Akagera National Park | Premium Africa Safaris

Akagera National Park – Parc National de l’Akagera is amazingly a slice of paradise in Rwanda. This complete Rwanda Tour Guide to Akagera National Park brings you all that you need to know about this pristine Rwanda safari park – from location, when it was established, size, attractions, activities, the best time to visit, accommodation, and how to get there.

Parc National de l’Akagera is the only wildlife and savanna Rwanda safari park. This makes it a distinct African safari destination of its own in Rwanda – the Land of a Thousand Hills. Akagera National Park was established as a National Park in Rwanda in 1934 and its borders stretch covering up to 1122sq.km of land area.

Akagera National Park is an exceptional Rwanda safari park with a distinct ecosystem, a network of Lakes, and beautiful swamps. About 3 quarters of Akagera is covered by Lakes and swamps. This makes it one of the biggest wetlands protected areas in East-Central Africa. This park has its borders stretch to the nearby border with Tanzania and it gets its name from the Kagera River – a scenic river that flows via it.

Location 

Located in Eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park (Parc National de l’Akagera) is Rwanda’s only savanna park and big 5 game destination. This park has its borders stretch to the nearby border with Tanzania and it gets its name from the Kagera River – a scenic river that flows via it.

Amazing Tourist Attractions in Akagera 

Akagera Park is a complete African safari park, boasting of its biodiversity. It is home to a range of habitats characterized by open, acacia, bushes, swamps, and lakes. These support diversity of wildlife of tourist interest on Rwanda safaris.

Abundant wildlife – Akagera

All the big 5 game in Africa (elephants, cape buffaloes, leopards, lions, and rhinos) can be spotted in Akagera N. Park while on a Rwanda safari. In addition to the big 5 game, other wildlife in Akagera National Park Rwanda include zebras, giraffes, hippos, baboons, roan antelopes, wild dogs, klipspringers, hyenas, impalas, oribis, bohor reed-bucks, sitatungas, etc.

Diversity of birds

Akagera Park boasts of its wealth of birdlife making it a birder’s haven. Over 500 bird species range in the various habitats in this park, including the savanna, forest and aquatic species. Birding safari in Akagera comes with great bird exposure of kingfishers, hamerkop, shoebill stork, black-headed and vieillot’s black weavers, Augur buzzard;

Other Parc National de l’Akagera bird species include fan-tailed widowbird, egrets, hadada ibis, Carruther’s cisticola, long-crested eagle, papyrus gonoleks, African wattled plovers, grey crowned crane, Africa openbill stork, giant kingfishers, Senegal lapwings, squacco herons, African darters, etc.

Activities in Parc National de l’Akagera

Game drive

Guided game drives in Akagera offer special animal encounters of not only the big 5 game but also other small mammals, birds, and the spectacular landscape of the park. In a 4×4 Rwanda safari vehicle with a guide, expect to see a diversity of wildlife inclusive of elephants, lions, cape buffaloes, zebras, impalas, warthogs, antelopes, rhinos, giraffes, birds, etc.

Guided game drives in Akagera can be done during the day or evening/night. Night game drives target nocturnal animal species such as leopards and nightjar birds. A complete game drive session lasts for 2-3 hours and a 4×4 tourist vehicle is preferable for an uninterrupted view of wildlife.

Boat/launch cruise

Launch cruise or boat trip is one of the special recreation experiences AParc National de l’Akagera has to offer to tourists on Rwanda safari. A launch cruise in Akagera is best done in the clear blue waters of Lake Ihema and you get an incredible view of hippos, and crocodiles plus a range of special wildlife roaming along the Lake shores.

Sport fishing

Anglers on Rwanda tour in Akagera are also not left out. Akagera is one of the great Rwanda safari destinations or African safari parks where amazing sport fishing experiences can be enjoyed. Here you get to challenge yourself with heavy fish species such as tilapia. It is an exciting adventure experience for anglers on the Rwanda safari holiday and it is best done on Lake Shakani shores.

Birding safaris

Birding safaris in Parc National de l’Akagera are unmatched. The Park is a special birding area in Rwanda with abundant bird-watching opportunities. The beauty about birding in Akagera is that you can go on sole birding trip or combine it with guided game drives or nature walks/boat cruises. The birds to sight are enormous but include the papyrus gonoleks, shoebill stork, fan-tailed widowbird, augur buzzard, hadada ibis, black-headed and weavers, grey-backed fiscals, kingfishers, long-crested eagle, jacanas and more.

Nature walks

Nothing gets nature lovers that refreshing experience and a close encounter with wildlife or deep exploration of a hidden gem than guided nature walks. A nature walk in Akagera allows you to penetrate through the different habitats rich in wildlife, birds, and floral species.

Rhino tracking/walking

Rhino tracking/walking is a newly introduced wildlife experience tourists visiting Akagera can enjoy. This special adventure is best done in the extensive Kilala plains, the Northern section of Akagera National Park. Kilala Plains supports about 30 white rhinos which were introduced in 2021.

Helicopter adventures

Nothing is as mesmerizing as embarking on helicopter tours in Akagera National Park to enjoy an aerial view of wildlife. Get an excellent view of wildlife and scenic savanna vegetation, a series of swamp-fringed lakes, etc.

Community cultural tours/experiences

A visit to local communities adjacent to Akagera National Park is the perfect way to make your Rwanda safari or African safari complete. The main community/cultural experiences to expect on cultural safaris in Akagera NP include the Humure Refugee Village tours 940 minutes drive from Akagera National Park, Imigongo Art & Craft Centre popular for its unique Imigongo art making, Heritage and

When to visit – Akagera National Park/Parc National de l’Akagera

Deciding on when to visit Akagera National Park can be challenging, but what is interesting is that this is an all-year-round Rwanda safari destination. To enjoy mesmerizing wildlife experiences in Akagera, the dry season is the best time to consider planning your Rwanda safaris. This is possible during 2 dry season sessions – the lengthy dry months running from June to September and short dry spells from December to February.

The wet season is ideal though the challenge with it is that heavy rains are often experienced that is from March to May or short rainy months from October to November. These are the preferred months for birding.

Where to stay 

• Luxury accommodation in Akagera National Park – Ruzizi Tented Lodge/Magashi Tented Camp
• Midrange accommodation at Akagera – Akagera Game Lodge

Getting to Akagera National Park- African safaris

Akagera National Park in Rwanda lies on the Eastern side of the country. Access to this park is possible by road, about 2.5 hours drive from Kigali. By air, you can take Akagera aviation – take helicopter tours, about 22 minutes to Akagera National Park.