, including bird watching where you will be able to view different bird species including the shoebill stork, Chapin’s flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, African darter, black-headed weaver, strange weaver, boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will be able to view hippos and crocodiles in water, guided nature walks where you will be able to explore
How to get to Akagera National Park?
Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda and is accessible by road. The drive from Kigali to the park headquarters takes about 3 hours.
Akagera National Park can also be reached by air, with Akagera Aviation offering helicopter charter flights from Kigali International Airport to the park.
Game drives in Akagera National Park can be combined with gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking or in Volcanoes National Park and in Nyungwe Forest National Park. For more information on game drives in Akagera National Park, please contact us at info@akageranationalparkrwanda.com.
