Game drives in Akagera national park
Game drives in Akagera national park; Akagera national park is one of the most visited and the only savannah national parks in Rwanda located in eastern region along the border with Tanzania. The national park was gazetted in 1934 and it covers a total land area of 1,200 square kilometres. Akagera national park was named after River Kagera and its a home of different wildlife species including elephants, buffaloes, lions, bushbucks, impalas, zebras, giraffes, leopards, rhinos, waterbucks, reedbucks, oribi, crocodiles, hippos, bush pigs, Klipspringer, hyenas, warthogs and over 500 bird species including the elusive shoebill stork, grey crowned crane, African fish eagle, papyrus gonolek among others.
Game drives is the major activity in Akagera national park where you will get an opportunity to explore the savannah plains in a comfortable pop up safari vehicle with a professional driver guide. Game drives in Akagera national park can either be done very early in the morning at around 7:00am when animals are more active or in the afternoon. During the game drives, you will be able to spot different animals including the big 5 mammals which are the lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos, you will also be able to view other animals like impalas, topi, elands, bushbucks, zebras, giraffes, oribi, reedbucks, waterbucks, warthogs among others.
Akagera national park also offers night game drives where clients will be able to explore the park at night with an experienced park ranger and spotlight torches for clear viewing of nocturnal animals which become active at night. During the night game drive in Akagera national park which takes about 2 to 3 hours, you will be able to view nocturnal animals like lions, leopards, hyenas, serval cats, civet, genet, bush babies, mongoose, nightjar, view hippos feeding at night and other animals like bush pigs, bushbucks, impalas, buffaloes, topi, waterbucks among others which will be resting.
Best time to visit Akagera national park
Akagera national park can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best time for the game drives is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less or little rainfall in the national park therefore vegetation will be short which allows you to have clear views of different animals. During the dry season, many animals gather around the water bodies to drink water which gives you an opportunity to view abundant animals and the game drive tracks in the park will be dry and passable which makes game drives easy.
Where to stay during your safari 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, Karenge Bush Camp, Akagera Transit Lodge, Akagera Rhino Lodge, Magashi Safari Camp, Akagera Resort and Country Club, Akagera Safari Camp, Vintage Cottages, Nyagasambu Realm Beach Hotel, Dereva Hotel, Lake Shakani Campsite among others.
Other activities in Akagera national park
Apart from the game drives, Akagera national park offers other interesting activities that you can engage in during the Rwanda safari including bird watching where you will be able to view different bird species including the shoebill stork, Chapin’s flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, African darter, black-headed weaver, strange weaver, boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will be able to view hippos and crocodiles in water, guided nature walks where you will be able to explore the park on foot, sport fishing on the shores of lake Shakani where you will be able to catch different fish types like tilapia and catfish, cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the local people and learn about their culture, local dishes, traditional dances among others.
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 where you will drive from Kigali to the park headquarters which takes about 3 hours’ drive.
Akagera national park can also be accessed by air transport means where you will book helicopter charter flights with Akagera Aviation from Kigali airport to Akagera national park.
Game drives in Akagera national park can be combined with chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale Forest National Park. For more information about game drives in Akagera national park, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris.
