The Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s biggest Park located in the eastern part of the country with a drive time of about 2 hours and 30 minutes from the main capital Kigali. Akagera park was 2700 Sqkm,and currently lies on 1112 Sqkm of land.The Park was gazetted in 1934 after dividing the land and giving it out to the farmers. The park was named after the meandering river Kagera which mingles between Rwanda and Tanzania.
The Park has 10 lakes which all feed the Akagera river with lake Ihema being the largest accommodating the boat ride and other activities like fishing in the park.
The park has both the Savannah woodlands and open Savannah grasslands which consists of spaced flat topped and whistling acacias, knob wood and buffalo thorn trees all seen through the rolling hills and valleys of the park with a big section of papyrus swamp seen at a distance where most of the hippos can be found.
The main activities in the park – Boat ride which is done on Lake Ihema and game viewing which can start from the main entrance or even from the lodges with easy sightings of antelopes like Oribis, waterbucks, Topis and even zebras which usually feed from around.
The northern section of the park however gives you more chances of sightings of wildlife as it covers a greater and wider open Savannah grasslands which is mainly the favourite feeding section for most game. The drive to this section would take you about 3 hours driving via the Mutumba hill which also gives you a taste of the North overlooking Tanzania.
Main animals in Akagera Park – Lions in Akagera National Park which were re-introduced from South Africa, Elephants, Giraffes, Buffalos, Zebras, Elands, Topis, water bucks, Impalas and birds like the Fish Eagles, lilac breasted roller birds along the banks of birengero, shakani and ihema lakes.
Akagera National Park currently has 2 accommodations. A tented camp and lodge all built with great views of the park and the lakes.
Accommodations in Akagera National Park.