Akagera National Park was founded in 1934 by the Belgian Government covering a distance of over 2510 sq km at first but lately in 1993 the park almost lost its land by almost 50% to the former Genocide refugees who had returned back to Rwanda after the genocide to establish their settlements and also land for cultivation to earn a living.
Akagera national park is found in the north eastern part of Rwanda along Rwandese border with Tanzania. The park is characterized as savannah, woodland and also a wetland. It’s one of the largest protected areas in Africa. Akagera national park derives its name from Kagera River which is the main river passing through this park and the main source of water to other water bodies here such as lake Ihema. The park borders districts of Kayonza and Nyagatare in Rwanda and its located 111km from Kigali the capital city with driving time of 2-3hours. The park has two gates the southern gate Kiyonza for entry and northern gate Nyugwo for exit.
UNIQUENESS
The Park is famously known for big five animals like elephants, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion and is the only park with the big five in Rwanda.
ATTRACTIONS
Wildlife
Akagera national park is the best destination in Rwanda for game viewing and drives. Due to its variety of savannah grassland the park harbors many animals like elephants, lions, hyenas, waterbucks among others.
Primates
The park also harbors primates like olive baboons and velvet monkeys.
Lakes
Lake Ihema is where boat cruise happens due to its shallow waters the lake consists of many aquatic animals like hippos and crocodiles. The also has lake Shakani were spot fishing is done and other lakes like Hago, Kivumba, Mihindi, Rwanyakizinga and Gishanju.
BIRDS
To the birders also this is one of the best places to visit since it harbors over 520 bird species such as fish eagles, pied crow, black weavers and long-crested eagle.
ACTIVITIES
Here we shall conduct two game drives, the morning game drive basically conducted to view animals like buffaloes, elephants and giraffes while the night game drive which starts late in the evening basically to look for nocturnal animals like lions, hyenas and leopards which are very active during the night in search for their prey for dinner.
The birders are highly impressed with the large number of birds here with over 500 bird species which can be viewed through game drives and basically during a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Such birds include: cattle egret, black weavers, long-crested eagle among others
In Rwanda spot fishing is only done on the shores of Lake Shakani where you will also get a chance to encounter various water animals like hippos and a variety of birds. And here the fish you catch is always given to you to roast it if you want
This is done on Lake Ihema which is one of the lakes in East Africa with the largest number of hippos and crocodiles so you will get a chance to encounter them and water loving animals like elephants thus getting a chance to get even more close to them than in the game drives. Birds also will be encountered here including even shoe bill stork on the luck days. Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s park where you can spot the Africa’s Big 5 and it gives best game drives.