Top 5 things to do in Akagera National Park.
Top 5 things to do in Akagera National Park: Akagera National Park is an incredible safari destination for travellers seeking tranquillity, located in the eastern region of Rwanda. It’s the only country’s savannah national park and the best place to have a complete Big Five Safari in Rwanda. It’s the oldest national park in the country, established in 1934, spanning an area of about 1,122 square Kilometers. Akagera National Park has a conservation success story, and it has transformed over the past years.
It was once heavily affected by poaching and habitat loss, but Akagera has been restored through strict law enforcement, professional park management, and long-term investment. Thanks to its conservation efforts, it is now known for its rich biodiversity, home to over 90 mammal species, including the African Big Five, rhinos, lions, elephants, buffalo, and leopards, 200 butterfly species, 50 reptiles, and amphibians. It also has a rich avian life; over 470 bird species reside in this amazing park, such as migratory birds, woodland species, savannah birds, and waterbird species. The park’s rich biodiversity supports its diverse things to do in the park, including game drives, boat cruises, nature walks, birding, and sports fishing.
Top 5 things to do in Akagera National Park.
Bird Watching.
Akagera National Park is one of the top bird watching destinations in Rwanda that attracts thousands of birders throughout the year, catering to all levels of birders. Whether you are a novice birder or simply a beginner, Akagera National Park offers remarkable birding experiences. It hosts up to 470 bird species, such as acacia dwelling birds, savannah birds, migratory birds, the park’s endemic species, and water birds. Bird watching is best enjoyed in the morning or evening hours when birds are still active. Birds to encounter in the park include Secretary bird, Red-faced Barbet, Egyptian Goose, Osprey, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, African Pygmy-Goose, 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, Red-winged Francolin, Dusky Turtle-Dove, Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Laughing Dove, Tambourine Dove, Red-eyed Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Denham’s Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, White-crested Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Purple-crested Turaco, Eastern Plantain-eater, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Blue-headed Coucal, White-browed Coucal, Black Coucal, Blue Malkoha, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Ringed Plover, Senegal Lapwing, Brown-chested Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Greater Painted-Snipe, Lesser Jacana and more.
Game Drives.
Game drives are among the top 5 things to do in Akagera National Park that provide exceptional ways of exploring the park’s rich biodiversity. Visitors can do morning game drives, which are good for spotting predators wandering around the park with their prey, antelopes running to save their lives, or grazing. The evening game drives are good for seeing animals preparing to rest after a long day and nocturnal birds and animals starting their day. The night game drives provide exceptional safari experiences as they give visitors an opportunity to see animals that they missed during the day, like leopards, which rest during the day and are active at night. Depending on what you decide to do, all provide unique safari experiences. During game drives, visitors will have an opportunity to see animals and birds like lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, leopards, elands, buffalo, zebras, oribis, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys among others and birds like Blue-billed Teal, Helmeted Guineafowl, Crested Francolin, Ring-necked Francolin, Shelley’s Francolin, Coqui Francolin, Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl, Blue Quail, among more.
Nature Walks.
Nature walks are one of the amazing safari activities to enjoy on your safari in the park, which gives travellers a chance to explore the park’s rich biodiversity and scenic views on foot. This activity is done either in the evening or late afternoon, both provide exceptional safari activities. It’s a guided activity led by an armed ranger who ensures participants’ safety and an experienced park guide who gives more insights about the park’s inhabitants that they might encounter. Visitors will have a chance to see the breathtaking views of the park and various bird species. They will also see animals like oribis, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, elands, zebras, elephants, among others, and various trees and plant species.
Sports Fishing.
Sports fishing is one of the top 5 things to do in Akagera National Park, which is 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 have 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.
Boat Cruises.
Boat cruises in Akagera National Park allow visitors to explore the park’s unique bird life, wildlife species, and breathtaking views. This is one of the lifetime safari experiences that is not found anywhere in Rwanda. While on the boat cruise, participants will see various animals, including elephants, buffalo, waterbucks, and zebras, bathing or drinking water from the lake shores. They will also have a chance to see crocodiles resting in the sun and schools of hippos swimming. Bird lovers will enjoy the amazing melodic sounds of bird species found around the lake. A boat trip is a rewarding activity that shouldn’t be missed on your African Safari.
