Game drives in Akagera national park; Akagera national park is the only savannah protected area in Rwanda located in the eastern region along the border with Tanzania. Akagera national park covers a total area of 1,200 square kilometers and it was gazetted in 1934 which makes it one of the oldest national parks in Rwanda. Akagera national park is a home of different wildlife species including the big five mammals the elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards and rhinos, other animals like reedbucks, giraffes, bush pigs, elands, zebras, warthogs, waterbucks, topi, roan antelopes, Sitatungas, side stripped jackals, impalas, duikers ,primates like vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and variety of bird species. The national park was named after Kagera river which flows along Rwanda’s eastern boundary and feeds other lakes like lake Ihema, Lake Mihindi, Lake Gishanju, Lake Shakani, Lake Rwanyakizinga among others.
Game drive is one of the major activities in Akagera national park that can either be done very early in the morning at around 6:30am when animals are still active, in the afternoon at around 12:00/ 2:00pm or at night to view nocturnal animals. Game drives in Akagera national park are carried out in the northern part of the park and they are done in comfortable pop up safari vehicles with professional driver guides who are conversant with different game drive tracks. During the day game drives, you will be able to view different animals like buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, waterbucks, zebras, elands, topis, impalas, bushbucks, klipspringer, reedbucks, oribi, duikers, sitatunga, giraffes, view predators like lions, leopards, among others if you are lucky. You will also be able to see some primates like olive baboons, vervet monkeys, different bird species, enjoy views of the sunset, sunrise, beautiful scenery among others.
Akagera national park also offers a night game drive where visitors will be able to explore the savannah plains at night with an armed ranger guide and spotlight torches for clear viewing of nocturnal animals. During the night game drive which starts at around 5:30 to 8:00pm, you will be able to spot nocturnal animals hunting like leopards, lions, hyenas, bush babies, civets, mongoose, serval cats among others.
Best time to visit Akagera national park
Akagera national park can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, august, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less rainfall in the national park therefore vegetation will be short which gives you an opportunity to view different animals clearly.
How to get to akagera national park
Akagera national park is located in the eastern part of Rwanda and can be accessed by road transport means whereby visitors will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to the park headquarters through Rwamagana, Kayonza, Kabarondo towns and then to the southern gate of Akagera national park which takes about 2 to 3 hours drive.
Where to stay in Akagera national park
Akagera national park has a number of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your safari including Ruzizi tented lodge, Akagera Game lodge, Magashi Safari Camp, Vintage Cottages, Nyagasambu Realm Beach Hotel, Akagera Resort and Country club, Karenge Bush Camp among others.
Other activities in Akagera national park
Akagera national park offers other interesting activities that visitors can engage in apart from the game drives including bird watching where you will be able to view different bird species, boat cruise on lake Ihema where you will be able to view large herds of hippos and crocodiles in water, sport fishing where you will be able to catch different fish types, Cultural tours where you will interact with the local people, guided nature walks where you will be able to explore the park on foot among others.
Game drive is an exciting activity that shouldn’t be missed during your safari in Akagera national park and it can be combined with other activities like gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk, mountain climbing, primate trekking, nature walk among others. For more information you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various Rwanda safari packages.
