Top things to do in Akagera National Park.
Are you planning your safari in the park and looking for the top things to do in Akagera National Park. This article will help you choose safari activities that you will enjoy on your safari in the park. Akagera National Park is a top tourist destination in Rwanda, located in the eastern region of the country, famous for being the only savannah national park and the best place to have a complete African Big Five safari in Africa. It’s the biggest park in Rwanda covering an area of about 1,122 square kilometer. The park is known for its rich biodiversity hosting over 480 bird species, including water birds, savannah birds, migratory birds, the park’s endemic species and woodland species, 200 butterfly species, amphibians, reptiles and 90 mammal species such as the African Big Five mammals, elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos, which is supported by the parks diverse natural systems like wetlands, savannah grasslands, woodlands and lakes that provide habitats to various birds and wildlife species. Akagera National Park offers various activities for travellers, including game drives, boat cruises, bird watching, nature walks, and sports fishing.
Top things to do in Akagera National Park.
Bird Watching.
Bird watching in Akagera National Park is a remarkable safari activity that allows bird lovers to immerse themselves in over 480 bird species, such as the savannah birds, woodland species, water birds, migratory birds, and the park’s residents. Bird watching is best done in the morning or late afternoon when birds are active, and birders are encouraged to prepare a birding checklist to enhance their birding experience in the park. Some of the bird species to encounter, include African Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Hadada Ibis, Little Bittern, secretary bird, Black-crowned Night Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, Little Egret, Black Heron, Dwarf Bittern, Western Cattle-Egret, Malagasy Pond-Heron, Malagasy Pond-Heron, Indian Pond-Heron, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Yellow-billed Egret, Hamerkop, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Bateleur, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, European Honey-buzzard, Palm-nut Vulture, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Bat Hawk, Martial Eagle, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Booted Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Western Barn Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, African Barred Owlet, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Marsh Owl, Speckled Mousebird, Narina Trogon, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, African Pygmy Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Purple Roller, Broad-billed Roller, White-headed Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Crested Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Scaly-throated Honey guide, African Gray Woodpecker, Common Hoopoe, Green Woodhoopoe, Red-headed Weaver, African Gray Hornbill, White-throated Bee-eater, European Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater.
Nature Walks.
Nature walks are among the top things to do in Akagera National Park that give nature lovers a chance to explore the park’s scenic views and its rich biodiversity on foot. Visitors will be led by an armed park ranger who ensures their safety and an experienced park guide who gives important information about the park’s inhabitants that they might encounter. Visitors will enjoy the breathtaking views of the park, see plants and tree species, birds like Giant Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Purple Roller, Broad-billed Roller, White-headed Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Crested Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Scaly-throated Honey guide, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Bateleur, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, European Honey-buzzard, Palm-nut Vulture, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Bat Hawk, Martial Eagle, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Booted Eagle and animals, including elephants, blue monkeys, elands, giraffes, waterbucks, zebras among more.
Game Drives
There is no complete safari in Akagera National Park without having a game drive in the park that gives visitors an opportunity to explore the park’s diverse ecosystems. Game drives are best done in the morning when animals are preparing for the day, evening, and night, which gives visitors a chance to see nocturnal animals like leopards, hyenas, and civets, which are active at night and rest during the day. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park guide who gives more insights about the birds and mammal species that you might see. The animals to encounter on a safari include lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, zebras, impalas, leopards, giraffes, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, oribis, and birds include Malagasy Pond-Heron, Indian Pond-Heron, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Yellow-billed Egret, Hamerkop, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Bateleur among more.
Boat Cruises.
A boat cruise on Lake Ihema is one of the top things to do on your safari in Akagera National Park that offers exceptional experiences to the visitors. This allows travellers to explore the park while seated and relaxed as they enjoy its breathtaking views and unique wildlife species. They will have an opportunity to see schools of hippos swimming, crocodiles enjoying the sunset and on good days elephants, buffalo, water bucks, warthogs, drawing water from the lake shores. Bird lovers will enjoy the beautiful sounds of the birds like African Fish Eagle, Shoebill Stork, African Jacana, Goliath Heron, African Darter, Malachite Kingfisher, African Spoonbill, Hamerkop, among others.
Best Time to Visit the Park.
Akagera National Park can be visited throughout the year; it receives two seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The dry season is the most likely period for travellers, which runs from June to September and December to February. During this season, the park is dry, which makes it easy to penetrate the park. The wet season is from March to May and October to November; during this season, the park receives enough rainfall.
