Wildlife Tours in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park
Wildlife Tours in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park: Wildlife tours in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park provide travelers a unique wildlife experience in the nation. If you wish to embark on a game drive safari in Rwanda, you will have to drive to Akagera National Park. The park is the only secure home for all savannah wildlife creatures in Rwanda. It is also the only national park in Rwanda where you will get to witness Africa’s famed Big Five.
Akagera National Park is located in the northeastern part of Rwanda, in Kayonza and Nyagatare districts. The park is the biggest national park in Rwanda, extending over 1,122 square kilometers. It is also one of the African continent’s oldest national parks, having been established in 1934.
The national park once stretched 2,500 square kilometers, but most of it was destroyed upon the return of Rwandan refugees from the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. A huge amount of the national park was lost to wide-scale deforestation, and land encroachment, and most of the wildlife species were killed down by the masses as an alternative source of protein food.
Nevertheless, with the foundation of the Akagera Management Corporation in 2010, much of has successfully been restored to its former grandeur, and the majority of the wildlife creatures including lions, rhinos, and elephants that had gone extinct in the national park have been brought back to the park.
Wildlife tours in Rwanda’s Akagera national park will allow you to explore the huge savannah landscapes in the national park and also witness the amazing animals in the area. According to assessments conducted in Akagera, the national park has a total population of around 8000 big wildlife creatures.
When on a wildlife tour at Akagera national park, you will be able to observe a variety of animal species such as; antelopes, Sitatunga, African bush elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippos, impala, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, duikers and many more.
Akagera national park in Rwanda features over 100 African Bush Elephants, over 80 giraffes, more than 25 black eastern rhinos, over 1000 buffaloes, and about 20 lions. This national park is home to around 12 distinct species of antelopes, which are among the exotic creatures that travelers frequently see on a game drive safari in Akagera.
Wildlife tours in Akagera national park in Rwanda are given for a charge of 25 USD for a half-day game drive in Akagera national park, and 40 USD for a full-day game drive. Guests on a game drive safari in the park are escorted by an expert park ranger/ guide.
This makes the entire game drive experience valuable since with the aid of the park ranger, you will be able to discover certain wildlife species that you want to view much more easily and quickly.
Rwandan game drives can be done either in the morning or at night. Morning game drives at Rwanda’s Akagera national park begin at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., respectively. Morning game drives in the park last no more than 1-2 hours.
Night game drive safaris in Rwanda provide an excellent opportunity to see nocturnal wildlife such as lions, leopards, civets, and bush babies, to name a few. While you’re at it, you could see some night birds like owls. Night game drives begin at 6 p.m. every evening at Akagera National Park, and visitors must be escorted by a park ranger.
Wildlife tours in Rwanda’s Akagera national park will also allow you to see the beautiful birds in the national park. The park is believed to host approximately 500 bird species, including the Sauza shrike, marabou storks, white egrets, the African fish eagle, the open-billed stork, herons, the African darter, the papyrus Ganalex, the black-headed weaver bird, and the grey-crowned crane, among others. You also have a good possibility of seeing the endangered Shoebill stork, an aquatic bird that is much sought after by bird enthusiasts.
Other things to do during wildlife tours in Rwanda.
Fishing
Fishing is done in Lake Ihema and Shakani, providing an exciting experience. When fishing, you will enjoy the sights and sounds of numerous birds and hippos, and the catches can be roasted or grilled for you to taste the fresh fish from Rwanda.
Walk the Line Tour in Akagera National Park.
The walk the line tour is only available in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. The activity allows visitors to explore the park and view the majority of its attractions on foot. The fence line in Akagera National Park begins at the southern park entrance and leads you 7 kilometers into the park’s hills, following the fence on the park’s outskirts. Walk the line tour in Akagera National Park is guided by a community local freelance guide who takes you for approximately 2 hours and stops at the top of the ridge with beautiful views in all directions.
Behind the Scenes
Participating allows you to see what goes on behind the scenes at Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. Become involved in park management for extra insights into Akagera National Park, where you will meet park employees and hear about important conservation developments.
Cultural Tours
Other activities available to tourists in Akagera National Park include cultural tours. The majority of the activities take place at Humure Refuge Village, which is a cattle-keeping community. The cultural visits to Humure Refuge Village allow tourists to meet the locals, interact with them about their daily lives, watch them do activities like milking, participate in food preparation, taste their local foods and drinks, visit some of the arts and craft shops, and be entertained by traditional dancers.
Besides that, game drive safaris in Rwanda are one of many activities that you may enjoy with friends and family because there are no age limitations. Visitors who want to embark on a game drive safari in Rwanda should arrange their travels through a reputable local tour operator, such as Explore Rwanda Tours. Check out our tour packages for the greatest deals!
