Akagera National Park has exceptional levels of biodiversity and forms a large protected wetland. It is the only Savannah National Park in Rwanda and the only place to sight most of the large mammals including the Big 5 while on safari. Explore the park in the comfort of your safari vehicle while on a game drive.
Activities and Attractions
Game drives
Game drives in Akagera National Park are done in safari vehicles starting early morning in search of the leopards, hyenas, and the re-introduced lions. This is because the predators prefer to hunt at night or early morning and usually go into hiding as the day gets hotter. Along the carnivores, enjoy the scenery of this beautiful park and several other big mammals like elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, zebra and giraffes. The scenic landscape and beautiful wild flowers provide photographing opportunities.
Bird watching
Akagera National Park is a popular and important birding area in Rwanda. Avid birders will find birding in Akagera National Park very rewarding as they are chanced with sighting endangered, rare and easily sighted bird species. The endangered bird species include papyrus gonolek and shoebill; whereas the more easily sighted species include weavers, egrets and several Kingfishers.
Birding is done while on a game drive, nature walk with a ranger guide and on a boat safari on Lake Ihema. Birding on Lake Ihema will give one the pleasure of water species which are otherwise not seen while on the game drive in the Savannah grassland.
Boat safari on Lake Ihema
The best way to spend an afternoon in Akagera National Park is to take a boat ride on Lake Ihema. While many animals hide under the shade during the hot afternoons, many also make their way to the lake to quench their thirst and cool off. The presence of these animals at the lake shore makes the boat ride on L. Ihema even more interesting. In addition to a variety of water bird species, look out for schools of resident hippos in the water and crocodiles by the shores of the lake. There are scheduled boat trips which happen during the day but one can book for a private unscheduled boat trip at their own timing.
Sport fishing
Sport fishing in Akagera National Park is conducted on Lake Shakani located within the park. Visitors interested in carrying out sport fishing on the lake have an opportunity to catch fish species such as; tilapia and cat fish among others. Visitors fishing on the lake also get an opportunity to learn about the various methods of fishing that are used in Rwanda and these include; the cast net method, the gill net method, the Lampara, Spearing and shoot arrow method, the Scoop net method and lastly the Hooking method. Even though the expectation is catch and release, you are given an opportunity to take one catch for a meal if interested. While fishing, visitors can enjoy a cold drink while listening to folk songs and folk tales or stories that are told by the local fishermen. This is also a great opportunity for visitors to interact with the local people of Rwanda, and learn more about the Rwandan cultures.
Cultural tours near Akagera National Park
Experience the rural Rwandan life around the cattle keeping communities near Akagera National Park. You have opportunity to observe and/or participate in traditional cattle grazing, milking, traditional milk storage in calabashes for preservation. You then go through the process of converting milk into different products like traditional yogurt, ghee and lastly take part in preparing a meal with some of the ingredients from the milk products. This is an authentic cultural experience shared by the locals living adjacent to the park. The locals earn from these cultural tours to supplement their agricultural income. This eventually contributes to conservation of culture and wild life in the park.