Enjoy a great safari for excellent wildlife experience on your Rwanda safari to Akagera National Park guided by Superfine Safaris Limited. Home to the “big five” Akagera National Park is the only savannah Park in the whole of Rwanda. The park is one of the three major national parks in Rwanda the the other two being Volcanoes National park and Nyungwe Forest National park. Akagera is located in Eastern Rwanda spreading over 1122 square kilometers and its named after Akagera River, which flows in the heart of the park feeding into Lake Ihema.
The savannah park was established in 1934 to promote game safaris in Rwanda and diversify tourism experiences in the land of a thousand hills. Akagera National park is jointly managed by African Parks and Rwanda Development Board, which promotes wildlife conservation and tourism in this game park. Akagera Park is locally translated as Parc National de I’Akagera and is home to the big five game.
In 1990’s, tourism in Akagera national park was almost extinct but game safaris have made a come back with the reintroduction of rhinos and lions making it home to the “Big five game”. The vegetation cover in Akagera National park is mainly open grassland and swamps. A third of the park is covered by water (Lakes, Rivers, and streams). A 3 Days Akagera National park tour is your best package to explore this savannah park in the shortest time possible.
Activities in Akagera National Park
Rwanda safaris to Akagera National park give travelers with an endless list of tourist activities to ensure a memorable experience. The top things to see and do in Akagera National park include:
Game/wildlife viewing
This is the number one tourist activity in Akagera National park on your Rwanda tours. Bing home to the big five game, Akagera game park gives travelers with a memorable game viewing experience, a close encounter with numerous animals in their natural habitats.
Game drives through the open savannahs offer you spectacular views of wild animals such as lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards, rhinos, hippos, Topis, Roan antelopes, duikers, impalas, Cape elands, Waterbucks, Bohor reedbuck, zebras and hyenas among others. Also, night game drives are done to see nocturnal animals such as bush babies and serval cats among others. The reason for early morning game drives is to catch up with wild animals grazing, browsing and hunting before retiring for day rests.
Boat cruise
A boat cruise on the calm waters of Lake Ihema is a not miss on your Rwanda tours to Akagera National Park. The shores of Lake Ihema shelter high numbers of hippos in East Africa and so the crocodiles seen resting lazily at the shores. A boat cruise is a relaxing experience that will give you a fresh feeling of cold breezes and air. Also, the swamps on the lakeshores of Lake ihema shelter numerous birds such as rare shoebill stork, which makes your whole experience memorable. Enjoy the beautiful sceneries of cultivated hills of Rwanda on your boat ride on Lake Ihema.
Bird watching
Shoebill Stork in Akagera National Park
Akagera National park is home to over 520 bird species hence the best spot for bird watching. Expect to see high numbers of savannah and migratory birds in Akagera National park.
Among the birds in Akagera national park include Red-faced barbes, shoebill stork, Flycatcher, Grey-crowned crane, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Papyrus Gonolek, African wattled plover, African Openbill stock, African darter and egrets. Experienced guides help you spot different birds. Bird watching is well done in the swampy areas of Akagera National Park.
Sportfishing
Go for sport fishing on Lake Shakani for an extraordinary experience. You will join local fishers on a boat, set nets and start chasing the fish to go into the net. Singing is a must-do as one habit of fishermen to boost their morale and make this experience more enjoyable. At times, travelers get a chance to cook the fish captured and enjoy it making this whole experience memorable.
Accommodation in Akagera National Park
Akagea Game Lodge
About where to sleep in Akagera National Park, a variety of lodges, hotels, and camps have been put up to serve travelers with excellent food and sleeping services. The top lodges in Akagera national park include Akagera Game Lodge, Ruzizi Tented Camp, Akagera Rhino game lodge, Akagera Resort, and Country club.
Park entrance fees to Akagera National Park
Entrance fees to Akagera national park apply to the clients, guides, and travelers. Each fee is paid separately. The actual park entrance fee for every client is $40 valid for 24 hours. The guiding fees through the park cost $25 half-day and $40 for full-day guiding. Small vehicles/minibusses are charged $12 while big buses and overland cars are charged $40 if they are Rwandan /East Africa registered. Foreign registered vehicles are charged higher %100 for the minibuses valid for 24 hours. If you want a sunset trip to Lake Ihema, the experience costs $45 while fishing in the park costs $25 for adults and $15 for children.
