What to see and do in AKagera National park
Spreading over 1,200 square kilometer Park in Eastern province of Rwanda along the border with Tanzania, Akagera national park is Rwanda’s only savannah national park. The park was founded in 1934 to protect wildlife in all its three Eco regions: savannah, mountain and swamp. This The Park is named after the Kagera River that flows along its Eastern boundary before pouring its water into several Lakes including Lake Ihema the Largest. It is the largest protected wetland in East and Central Africa and also the only remaining refugee of savannah –adapted species in Rwanda. Akagera National Park prior to the civil war of the early 1990s was regarded as the few African savannah reserves to form a self-sustaining ecological unit with its resident large mammals not having to migrate seasonally outside the park boundaries. Also, the national park was transformed into a home for the big five game with the recent re introduction of the black rhinos and lions into the park. Akagera national park is one of Rwanda’s popular national parks together with Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Mammals in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park for long has been known for its outstanding scenic qualities and superb birdlife largely because these were unaffected by the many years of turmoil which is not the case with the large mammal populations that have suffered badly at the hands of poachers. However, regardless of this fact, today Akagera visitors will be surprised at how much wildlife still remains in the park. They will notice that the longstanding decline of animal population has finally been reversed after the 2013 animal census establishing that the Park has nearly 8,000 individuals. Although it may be hard to compare today’s population of all large animals to that of their pre-1994 levels, their trend is on progress with most large mammal species still sufficient enough to form a viable breeding population. Large predators are occasionally observed include spotted hyena and leopard, an estimated 15-60 individual lions. The small predators that are well represented in the park include dwarf, banded and black-tailed mongoose that can be encountered by the day while viverrides like the lithe, heavily spotted cat-like genet, bulkier black-masked civet, the rare handsome spotted serval cat and the dog-like side-striped jackal are commonly spotted at night. Among the most common terrestrial mammals include the buffalo, hippo on some of the lakes in the park. Small herds of burchell’s zebra in open areas, impala and other 11 antelope species including the rare aquatic sitatunga. Among other common species are the three savannah primates: olive baboon, Vervet monkey and the tiny wide-eyed bushbaby whereas the now rare forest-dwelling blue monkey can be sighted in the vicinity of lakes Ihema and Birengero. Others include the diurnal warthog, smaller bushpig, over 60 individual of Maasai giraffe introduced from Kenya prior to the civil war and the black rhino brought recently from South Africa. The park has also got a population of about 80-100 African elephants.
Bird Watching in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park comes just second after Nyungwe National Park as the country’s second most important site for birds and these two parks complement each other that most of the bird species recorded in Rwanda are found in either Park. Today the park’s total number of bird species is believed to be around 480 having been reduced from 550 species before Akagera was reduced in 1997. Out of the 480 species, 100 cannot be found in any other National Park in Rwanda. Akagera National Park is the best place to see a combined selection of savannah birds and raptors, water birds together with the rare papyrus endemics. Some of the colorful and common of the savannah birds include the gorgeous lilac-breasted roller, black-headed gonolek, the little-bee, heuglin’s robin-chat, Meyer’s parrot, spot-flanked barbet and double-toothed barbet. Among the less colorful but very impressive are the comical grey hornbill and noisy bare-faced-go-away bird. The woodlands around the lakes are a home to some unique species that include Ross’s turaco, a bright-purple, jay-sized bird with an amazing yellow mask. The crested barbet, white-headed black chat and souza’s shrike can be found in the northern mixed woodland of Akagera. The red-faced barbet is quiet seen in the car park and gardens of Akagera game lodge and the long-tailed cisticola.
In the savannah of Akagera you can find a wide range of raptors including white-backed and rupell’s griffon vultures, the beautiful bateleur eagle, brown snake eagleand hooded vultures can be seen perching on the bare branches. Water birds include pelicans, the garishly decorated crowned crane, the odd little open-bill stork and the larger marabou stork. Herons and egrets are well represented including the immense goliath heron, the secretive black-capped night heron, reed-dwelling purple heron and the localized rufous-bellied heron. The lakes support kingfishers, shorebirds and fish eagles. The birds restricted to papyrus swamps around the lakes include the stunning and highly vocal papyrus gonolek, caruthers’s cisticola and white-winged warbler. The park is also a nice place to see to see the shoebill, and the slate-grey swamp-dweller
Reptiles
The lakes of Akagera harbor the Nile crocodile, the world’s largest reptile and a survivor from the age of the dinosaurs, the water monitor is also common around the lakes whereas smaller lizards can be seen all over including the colorful rock agama and a variety of secretive snakes.
