Are you a nature lover and looking for a safe and suitable destination to travel to for your wildlife safari on the African continent? The Republic of Rwanda has got you covered with its 4 national parks that are worthy the experience and travel distance. Rwanda is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Positioned a few degrees south of the Equator, the country is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda is a highly elevated area thus referring it to a ‘’land of a thousand hills’’.

With a total area of approximately 26,338 square kilometers, Rwanda is one of the best African countries for wildlife safaris. It is a home to four national parks – Nyungwe national park, Akagera national park, Volcanoes national park and Gishwati Mukura National park and of all these national parks, Akagera is the most suitable and reliable for wildlife experiences. This is due to the fact that the park is a home to over 8,000 large animals and over 500 birds species plus other small animals.

Akagera National Park is the oldest and biggest national park in Rwanda where the nature lover travelers go for wildlife trips. The park is a protected area in eastern Rwanda stretching over an area of approximately 1,122 square kilometers along the international border with Tanzania. Founded in 1934, the park was named after Kagera River which flows along its eastern boundary feeding into Lake Ihema and other nearby small lakes. Akagera national park is blessed with several wildlife species like lions, elephants, hippos, tigers, giraffes, zebras, and many others that can be watched during the game viewing experiences such as game drives, nature walks and others. During your stay in the park, there is a lot to watch and see and among these attractions include;

Wildlife

Akagera national park is one of the best destinations in Rwanda and East Africa at large where a traveler will encounter a large population of wildlife species during the game watching experiences. The park records over 8,000 large animals and among these include cape buffalos, African Bush elephants, lions, leopards, Black Eastern Rhinos, waterbucks, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, impalas, Hippos, and many more.

Bird species

For the bird lovers, Akagera national park is surely a birder’s haven with over 500 species of birds. During the experience, expect to spot a number of birds and among these include the rare shoebill stork, Raptors, Suaza Shrike, the great sniper bird and many others.

Water bodies

With a total area of approximately 1,122 square kilometers, Akagera national park is a home to a number of water sources like lakes, rivers and streams. Among these include lake Ihema, Lake Shakani, and then Kagera River that flows along its eastern boundary.

Primate species

Besides the wildlife species, Akagera national park is also known for hosting some of the primate species like the olive baboons, silver monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and many others.

For an excellent encounter of the attractions in the park, you will have to take part in various park experiences / activities. Among the activities include; game drives, guided nature walks, camping, hiking, bird watching and many others.

Game Drives in the park

Explore the beautiful, rich and amazing national park during the game drives. The game drives in the national park last between 1-3 hours and they are offered during the day and night times. In the drives, you will spot a number of wildlife species including the five big African animals – Lions, African buffalos, elephants, Rhinos and Leopards. Other animals in the park include; hyenas, giraffes, kobs, antelopes, impalas, jackals, sitatungas, jackals, serval cats, civets, and many others.

Boat cruise

Explore the beautiful crystal lakes within the national park during a boat trip on the calm waters of Lake Ihema. The cruise will bring you close to different water species like the amazing vegetation, Nile crocodiles and hippos. The 2 hours trip on the waters of the park will surely be a great and unforgettable experience.

Bird Watching experience

Hosting over 500 bird species, Akagera national park is surely a birder’s haven that anyone should visit while on a birding expedition. Among the birds to spot during the experience include the shoebill stork, swamp fly catchers, white egrets, the yellow sunbird, grey crowned crested cranes, the herons, marabou stork and many others.

Nature walks

Akagera national park is known for its beautiful and amazing flora species and variety of faunal species. During the hiking and nature walking experience, you will have a chance of seeing these species at an up-close encounter and among the species you will sight include the plants, insects, colorful birds, butterflies and many others.

Fishing

Akagera national park is a home of several waterbodies including the lakes which habitat several fish species such as the Tilapia, Cat fish, silver fish and many others. So, for one to take part in the fishing tournaments that are organized at the park, he/she has to register with the reservation team of the park.

Accommodation in Akagera national park

A comfortable and perfect stay creates an amazing experience in everyone travel to any destination. With no doubt, Akagera national park is one of the few destinations surrounded by beautiful accommodation facilities that are affordable by everyone. These accommodations range from budget, mid-range and luxurious costs. Among these include; Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Akagera game lodge, Karenge Bush Camo, Ruzizi tented Camp, Magashi Safari camp, Muhazi marine beach hotel, Magashi Tented Camp, Muyumbu Camp and many others.

Best time to visit Akagera national park for a wildlife Safari

Akagera national park can be visited at any time throughout the year but the best time is during the dry season which is between June to September. In this season, there’s a great chance to spot variety of wildlife since the grass is always short thus making easy for the visitors to drive along the game tracks in search of the wildlife species. Also, during these months, animals can easily be spotted around the water bodies like rivers, lakes, streams and others as they are cooling off and quenching their thirst.