Safaris and tours to Akagera National Park Rwanda

Safaris and tours to Akagera National Park Rwanda – Gorilla tracking and Boat cruise in Rwanda

Safaris and tours to Akagera National Park – Akagera National Park lies in eastern Rwanda, hugging the border with Tanzania. It’s characterized by woodland, swamps, low mountains and savannah. The varied terrain shelters wildlife including zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and hundreds of bird species, such as the rare shoebill stork. In the southern part of the park, vast Lake Ihema is home to hippos and crocodiles.  The park covers an area coverage of 1122 sq kms.

Rwanda is an up-and-coming safari destination, with central Africa’s largest protected wetland in the Akagera National Park on the country’s eastern border with Tanzania. With just over a thousand square kilometers, Akagera’s forest-fringed lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains and rolling highlands combine to make it amongst the most scenic of reserves. It’s not uncommon for visitors to spend an entire day without seeing another vehicle, offering the impression it’s just you and the wilderness. Nevertheless, a lot is going on behind the scenes.

Akagera is once again home to the Big Five, following the reintroduction of seven lions in 2015 – which bred successfully and doubled in number within a year – as well as 18 Eastern black rhinos in 2017. We have cut poaching to an all-time low, with the introduction of a helicopter, a canine unit and rhino trackers.

Leopard, hyena and side-striped jackal make up the larger predators in the park. Notable plains game include elephant, buffalo, Topi, zebra, waterbuck, roan antelope and eland. Other antelope are duiker, oribis, Bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, bushbuck and impala.

Of the primates, olive baboons, vervet and the secretive blue monkey are seen during the day, with bush babies often seen on night drives.

Due to its wide variety of habitats, Akagera is an important ornithological site with 525 bird species. The rare and elusive shoebill shares the papyrus with other rarities such as the exquisite papyrus Gonolek and countless other water birds that inhabit the wetlands in large numbers.

A boat trip on Lake Ihema, in the south of Akagera, offers a delightful opportunity to see hippos and Nile crocodiles, as well as countless birds nesting on the island at its centre.

Akagera’s temperature does not vary much throughout the year, but the long dry season (June – September) brings warmer temperatures whereas cooler weather follows the rains (October – November and March – May). In general, temperatures typically range between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.

Short dry season (December – February)

There may be some rain during this period, but it is fairly intermittent and usually does not last long. By February, the park can be very dry.

Long wet season (March – May)

This season is characterized by regular rainfall and abundant green grass. Clear blue skies and endless views of lush green grass offer excellent photographic opportunities.

Long dry season (June – September)

This is the warmest time of year, and the park can become dry and dusty. However, the long dry season is an excellent time for game-viewing since grasses are short; and animals remain spread throughout the park due to abundant water in lakes along Akagera’s eastern boundary.

Short wet season (October – November)

The first rains clear haze, and the park returns to its lush green state. Birding is particularly good at this time of year, for many migratory birds pass through Akagera during October and November.Contact Great Adventure Safaris to book safaris and tours to Akagera National Park in Rwanda.