GUIDE TO Akagera National Park Rwanda

Complete guide to Akagera National Park, one of the premier destinations to visit on your Rwanda safaris. Get to know everything about Akagera including general travel information, attractions, exciting activities, best time to visit, accommodation, and how to get there.

Akagera National Park is a spectacular wildlife Park in the extreme Eastern Province of Rwanda. Akagera lies along the border with Tanzania and is Rwanda’s largest Park as well as the only destination to find all the Big 5 game. Created as a National Park in 1934, Akagera features as Rwanda’s second oldest Protected Area after Volcanoes National Park.

By size, Akagera occupies up to 1122 sq. km and derives its name from Kagera River. The Kagera River flows through the Park and also empties its water into Lake Ihema and many other smaller lakes. About a third of Akagera National Park is composed of Lakes and papyrus swamps, making it the biggest Protected Wetland Area in Eastern-Central Africa.

Akagera features a diverse ecosystem characterized by savanna grassland, woodlands, Lakes, and wildlife. The Park lies at an altitude of 1220 to 2000m. The lowest altitude of Akagera lies at 1220m and that is the Kagera River Valley. The highest altitude is at 2000m and that is Mutumba Hill. The Mutumba Hills are among the spectacular highlands in Akagera National Park and known for their exceptional views of surrounding swamps and lakes.

Major Attractions to Explore on a Tour  Akagera

Wild Animals to see

The vast Akagera National Park offers refuge to diverse wildlife species. They include the Big 5 –African elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions, and buffaloes; antelope families (topis, bushbucks, waterbucks, impalas, klipspringers, duikers, elands, oribis, and roan antelopes). The other wildlife to find in Akagera includes hyenas, warthogs, bush pigs, serval cats, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, and numerous primates, including vervet monkeys, bush babies, olive baboons, blue monkeys, and more.

The birds

Akagera is interestingly a birder’s haven, home to a total of about 520 species of birds, including aquatic and terrestrial species. At Akagera National Park, expect to identify diversity of birds such as monarch flycatchers, long-toed birds, elusive shoebill storks, cattle egrets, red-faced barbets, Carruthers’ cisticola, grey-backed fiscals, ring-necked francolins, black-headed weaver birds, brown-chested lapwing, Augur buzzards, wattle eye, black-crowned night heron, papyrus gonoleks, Viellot’s black weaver birds, pennant-winged nightjars, and Shelley’s francolins. Akagera also features birds such as marsh tchagra, slate-colored boubou, sooty chat, ruaha chat, white browed coucals, yellow-throated leaf-love, semi-collared flycatchers, and many migratory birds like the great snipe and lesser kestrel.

7 Best Safari Activities in Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is an enriching destination with multiple safari activities for you to enjoy. Here is a checklist of 7 best memorable activities to do in Akagera;

Game Drives/Viewing 

Game drives make up Akagera’s top list of safari activities and the Park offers day and night sessions. Game drive offer complete immersion into Akagera’s wilderness for you to witness its abundant wildlife. The morning game drive starts from 6:30 am till 11:30 am and offers a chance for you to spot the sun risers as they start their day. The afternoon game viewing session begins from noon till 5:00 pm, then the night guided game drive runs from 5:30 to about 8:30 pm. The night game drive is done along the Southern section of the park.

A 4×4 safari vehicle is recommended for game drives, and expect to spend at least 2-3 hours in the savanna plains of Akagera. On a game drive, expect clear exposure to diverse wildlife including buffaloes, Maasai giraffes, lions, African elephants, black rhinos, leopards, topis, impalas, zebras, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, bush bucks, warthogs, hyenas, serval cats, and many others.

Boat Cruise Excursions

Boat tours offer a great chance for you to explore the scenic Lake Ihema. Lake Ihema is Akagera’s largest Lake and features a stunning vegetation cover with several aquatic life. On a boat excursion, expect great sightings of hippos, crocodiles, and birds. The birds of interest on a boat cruise on Lake Ihema include the African fish eagles, African fish darters, shoebill storks, and more. Visitors can participate in the morning and afternoon boat excursions with the presence of an experienced guide.

Sport fishing tours

Akagera National Park is one of the premier destinations in East Africa where you can experience the best of sport fishing. Lake Shakani is the right place to experience a sport fishing excursion. The anglers target to catch catfish and tilapia.

Birding tours on foot

Akagera offers active birding tours, a great opportunity to identify the diversity of birds in their natural setting. With a knowledgeable guide, visitors embark on a birding excursion to search for birds such as the elusive shoebill storks, lilac-breasted rollers, northern brown-throated weaver birds, blue-headed coucals, yellow sunbirds, brown-chested lapwings, semi-collared flycatchers, Carruthers’s cisticola, Denham’s bustards, swamp flycatchers, grey-crowned cranes, double-toothed barbets, black-headed gonoleks, Meyer’s parrots, and Caspian plovers. Other birds to spot in Akagera include African fish eagles, pennant-winged nightjars, Cabanis’s buntings, Souza’s shrikes, and more.

Hot Air Balloon Experience

Balloon excursions present you with an amazing opportunity to enjoy aerial game viewing over the breathtaking landscapes and plains of Akagera Game Park. Rise above the Park’s plains while viewing your favorite wildlife, from elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, to bird species. The balloon excursions offer sunset and sunrise game viewing opportunities.

Nature walks/hikes

Akagera is best explored even on guided nature hiking adventures. With nature walks, you go deep into the park to explore its varied habitats and wildlife. The available guided nature walking opportunities to appreciate here include the 7 km line, primitive walking trail (40km), and normal nature walks that last for 1 to 3 hours.

Behind-the-scenes with an expert

The behind-the-scenes experience is best done with the lead of a professional ranger guide. You embark on a journey to unearth the wonders of Akagera. In addition, visitors can also include rhino tracking, helicopter tours, and community visits.

When to visit Akagera for a vacation

Akagera National Park experiences ideal weather conditions that make it an all year round destination. However, the dry season is the best time to enjoy a game drive and most excursions in the Park. This can be during the long dry season from June to September or around the short dry months from December to February. The dry seasons come with minimal rainfall, and the game trails are accessible on a game drive or nature walk.

5 Popular Accommodations to Stay

The 5-popular accommodation choices in Akagera National Park include Akagera Game Lodge, Magashi Luxury Tented Camp, Rusizi Luxury Tented Camp, Akagera Rhino Lodge, and Akagera Transit Lodge.

How to get  to Akagera National park

Visitors can reach Akagera National Park in Eastern Rwanda by road or air. Expect to spend about 2 and a half hours driving from Kigali to Akagera, or you can take a flight using Akagera Aviation helicopter.