Attractions in Akagera National Park / Akagera National Park is located in the north eastern region of Rwanda and sits along the international border of Rwanda and Tanzania, expanding an area of about 1,122 square kilometers. The park got its name from Akagera river which flows along the eastern boundary feeding various lakes in the park like Lake Ihema and other small lakes within the park. Akagera is also dominated by savannah, montane and papyrus swamps which are habitant for many wildlife species in the park. There was wide population of African wild dogs but later were affected by a disease which resulted into reduction of their population.
In 1934 the Belgian government decided to gazette the area as a protected area in the names of Akagera National Park.
Attractions in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is dotted by savannah vegetation and vegetation, which provide a home to home habitat for a wide range of wildlife which can be seen upon your safari in the park. Animal species to see include topi, buffalo, defassa waterbuck, swamp dwelling sitatunga, savanna elephant, zebra, roan antelope, eland, buhor reedbuck, Klipspringer, bushbuck, lions, hyena, impala, side- stripped jackal, mongoose species, serval, Oribi among others. The park also harbors with primate species such as Vervet monkeys, blue monkeys.
Water bodies
The park hosts many water bodies which a dotted around the park. It is also made up of swamp-fringed lakes that is Lake Ihema, Lake Shakani, Lake Rwanyakazinga, Lake Gishanju and Lake Mihindi. These lakes offer perfect view of wide range of wildlife that call Akagera their home. Many animals and bird species either live in these waterbodies, animals include crocodiles, hippopotamus and many types of fish species. Akagera National Park is also drained by river Akagera, which run through the eastern boundary of the park to Uganda through Tanzania before draining in Lake Victoria. The shores of river Akagera are perfect for bird viewing since they can be filled with many bird species mostly the shoe bill stock which live in the swamp.
Birdlife
Akagera National Park estimates about 500 bird species and 44 are recorded as raptors and bird here can be easily spotted around savannah plains, hills, forest, swamps and shores of lakes and rivers. There are various kinds of birds to see include; Zambezian biome species including Myrmecocichla arnotti, Cisticola angusticauda and lanius souzae and raptor species to see in the park include; balaeniceps rex and Palearctic migrant like Falco naumami, Glareola nordamanni and Gallinago, Afro-tropical highlands biome, Congo forest biome, threatened bird species like papyrus gonolek and localized red faced barbet among others.
List of commonly spotted bird species in Akagera National Park include; shoe bill, hammer kop, fish eagles, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, cattle egret Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, Pied Crow, Vieillot’s Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan tailed Widowbird, Carruthers’s cisticola among others.
Getting to Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park lies in the eastern region of Rwanda with Kibungo as nearest city. The park can be accessed by both air and road transport means. There is a distance of 135 kilometers from Kigali town and in drive take 2 to 3 hours. From Kibunga /Rwamagana to the park’s main entrance gate takes 1-hour drive.
Note; There is no domestic flights to Akagera National Park. Its only Akagera Aviation that offers helicopter flight from Kigali city to Akagera National Park which takes 22 minutes.
Accommodation in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park being Rwanda’s biggest national park, hosts lots of excellent accommodation facilities ranging from camping sites, lodges and hotel, all offering quality services to the clients. The most used lodge is Ruzizi tented lodge that consist of 20 accommodation unit, covering the beautiful Lake Ihema and endless of the park.