Giraffe Area
The giraffe area in Akagera National Park is worthy mentioning alone as a special home to giraffes that are often seen in the area and the area’s relatively open plains are also often inhabited by zebra, buffalo and antelopes. The presence of a dam and seasonal pools also attracted plovers, ducks and other numerous water-related birds. However, caution should be taken that the giraffe area is not good to go after heavy rain because it usually gets waterlogged being a valley therefore its easy to get stuck in the mud.
Things to do and see in the park
Birding
The availability of over 750 bird species in the park makes it a birdwatchers dream destination. Various bird species are scattered all over the park with each specie having its favorite hideout. Some of the exciting species that serious bird should look out for include the shoebill stork, raptors, and papyrus gonolek. The lesser Kestrel, great sniper, the Zambian arnot chat, suaza shrike and the long-tailed cistola are some of the migrant birds in the parks that are worthy spotting.
Nature Walks
Nature walks in the Akagera National Park lead you the park’s beautiful sights that can best be admired up close. Among these include the exotic plants, colorful butterfly species, walking along the still waters on lakeshores, together with walks among water birds. Relaxed nature walks enable you to view the rest of the wildlife in the park that may be missed during game drives like the smaller animals.
Game Drives
Visitors are allowed to do their own game drives between the normal opening hours 0f 06am and 06pm using the very vehicles they used to get to the park. Daytime game drives are organized in the southern part of the park using the park’s game viewing vehicle. The park also arranges night drives recommended for solo travellers who can book them individually. Generally game drives in the park are fun and there are animals that quiet up and active at night and these can rarely be seen during the day game drives and easier to see during nocturnal game drives. These majorly include leopards, civets, hyenas and bush babies.
Boat Trips
Boat rides on Lake Ihema enable you to see one of the biggest concentration of hippos in East Africa. In addition to hippos, numerous water birds are also present to view on your boat trip together with elephants that are common along the shores of the Lake.
Fishing
Fishing in the park is more exciting on lake Shakani and the likely fish species to be caught include Tilapia and Catfish. During fishing you can easily view the hippos nearby as they swim across the lake. You may also willingly participate in the exciting fishing contests that often take place in the park’s waters.
Guidelines in Akagera National park
Avoid moving out of your vehicle in the presence of buffalo or lion.
Hippos and crocodiles are potentially dangerous and claim far more human lives than any other terrestrial African animal, therefore be careful as you leave the car next the lake.
Avoid wandering too far from your site after dark and always first take a good look around should you need to move out of your tent at night.
Crocs are also a real threat if you wade into their water.
The malaria-carrying anopheles mosquito is the most dangerous animal in Akagera. Therefore endeavor to cover up in the dark with long trousers and thick socks and you may also smear any exposed parts of your body with insect repellent. Advantageously, many tents come with built-in mosquito netting safe enough to protect you when you are sleeping.
Always ensure not to leave any food in your tent for example fruits may attract monkeys and elephants while meat could arouse the interest of large predators.
Tsetse flies are also quiet common in dense bush areas and can give a painful bite though it is not enduring. People who tend to react badly to insect bites may use antihistamine cream to douse any tsetse bite.
Getting to and Around Akagera National Park
The wildlife safari to Akagera National Park can be started right from the capital Kigali. A good surface road from Kigali heads eastwards to Rwamagana and Kayonza where a turn is taken to the town of Kabarondo. There are 15km between Kabarondo and Rwinkwavu where there is a big signpost labeled “AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK”. From this signpost after taking the left hand turn, you are only 13km away from the Park’s gates.
Where to Stay in Akagera national park
Ruzizi Tented Lodge with nine rooms Karenge Bush Camp with 6 tents are the upmarket facilities available in the park while Akagera game lodge is a moderate facility with 36 rooms. Although there is no budget accommodation currently in the park, it can easily be visited as a day trip from Kayonza or Ngoma/Kibungo. The closest budget accommodation to the park is at the junction town of Kabarondo.
In general, Akagera national park is a best destination for game viewing safaris in Rwanda. The park offers it all to meet, satisfy and exceed your travel expectations on your Rwanda safari. Have a chance to the see the big five game in the wilderness, a variety of birds and other wildlife in Akagera national park.