AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

The Mighty Akagera National Park was formed by the Belgian government, who, at that time, were occupying Rwanda, in which the park, at that point in time, was known for its biodiversity. This park still surrounds itself with wild species such as birds, including the Gray Crowned Crane, Marabou stork, African hornbill, Lilac-breasted roller, African fish eagle, African jacana, Fork-tailed dragon, Hamerkop, Great cormorant, Bare-faced go-away-bird, saddle-billed stork, Great egret, Pin-tailed whydah, Brown-chested lapwing, white-browed coucal, Denham’s bustard, African darter, Laughing Dove, Goliath heron, osprey, Amur falcon, Blue-shouldered robin-chat, booted eagle, to mention but a few. Other species include bushbucks, Topis, Orbis, waterbuck, roan antelope, klipspringer, impala, hyenas, giraffes, lions, tigers, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, snakes, monkeys, to mention but a few.
The attractions at the park include:
Water Bodies: The water bodies dot up everywhere in Akagera National Park, with swamp-fringed lakes such as Ihema lake, lake Shakani, lake Rwanyakazinga, lake Shanju, to mention but a few. These water sources are feeding areas for a variety of birds and different wild species. You can even get a chance to see uncommon species from this area while enjoying the hippos and crocodiles in the water. It is always advisable to keep a distance from water bodies so as not to be attacked by aquatic species and meat-eaters. A life jacket is a must if tourists prefer a boat trip or sport fishing, where even commercial fishing can commence.
Birds: There are over 500 bird species in this park, including Zambezian biome species like Myrmecoccichla arnotti, Cisticola angusticauda, and palearctic migrants such as Falco, Glareola, and many others. Akagera National Park is home to birds such as shoebill, cattle egret, fish eagles, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested eagle, Black-headed, Vieillot’s Black weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals, Fan-tailed widowbirds, Carruther’s cisticola. These attract a great number of people to come and camp at this park so that they can take photographs of the beauty during the day and night. You can book a private or public camping site depending on your budget.
Activities at the park include:
Game Drives: No tourist can visit Africa and not engage in game drives since it is one of the safest means to view wild species. Tourists are normally driven in 4×4 open-roof safari vehicles that move throughout the park in different spots where animals are expected to be. Some follow traces of footprints, birds flying away from a given area, and all these signs show the presence of a certain species. Some tour guides drive towards water sources, especially during the dry season when animals gather in search of water and pasture, especially grass eaters. These drives are done in the morning or evening to accommodate even those who cannot wake up at dawn.
Fishing: Many tourists engage in fishing, especially sport fishing, using local methods such as the use of arrows, baskets, mosquito nets. Travelers take photographs of such wonders where commercial fishing is also done, catching Nile perch, tilapia, silverfish, to mention but a few, and the fish caught are sold to improve the standard of living of the locals.
Camping: This activity also gathers a great number of people, especially those in public camping sites where tents are provided. In most cases, you are told to bring bed covers or they are provided by the national park, along with mattresses. Campfires are lit to keep everyone warm and to scare away animal species that fear fire or light. However, remember that this fire doesn’t scare away lions; only unstable LED bulbs can. If attacked, it is advised in most cases not to bend but rather throw what you are holding in different directions and move backward while facing it and looking directly into its eyes. Avoid urinating near camping sites since some species detect urine. Always tell the tour guide to escort you to the safest place.
Nature Walk: To go for this activity, you have to be in a position to walk and not easily frightened since it involves walking on foot throughout the entire park. It’s not like game drives where you sit in a car and walk with the protection and guidance of a tour guide.
The accommodations at Akagera National Park are well facilitated with experienced employees ready to serve you. There is a well-spaced parking area, a garden for relaxing after a long touring journey, and restaurants with the best dishes to satisfy your hungry stomach. These accommodations include camping sites such as Shakani camping site situated on the shores of Lake Shakani, Mutumba campsite, Muyumba campsite situated on the ridge close to Kayonza park entrance, to mention but a few. There are also lodges like Akagera game lodge, Ruzizi tented lodge, and many others.
Tourists can get to the National Park by either road transport, which involves the use of cars. Sometimes tourists are picked up by the person from the tour company they booked and then taken to a classy hotel in Rwanda city for a nap and preparation for the following day if picked up during evening hours. Then they can resume their journey to the park the following day, making stopovers in different places, especially villages, to interact with the local people as they buy edibles and artifacts from them. It is a 135 km distance to the park, taking 2-3 hours if you are from Kigali, and only one hour if you are from Rwamagana. Some tourists can decide to use air transport, which is considered the fastest, especially those on a luxury budget, where helicopters are provided since there are no domestic flights to the park, and it only takes 22 minutes to reach the great Akagera National Park. To access the premises of this park, a given fee has to be cleared, whereby foreigners who are residents and foreigners who are non-residents pay in dollars, while East African citizens pay in the country’s currency.
Akagera is waiting for its best of all. Visit it now before the sun sets and witness different shining wonders.