WHEN SHOULD I VISIT AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK-RWANDA
At Akagera national park, game viewing is typically done in areas where the big five animals, birds, and other animal species found within the savannah-type vegetation can be seen. Akagera National Park is east of Rwanda, offering breathtaking views of the plains and wildlife sightings. Together with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it shares Lake Ihema.
Akagera National Park Game Drive allows travelers to view the "Big 5," which are famous throughout the park. In search of the Big 5 and other animal species such as reptile species, plant species, bird species, and butterfly species, visitors have a blast exploring the park.
Akagera National Park protects over 500 bird species and many animal species, the most renowned of which are the lions, which were recently reintroduced. Akagera National Park animals include giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, and reptiles. Akagera National Park’s game drives take place in the northern part of the park. However, travelers should know that the park’s entrance is in the south.
The Akagera River, which flows along the park's eastern border and empties into a tangle of lakes, the largest of which is Lake Ihema, is the source of the park's name. Akagera National Park is one of Africa's most beautiful parks thanks to its assortment of lakes bordered by forests, papyrus swamps, savannah plains, and undulating mountains. It is the largest protected wetland in central Africa and boasts incredible biodiversity.
The Big 5 animals in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park’s main attractions are its marshes and savannah, which can be viewed on an organized safari. You can be even more daring by driving your car.
Akagera National Park Wildlife viewing safaris are the highlights of any safari vacation to Africa. Visitors can incorporate additional days in Akagera National Park into their itineraries for Rwanda wildlife safaris, including mountain gorilla trekking safaris in the Volcanoes National Park, hiking the Virunga chain of volcanoes, golden monkey trekking, chimpanzee trekking, bird-watching safaris, and cultural safaris.
The best way to explore the many protected areas in Africa is with a wildlife-watching safari in national parks like Akagera National Park. The park offers opportunities to see various species while relaxing in the comfort of your safari vehicle.
Akagera National Park offers a fantastic safari experience because it is home to several important plains game species and is unique to papyrus swamps. Akagera National Park animals include elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, topis, antelopes, zebras, waterbucks, and elands, among the notable plain game. Other unique antelope species, such as duiker, bushbucks, oribis, reedbuck, impala, and Klipspringer, also exist. Akagera National Park primate species sightings during the day include velvet monkeys, olive baboons, and the elusive blue monkey.
Activities in the Akagera National Park
Morning Game Drive
Akagera National Park offers an opportunity to observe the early risers and grazers who move through the savanna grasslands by taking a morning wildlife drive. Akagera National Park protects zebras, elands, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, topis, elephants, bushbucks, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and vervet monkeys, which are typical examples of herbivores.
A variety of bird species, including the African Fish Eagle, Senegal lapwings, open-billed storks, egrets, cormorants, African darters, Hammerkop, pied crow, Caruthers' cisticola, black-headed weaver, fan-tailed widow bird, long-crested Eagle, and Violet's black weaver. Most of these bird species can be viewed along the swamps and lakes, like L. Ihema and L. Shakuni.
Along the edge of the lake, you might spot more aquatic life and other animals. It is important to keep in mind that carnivores, such as hunters like lions and leopards, are hard to see during the early game drives because this is the time when they are sleeping. At Akagera National Park, morning game drives start at 6:30 a.m. and last until 11:00 a.m.
Evening and Night Game Drives at Akagera National Park
Akagera national park's evening and night game drives offer visitors a second chance to see animal species they might have missed during the morning game drive. Evening game drives last from 12:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon, while the night game drives last from 5:30 to 8:30 in the evening. In your safari vehicle, which is equipped with spotlights and strong torches for the nighttime wildlife drives with a park ranger guide and maximum security.
Akagera national park's night game drives give travelers the best opportunity to see nocturnal species that they might have missed during the day and evening game drives. This is a chance to observe the park come alive as the sun sets. You can see unique nocturnal animal species such as hyenas, lions, leopards, civets, and bush babies. A variety of cats can be spotted during a night game drive in Akagera National Park.
Travelers always encounter grazers such as impalas, topis, waterbucks, and bushbucks, which act as prey primarily for large cats. Akagera National Park offers a vibrant nightlife. Akagera national park animals frantically search for prey. At night, most predators are fearless of humans, unlike during the day.
Wildlife Viewing during the Boat Cruise Safaris at Akagera National Park
The best way to explore the Akagera national park is by boat cruise around the shores of Lake Ihema, Rwanda's second-largest lake after Lake Kivu, which offers some spectacular aquatic life and bird watching. You can also see some of the fauna inhabiting the lake's waters. This will give you a fantastic chance to increase the number of animals you see during your safari game drives.