Facts about Akagera National Park

Facts about Akagera National Park : Akagera national park is the only savannah national park in Rwanda, the park is the largest of all national parks the country is housing. The park covers an area of approximately 1,089 square kilometers. Akagera national park was gazetted in 1932 and the name Akagera was driven from Akagera River which is the park’s main source of waters for both animals, plants as well as some small lakes like Lake Ihema, lake Shakani, lake Rwanyakazinga, and Lake Mihindi among others.

Akagera national park is a perfect destination to go when on Rwanda wildlife adventure safari, the park is the only home to the big 5 animals in Rwanda which includes; the African elephant, African buffalo, Rhinoceros, African leopard, and the lion.  Rwanda is blessed with a number of national parks and games reserves that offer a number of tourist attractions including the wild animals, relief features like lakes, rivers and not forgetting that Rwanda is a country of 1000 hills which offers magnificent views during Rwanda safaris and tours

The park also harbors other primate’s species like olive baboon, blue monkeys, bush babies, vervet monkeys among others as well as incredible a variety of several species of bird species, over 450 bird species can be spotted here such as , Papyrus Gonolek, White-Winged Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’ Cisticola, White-collared Oliveback, Bare face-Go-Away bird, and African fish Eagle, Black-headed Gonolek, Fork-tailed Drano and Grey-crowned Cranes Shouldered robin-chat, Grasshopper buzzard, Dimorphic egret among others .Akagera national park is also a home to different kinds of savannah plants such as grasslands, savannah forest, plains among others which acts as feeding grounds for many different biodiversity which makes the park there habitant .

This article presents to you the reasons why Akagera national park is famous and most visited by all travelers in a Rwanda wildlife’s safaris.

Akagera national park is a home to 5 big African animals

Akagera national park is rich with the diversity of savannah grassland and it is the only savannah national park in Rwanda and a home to African Big five animals which can only be seen when on Rwanda wildlife safari at Akagera national such as Buffaloes, Lions, Rhinoceros, Elephants and Leopards. game drives in Akagera national park is way to see explore the parks magnificent wildlife , Game drives in the park is one of the most exciting and rewarding adventure wildlife safaris in Rwanda. While on your Rwanda wildlife safari in the park, you will get to see most of the attractive wildlife species, lush savannah vegetation, charming hills which gives the park very beautiful and scenic views. Games drives in Akagera national are under a schedule times that’s to say morning game drives afternoon and evening game drives , all this game drives will offer you with amazing adventure experience in the wild where you will get to see most of the wildlife species including the Africa Big 5 and other wildlife species such as Buffaloes, Elephants, Lion, Topi, Elands, Bush pigs, Giraffes, Rhino among other, bird species like Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek, White-Winged Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’ Cisticola, White-collared Oliveback as well as some nocturnal species. Game drives in the park are always accompanied by the armed park ranger or guide who will be explaining and showing the visitor different species in the wild including theirs nature in the wild

Home to over 520 species of birds

Akagera national park is one of the places that is not to be missed by any birder, the park is a home of over 520 species of birds which can be spotted. The birders who visit Akagera National Park are always excited by the large number and great diversity of the bird species that range from water birds to forest birds, and also savannah species as well as migratory bird species. There are also a number of bird species that are endemic to the park and are they are uncommon and rare to spot like the papyrus Gonolek which is found in the papyrus swamps. The park also contained other bird species like red faced barbets, and the swamp fly catcher as well as the elusive shoebill stork all found in Akagera National park. Other species include fish eagles, Grey-backed Fiscals, Cattle Egret, Black-headed and Viellot’s Black Weavers, Hamerkop, Pied Crow, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Long-crested Eagle among others

Spot fishing in Lake Shakani

Lake Shakani is the only destination in the whole of Rwanda where spot fishing can be done. Spot fishing is lake Shakani one of the remarkable activities this is carried out along the shores of Lake Shakani. Sport fishing in Akagera National Park also offers the traveler on a Rwanda wildlife or cultural safari with  an opportunity to learn about the various methods of fishing that are used in Rwanda such as gill net method, cast net method, scoop net method, spearing and shoot arrow method, Lampara, and hooking method. While carrying out sport fishing in the park, the visitors can enjoy a cold drink, listen to folk songs and tales or stories that are told by local fishermen while at the lake, you will hear the snorts of the hippos as well as the singing water birds as well as the sounds of the fish in the water. Fishing in Akagera will give you an added chance of being in an African wild with the wildlife in the distance together with the hippos and the water birds. On you lucky visit you might also visit, you will meet when the park is celebrating fishing tournament and you will be get a chance to meet fellow anglers.

Boat rides

boat ride tours are normally the main highlight of any Akagera national park safari while on Rwanda wildlife safari and it’s with taking boat ride tors that you will be able to explore Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park. This is the largest lake in the park and it is found in the southern part of Akagera NP, and has got one of the largest concentrations of hippos in East Africa. In addition, it is a sight to behold and there are also many crocodiles that you will find along the shores of the lake. There are also many water birds that can be seen on a boating safari on Lake Ihema such as the shoe bill stork on a lucky cruise day. Several animals like the elephants can find their way to the water to bathe and you will get the opportunity of getting closer to them than you would be in the vehicle on any game drive.