When to visit Akagera National park? Weather
Akagera National park can be visited all year round. The park majorly receives two weather seasons i.e dry and wet seasons. The dry /peak season is between the months of June, July, August, September, October, December, January and February. The wet/rainy season is between March, April. May, October, and November. However, despite the difference in seasons, Akagera national park can be visited throughout the year with a 100% guarantee of a memorable experience.
What to pack for Akagera National Park
Make sure y pack the essentials if you want to have a wonderful Rwanda tour in Akagera National park. The packing list to Akagera national park includes long-sleeved shirts, safari shorts, safari stockings, Comfortable underwear, long trouser, sweaters and safari hat.
Drive Time to Akegera park
The drive from Kigali to Akagera National park is roughly 2-3 hours with scenic views of Rwanda’s local villages and endless rolling hills. Game safaris in Akagera National park are normally done as a complement to gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National park.
People Also Ask
What is the largest park in Rwanda?
Akagera National park is the largest park in Rwanda covering 1085 square kilometers of land located in north Eastern Rwanda. The park mainly comprise of savannah plains and acacia trees making it best for photography
How much does it cost to go to Akagera National park?
The entrance fee to Akagera national park is $100 for international visitors, for one night, $150 for two nights ad $200 for three nights in the park. East African citizens pay $50 for one night, $75 for two nights and $100 for 3 nights, while Rwandese/East African citizens pay $16 for one night, $24 for 2 nights and $32 for 3 nights. The 3 days Akagera Park tour offers you the best of this game park.
What is Akagera National park known for?
Akagera National park is known for protecting the largest wetland in central Africa and also sheltering the remaining savanna adapted species in Rwanda.
How far is a drive from kigali to Akagera National park?
Akagera National Park is located 105 kilometers from Kigali which takes roughly 3 hours drive north eastwards. The park is one of the closest parks i Rwanda an suitable for short time travelers. You ca visit Akagera National park on your 1 day Rwanda wildlife safari starting and ending in Kigali!
Can you see the big five in Rwanda?
YES, Akagera National park is famous for hosting the big five which you ca see on your game viewing experience. These are Lions Leopards. Elephants. Rhinos and Buffalos. In addition to this, Akagera National park is home to other animals like Giraffes, Zebras, Waterbucs, Duikers, Warthogs, Impalas, Cheetahs and wild dogs among others.
What Watefall is found of river Akagera?
Rusumo is the name of the waterfall on River Akagera located on the orders of Rwanda and Tanzania. Rusumo falls are among the top attractions in Akagera National park which you should not miss seeing.
Can you see Lions in Rwanda?
YES, Lions are among the wild animals in Akagera National park. They are among the “big five” the major attraction in Akagera National park. on your day and evening game drives in the park, yo have 90% chances of seeing lions
What two rivers join to make river Akagera?
Rubavu on the top left and Nyawarunga on the top right are the two rivers that combine to form the might River Akagera. Lukarara is the longest tributary of river Akagera
What are the Lake Found in Akagera National park?
These are serval lakes found in different corners of Akagera National park. These include Lake Ihema, Lake Shakani, Lake Birengero, Lake Mrambi and Lake Murambya. Ihema is the largest lake in Akagera national park
How many lions and Rhinos are in Akagera National Park?
There are roughly 58 Lions that have been registered in Akagera National Park. The Lions were re introduced in the park in 2015 but the population has slowly grown over time. Regarding Rhinos’, 18 endangered species were re introduced in the park in 2017 from south Africa. This was a comeback after 10 years of non existence.
Which African country has the most lions?
Tanzania is known for hosting the highest number of Lions in Africa. The kings of the jungle are so common in the northern circuit Tanzanian mostly in Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara, National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha and Tarangire National Parks
Where is the origin of the Akagera River?
River Akagera has its origin in Burundi from Lake Lweru. Akagera river then flows Easter wards alonfg Rwanda Tanzania and Rwanda Burundi border, the reason why its called the East African river. Akagre river is also called Alexandria Nile
What plains are in Akagera National park?
Mohana and Kalala are the common plains in Akagera National Park. However, Mohana plain is the most popular in the park. These serve as food and habitat for wild animals in Akagera National park
Superfine Safaris offers you memorable Rwanda safaris to Akagera National park. Contact us today, book your game safari to Akagera and enjoy the beauties of this scenic park.
