Best time to do game drives in Akagera National Park.
Akagera National Park is one of the marvellous parks in Rwanda, located in the northeastern region of the country, with a rich range of habitats including open savannah grasslands, woodlands, lakes and swamps. The park has a rich biodiversity of over 90 mammal species, such as the African Big Five mammals, lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos and leopard, over 200 butterfly species, 480 unique bird species, reptiles and amphibians. It’s the only savannah park in Rwanda hosting the African Big Five mammals, making it a top game viewing destination in the country. Wildlife enthusiasts and travellers planning game drive safaris in the park always ask about the best time to do game drives in Akagera National Park.
This article will give you an insight based on different months of the year that are conducive for any traveller to visit the park. This park is one of the country’s strongholds with the highest concentration of mammals, making it famous and drawing visitors from different parts of the world. The park has two climatic seasons with 2 dry seasons and 2 rainy seasons. The dry season occurs from June to September and December to February, while the rainy season occurs from March to May and October to November.
Best time to do game drives in Akagera National Park.
Dry Season.
According to reviews and feedback from past visitors, the best time to do game drives in Akagera National Park depends on an individual’s preferences. Akagera National Park can be visited throughout the year, but the majority prefer the dry season. The park experiences two dry seasons, which run from December to February and from June to September. During the dry season, the park experiences little to no rainfall, and the game drive tracks are dry, making it easy to penetrate the park in search of various wildlife species.
Additionally, the vegetation cover is short, which allows visitors to observe various animals, bird species and take clear photos while on their safari. The animals to spot on the game drive include rhinos, lions, elephants, zebras, elands, impalas, buffalo, leopards, giraffes, warthogs, giraffes, topi, oribis, sitatunga, blue monkeys, African Hare, ground pangolin, side-striped Jackal, olive baboons, hyenas, klipspringer, bushbucks, serval, genets, civets and vervet monkeys, among others.
Wet Season.
Visitors can also do game drives in Akagera National Park during the wet season, which takes place from October to November and from March to May. During this season, the park receives heavy rainfall, and the game drive tracks are muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate the park in search of birds and animals. The vegetation cover is tall, which makes it challenging to view wildlife species from a distance.
However, during this season, the park has abundant food and water, which favours birders to see various bird species. This is the best period of the year to do birding in Akagera National Park since it’s a breeding season for various bird species.
Where to stay in Akagera National Park.
The park offers various accommodation options for visitors that suit their budgets, ranging from luxury to standard accommodation options. Those looking for luxury stays, consider Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi Camp, Mid-range accommodations Akagera Game Lodge, Karenge Bush Camp, Akagera Transit Lodge and those looking for budget-friendly accommodations, look at Mutumba Campsite, Akagera Rhino Lodge, Muyumbu Campsite and Shakani Campsite. Those eco-friendly accommodations provide exceptional safari experiences.
