Akagera National Park is situated in the eastern part of Rwanda, it is one of the most sought-after destinations in Rwanda popular for its unique composition. It is a stand-alone Savannah park in the country straddling its borders with Tanzania. It was first gazette as a national park in 1934 and is being managed by the Rwanda Development Board, during the Rwanda political disturbances, the park faced so much encroachment, and clearance of land for settlement. To date, the park size has been greatly reduced a big thank you to the Rwandan government for the continued conservation policies.
Rwanda’s Akagera National Park is a hot spot for tourists from several destinations, it is an amazing place where most of the different wildlife species can be seen the Savannah ecosystem is home to lions, leopards, Elephants, buffaloes, Rhinos, antelopes, waterbucks, roan antelopes, zebras, warthogs, bushbucks, klipspringers, hippos, crocodiles to mention a few and over 400 species of birds, expect to see vultures, Abyssinian ground hornbills, pelicans, African fish eagles, Kivu ground thrush among other species.
Driving to Akagera National Park is one of the most amazing things to do while on your Rwanda safari, the views are incredible with the backdrop of the rolling beautiful mountains, hills and valleys, and the growing vegetation of tea plantations is not to miss while driving, passing through small towns and villages. Drives begin from the Kigali International Airport or at the agreed point of meeting with your tour operator, vehicles used are strong safari cars to beat the tough terrain due to the off-track marram roads taken as you branch off the city centre, commonly used vehicles include extended safari land cruisers, safari Drones, tourist vehicles. These are hired on self-drive or with a driver depending on guest preference.
The other option for getting to the Akagera National Park is flying to the national park, flights can be arranged through your tour operator or directly to the ground handler the Akagera Aviation. Flying is done with the aid of helicopters to land at the nearest airstrip, a team representative from the respective lodge normally picks up and transfers to the park headquarters to participate in activities.
Popular things to do when you drive to the Akagera National Park include game drives, the park premises have been well maintained to offer guests a perfect glimpse of animals, and game drives begin at the park entrance in search of animal species, when considering doing the game drives the early morning drive is the most recommendable, however, game drive can be done in the afternoon and evening times as well. Boat cruise experiences in the Akagera National Park, take place along the beautiful lake Ihema, it is done in the morning and afternoon sessions, along the banks of the river expect to see several animal species for example, crocodiles and hippos, and birds along the marshy swampy areas on a lucky day you might be chanced to see the critically endangered species of the shoe bill stock.