Akagera National Park
Akagera is located in the Eastern region of Rwanda about 110 km from Kigali the capital of Rwanda which is about a 2 hours 30 minutes’ drive. It is a beautiful park with lush green scenery and lots of wildlife and birds to see. It was named after the Akagera River which flows along its eastern boundary feeding into Lake Ihema and several smaller lakes.
Akagera National Park is home to animals like elephants, buffalos, Lions, Rhinos, Leopards, Giraffes, zebras, and more than a dozen types of antelopes that inhabit the park. Most commonly the handsome chestnut-coated impalas, but also the diminutive oribi and secretive bushbucks, the ungainly tsessebe, the world’s largest antelopes, and the statuesque Cape eland.
Boat Ride
A boat trip on Lake Ihema is also a highlight of any visit to Akagera, with its large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and abundant waterbirds on the island in the middle of the lake.
There are both schedules and private boat rides. Knowledgeable guides are on hand to answer any questions and point out some areas of interest on the cruise.
Birding
Akagera National Park is a paradise for bird watching with a variety of bird species in the Southern side of the park. The Park is also renowned for its great profusion of water birds across the East African region as well as among the unique places to see papyrus endemics. To date, there is a total of 490 bird species.
The range-restricted Red-faced barbet is probably the most sought-after bird and should be easy to find around Akagera Game Lodge and Muyumbu campsite. Other range-restricted species and highlights include Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek, White-Winged Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’s Cisticola, White-collared Oliveback, and Grey-crowned Cranes. Another desirable species is the Shoebill which is also seen in the park fairly regularly and so many others.
Behind The Scenes Tour
For guests who are much into a conservation nerd, this experience is ideal for you. The behind-the-scenes experience shares conversational talks and approaches with people managing the Akagera National Park. Duration for this tour is estimated to last up to 2 hours. The tour starts at 09h00 and ends at 11h00.
Spot Fishing
Fishing is done from the shores of Lake Shakani. Your clients can either keep their catch or throw it back. The two main species caught in Lake Shakani are catfish and tilapia. The Park doesn’t provide fishing equipment so clients must bring this.
