Safari Activities in Akagera National Park.
Safari activities in Akagera National Park are things that travellers can do on their safari in the park. Akagera National Park is one of the most sought-after national parks in Rwanda, drawing thousands of travellers to explore its unique wildlife and bird species. It is the oldest park in Rwanda, established in 1934, and it covers an area of about 1,122 square kilometers. It’s the nearest park to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, about a 2-3 hour drive. It’s the only savannah national park in the country, famous for hosting the African Big Five mammals, and the only place in the country to experience a true African wildlife safari.
Akagera is blessed with unique ecosystems, including lakes, woodlands, swamps, and savannah grasslands, which provide a habitat to various wildlife species and avian life. It’s home to over 90 mammal species, including the Big Five elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, and leopards, 490 bird species like the woodland species, migratory birds, water birds, and savannah birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The park’s rich biodiversity contributes to its diverse safari activities, including game drives, bird watching, nature walks, sports fishing, and boat cruises. Travellers preparing their safari in Rwanda, Akagera National Park, should consider it, as it offers unforgettable safari experiences.
Top Safari Activities in Akagera National Park.
Bird Watching.
This is one of the exciting activities in Akagera that attracts thousands of bird enthusiasts and ornithologists to explore the park’s unique bird species. This is best done in the morning or evening when birds are active. Birders will have an opportunity to see more than 400 bird species, including the park’s endemic species, savannah birds, acacia dwelling species, water birds, and migratory birds. Some of the birds to encounter on your birding safari include Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Osprey, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, shoe bill stork, Knob-billed Duck, Secretary bird, Red-faced Barbet, Egyptian Goose, African Pygmy-Goose, Red-winged Francolin, Dusky Turtle-Dove, Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, White-crested Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Purple-crested Turaco, Eastern Plantain-eater, Red-billed Duck, Garganey, Blue-billed Teal, Helmeted Guineafowl, Crested Francolin, Ring-necked Francolin, Shelley’s Francolin, Coqui Francolin, Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl, Blue Quail, Red-necked Spurfowl, Blue-headed Coucal, White-browed Coucal, Black Coucal, Blue Malkoha, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Pied Cuckoo, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, African Cuckoo, Madagascar Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Swamp Nightjar, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Fiery-necked Nightjar, African Crake, Lesser Moorhen, Gray Crowned-Crane, Water Thick-knee, Black-winged Stilt, Black-bellied Plover, Ring-necked Dove among more.
Sports Fishing.
Sports fishing is one of the best safari activities in Akagera National Park done on Lake Shakani, the only lake where this activity is permitted, since it is rich with various fish species. The park has a policy of catch and release as a way of conserving fish species, with an option of tasting the sweetness of the luckiest catch. Participants need to obtain a fishing permit, which authorizes them to engage in sports fishing. There are various fishing methods that are used, including hand line fishing, rod and reel fishing, and net fishing, among others.
Game Drives.
Game drives are among the top activities that attract travellers to explore the open savannah grasslands and the park’s biodiversity. Akagera National Park is the only place in Rwanda where visitors can see the complete Big Five mammals rhinos, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and lions. This is a guided safari activity led by a knowledgeable park guide who gives more information about the wildlife and bird species to encounter. Some of the birds to encounter include Mourning Collared-Dove, White-crested Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Purple-crested Turaco, Eastern Plantain-eater, Red-billed Duck, Garganey, Blue-billed Teal, Helmeted Guineafowl, and the mammal species include giraffes, waterbucks, warthogs, elands, hippos, impalas, hyenas, oribis, bush babies, civets, and more.
Nature walks.
Nature walks are among the best safari activities in Akagera National Park that give nature lovers an opportunity to explore the wonders of the park on foot. These are guided activities led by an armed park ranger who protects participants and an experienced park guide who gives more information about the park’s inhabitants that you might encounter. There are specific trails that are used for nature walks, and all provide excellent chances of enjoying the scenic views of the park and its inhabitants. Travellers will have a chance to see various plants and tree species, the beautiful scenic views of the park, birds and animals, including oribi, zebras, elands, giraffes, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, among more.
Boat Cruises.
This is one of the top activities to do on your safari in Akagera National Park, which is done on Lake Ihema. There are three sessions: the morning, afternoon, and late afternoon, all provide an unforgettable safari experience. This allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in nature and explore the beauty of the park. They will have an opportunity to see various birds and animals like crocodiles relaxing in the sun, schools of hippos swimming or relaxing in the water, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and elands bathing or drawing water from the shores, since Lake Ihema is one of the biggest lakes in the park and acts as a vital water source to the park’s inhabitants. Bird lovers will enjoy the melodic song of various birds like Grey Heron, Little Egret, Black Crake, shoebill stork, African Openbill stork, African Fish Eagle, Great Egret, African Jacana, Swamp Flycatcher, Pied kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolek, among others.
