Top things to see or do in Akagera National Park
Top things to see or do in Akagera National Park
Top things to see or do in Akagera National Park : The Akagera national park is a national park in Rwanda and is the Big 5 park of the country as it is a home to the Big 5 animals. The Akagera national park is the unique park of the country and is the only one of its kind from the activities offered, the landscape and vegetation found in this park. The Akagera national park is Rwanda’s hidden gem currently under the African Parks management.
The Akagera national park is named after the Kagera river acting as a borderline between Rwanda and Tanzania. This national park is an hour and 30 minutes away from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda and the base of the Kigali International airport. The Akagera national park is majorly made up of savannah land with open grasslands, broad leaved forests blended with candelabra Euphoria trees and some hilly terrain in some parts.
The Akagera national park has a lot of wildlife within its boundaries that guests can spot, ranging from the mammals, cats, primates, birds and the aquatic life. This park is one of the parks where you can spot all the big 5 animals and these are the lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo. There are other animals that you may spot while in the Akagera National park such as the antelope species like waterbuck, eland, roan antelopes, common duiker, klipspringer and the primates like the olive baboons, wide eyed bush babies, vervet monkeys to mention but a few.
When in Akagera, there are a few activities that are a must engage so as to get the most of this park and a give you a higher chance to spot some of the 520 animal species and 100 plus bird species within this park and this write up lists them.
- Game Drives and Nature walk
Take on a game drive in Akagera national park and get amazed by the surprises of nature in their natural state, look out for the wild animals and check your bird list while on this drive. Spot the elephants, hyenas, buffaloes, leopards. Lions, topis and elands, savannah birds, giraffes, serval cats, to mention but a few.
You will enjoy these game drives with a knowledgeable guide who will share information on the plant life and the animal life in the park. You will be expected to stay in your vehicle through out the safari. Be sure to take a snack if you are booked for a full day game drive and some drinking water.
The nature walks in the Akagera national park are guided and guests get to enjoy the nature on foot and is a great chance to spot the birdlife of Akagera national park.
- Night Game drive
Take on a night game drive in the Akagera national park and feel the thrill of driving in the park in the night hours. Carry your night vision binoculars and spot the nocturnal animals of the Akagera national park thus Top things to see or do in Akagera National Park.
You are likely to spot the leopards, lions, hyenas, serval cats and the other cats out hunting in the night or late evening hours. Spot some nocturnal birds as well as the bush babies whose large eyes will capture your attention. The night game drives are much slower and this is to increase your chances of spotting the wildlife. This night game drive usually last 2 hours for guests to enjoy the night view of the park.
- Birding
The Akagera national park is listed on the IBA important birding areas as it is a home to about 520 bird species competing with the Nyungwe forest national park, another national park in Rwanda. If you are a birder, be sure to spare a morning or full day to spot some of the bird species both endemic and migratory birds.
Birders who visit the Akagera national park are assured of spotting a variety of birds and these are found in big numbers. Spot some rare bird species such as the papyrus gonolek, red faced barbes, the fly catcher to mention but a few. This is surely a paradise for the birders so do not miss out on this activity.
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema
The boat ride on the Lake Ihema is a popular activity done by guests of this park and usually a major activity off the itinerary. The boat ride on the Lake Ihema, one of the lakes of the Akagera park, gives guests a closer view of the aquatic life of Akagera such as the hippos, the crocodiles and is also a great birding point.
You will spot some water birds and land birds on the shore lines as well as the crocodiles. On a great boat ride, guests may spot the rare shoebill bird. Elephants are also a common site as they drink water by the lake shores.
The Akagera national park has many more activities for guests to engage in such as fishing, walk the line, community cultural experiences or even do some commercial fishing. Get in touch with us and let us plan your visit to Akagera national park.
