Game drives in Akagera National Park offer visitors a unique opportunity to encounter a wide variety of African wildlife’s natural habitat. Akagera National Park is located in the eastern province of Rwanda, bordering Tanzania, the park offers a captivating blend of diverse wildlife and magnificent landscapes. Akagera National Park covers an area of 1,089 sq km and was gazetted as a national park in 1934, the park got its name after the Kagera River which flows water along its eastern border with Tanzania. Surrounded by cultivated hills, that are so much a part of Rwanda’s scenery, the scenery of Akagera National Park is quite simply beautiful. The landscape is low, composed of wide plains dominated by grass, cactus-like Euphorbia candelabra shrub, and both thick and thin forests although it does carry on with the general rugged terrain that is so characteristic of Rwanda.
The park is a home of different unique wildlife species, for example, the big five exciting animals including Elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos, leopards, and other mammal species like zebras, giraffes, warthogs, impalas, bushbucks lions, hyenas, and several antelopes like the bushbucks, roan antelope, Topes, klipspringer, Oribis, Cape eland, water-buck, duikers and impalas. There are a number of primate species found within this park such as the olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, and the nocturnal bush babies. The shallow waters of Lake Ihema are home to a large number of crocodiles and hippos which can best be viewed during boat rides. This guide highlights to you all what to see and observe while on a Rwanda wildlife safari in Akagera National Park.
One of the most popular activities in the park is a game drive, which allows visitors to explore the landscape and observe the park’s wildlife up-closed. Game drives are typically conducted in open-top safari vehicles, giving visitors an unobstructed view of the surrounding wilderness. the game drive safari in Akagera National Park is conducted with an armed experienced guide, who will provide insights into the behavior bad biology of the animals, enhancing the overall safari experience. The nest times for game drives in Akagera National Park are early in the morning and late in the afternoon when the animals are most active. During the game drive along, you will follow a network of game viewing tracks, there are plenty of animals to see including roan antelopes, elephants, buffalo, zebra, bush-baby, hippos, crocodiles and many other mammal species. We also can’t rule out the rare game species such as leopards, lions and black rhinos. As one of the most scenic savannas in East Africa, the game drive in Akagera provides an opportunity to see gentle hills blending in beautifully with lowland swamps and water bodies.
On a game drive during the day, you get to be driven following the tracks, through the green savannah plains, past wide-leaved woodlands and into the habitat of beautiful mammal species in the Akagera National Park. Some other animals to be spotted out while on a day game drive such as The Defassa Waterbuck, Topes, Bohor Reedbucks, Oribis, Semi-Aquatic Sitatunga, Eland, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Elephants, Lions among others.
Akagera National Park also offers a night game drive where visitors will be able to explore the park with the armed guide park ranger to spot the nocturnal animals especially the wide-eyed bush babies, serval cats, civets, and leopards. You will be guided by your flashlight and an experienced ranger and it only takes 2 to 3 hours.
Other tourist activities to combine with game drive safaris in Akagera National Park
Nature Walks
Nature walks in the park are one way you can explore the hidden treasures and connect with the park’s ecosystem. Akagera National Park management offers nature walks in some areas of the park with a ranger guide. During the nature walks which take 2 to 3 hours, you will follow different hiking trails where you will have the opportunity to see the colorful butterflies, insects, and plants that you could easily miss while on a safari. You will also enjoy the cool breeze, view of the beautiful hills, and listen to nice sounds of bird species among others
Boat rides
Boat rides in Akagera National Park are one of the thrilling activities that is done on Lake Ihema which is the famous and biggest lake situated in the south part of the park. The boat ride in Akagera is done in different schedules, the day trip is the morning and the evening schedule. During the boat ride, you will have the chance to observe a large school of hippos and crocodiles in the waters and see other animals like buffaloes, waterbucks, elephants, and warthogs drinking water at the shores, among others
Sport Fishing
Sport fishing is one of the most thrilling activities in Akagera National Park. Sport fishing in the national park is typically done in Lake Kivu or Lake Shakani where You will get an opportunity to fish and know the different marine species such as Tilapia, Catfish among others. At the serene waters, you can fish to the background music of chirping birds and hippos that grunt as if to cheer you on. You are free to keep your catch to roast, fry, or grill it and enjoy the taste of fresh fish from Rwanda.
What is the best time to go for a game drive safari in Akagera National Park
The best time for a game drive safari is in Akagera National Park, which runs from June to September. During this time, the vegetation is less dense, making it easier to spot animals. Additionally, the animals tend to gather around water sources, making it more likely to see a wild a variety of wildlife. It is also recommended to go for a game drive safari in the easy morning or afternoon as animals are more active during this time
Where to stay while on a game drive safari in Akagera National Park
Visitors while on a game drive safari in Akagera National Park shouldn’t worry about the accommodations, the park has a variety of accommodation options to cater to all kinds of visitors. These accommodations are arranged from luxury, mid-range to budget levels such as Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi Luxury Lodge, Akagera Bush Camp, Munyana Homestay, Akagera Transit Lodge, Akagera Ihema Lodges, Rutete Eco Lodge, Mugazi View Resort, Vintage Cottage, Silent Hill Hotel Kayonzaa, Eastern Country Hotel, Akagera Neighbors Homestay A, Akagera Guide’s House and Akagera Bananas Camp
