Things To Tour In Akagera National Park, Rwanda Wildlife Safaris
Tourist Attractions to tour Akagera National Park: Widely considered to be one of the most scenic parks in central-eastern Africa. Akagera National Park's extraordinary biodiversity ranges from impressive herds of herbivores that graze the open plains to rare and elusive birds that frequent the swamps. Following lion and rhino reintroductions, Akagera National Park now boasts thriving populations of these, as well as elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and leopard, while the waterways teem with hippo and enormous crocodiles.
In the past decade, Akagera National Park has established itself as a Park on the rise – demonstrating an almost unbelievable transformation into Rwanda’s only Big 5 Akagera National Park and one of the premier African safari destinations on the continent.
About, Size, and Location of Akagera National Park in Rwanda:
Akagera National Park is a protected area in eastern Rwanda covering 1,122 km2 (433 sq. mi) along the international border with Tanzania. It was founded in 1934 by the Belgian government, in a bid to protect the remaining species of wildlife in the park that were under threat. The park previously covered an area of 2,500km² and was famous for its rich bio-diversity in flora and fauna species.
The Park's scenery includes savannah, montane, and swamp habitats. The park is named for the Kagera River, which flows along its eastern boundary feeding into Lake Ihema and several smaller lakes. The complex system of lakes and linking papyrus swamps makes up over a third of the park, which is the largest protected wetland in Eastern-Central Africa.
History of Akagera National Park:
Every protected space in Africa comes with its own story, with elements from every genre: drama, thriller, romance, and tragedy. The fates and fortunes of this park are irrevocably bound to those of the people around it. Each visitor to an African wilderness experiences a snapshot in time, a chapter or two at most. But for those fortunate enough to visit Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, these may just be the best chapters in the entire saga
Akagera landscape, teeming with life at every level, seems so eternal that it is hard to imagine that its very existence was so recently threatened. Yet less than three decades ago, during the Rwandan Civil War and the years of recovery that followed, the park was invaded and denuded, its wildlife decimated by poaching and human-wildlife conflict.
Akagera’s rehabilitation can be attributed to the partnership between African Parks and the Rwanda Development Board. They entered into a joint management agreement in 2009 and began the day-to-day running of the park in 2010. Their progressive stewardship stayed the destruction and turned the narrative from a looming catastrophe to one of long-term, sustainable conservation.
Thanks to considerable investment in the park’s infrastructure and security, existing wildlife populations began to recover, bolstered by ambitious reintroduction programs. Tourist numbers, both local and international, grew in leaps and bounds, and by 2019, Akagera was 90% self-financing.
Most importantly, community involvement has always been a fundamental tenant of African Park’s approach to managing all the parks under their guardianship, and Akagera is no different. Today, 300,000 people on the park boundary directly benefit from its existence, while educational programs and support for community enterprises have reshaped local perceptions. Nearly half of the visitors to the park in 2019 were Rwandan citizens.
Akagera used to have a large population of African wild dogs. At one point, it was known as the 'Parc aux Lycaons' and wild dogs were so abundant, that the Belgian government considered them a pest. However, a disease epidemic diminished the population and the last wild dogs were seen in 1984.
In 1957, black rhinos were introduced from Tanzania. In the 1970s, more than 50 black rhinos lived in the savannah habitat of the park. Due to widespread poaching, the population declined over the following decades, and the last confirmed sighting was in 2007.
In 1986, Masai giraffes were introduced from Kenya. Their population has grown to over 80 individuals in recent years. Around 1990, Akagera was known to have a population of 250 to 300 lions. In the years following the Rwandan Civil War, farmers who returned to Rwanda after the War and settled in the park killed the entire population.
In 2009 the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the African Parks Network entered into a 20-year renewable agreement for the joint management of Akagera. The Akagera Management Company was formed in 2010 as the joint management body for Akagera National Park. Over the next 5 years, a $10 million expenditure was carried out in the national park area, with financial help from the Howard Buffett Foundation.
The aim was to increase the security of the national park and to reintroduce locally extinct species. Security measures that were taken include the construction of a western boundary fence, which measures 120.0 kilometers (74.6 miles), deploying an air surveillance helicopter, training of an expert rhino tracking and protection team, and a canine anti-poaching unit.
In July 2015, seven lions from South Africa were introduced and released in the park, making them the first lions in Rwanda for 15 years. Beyond donated five lionesses from Phinda Private Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park in KwaZulu-Natal donated two male lions. African Parks as “a ground-breaking conservation effort for both the park and the country” described this effort as part of a project aimed at reversing the local extinction of the species in Akagera National Park. Since 2015, the lion population has grown to 58 animals.
In May 2017, a joint operation between the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks saw the reintroduction of 18 eastern black rhinoceroses from South Africa, which had been absent for 10 years. With the reintroduction of black rhinos and lions, the national park is now home to all of Africa's "big five": lion, African leopard, African bush elephant, rhinoceros, and African buffalo.
In June 2019, Akagera received a further 5 eastern black rhinoceros from 3 different zoos in 3 different countries located across Europe. The zoos include Dvur Kralove Zoo from the Czech Republic, Flamingo Land from the UK, and Ree Park Safari from Denmark. This relocation is the first of its kind, as something like this between Europe and Africa never happened before. The 2 males and 3 females were safely delivered to the park after a 30-hour journey. These mammals are direct descendants of rhinos taken from Africa during the colonial days.
In November 2021, 30 white rhinos were successfully translocated to Akagera from Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa, in the largest single rhino translocation ever taken. This translocation aimed to extend the species' range and create a new breeding stronghold in Rwanda.
The large mammal population has increased since 2010, from 4,000 animals in 2010 to over 13,500 in 2018, and still increasing.
Since African Parks assumed management of the park in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board in 2010, tourism has dramatically increased. In 2010, 8,000 people visited the park. This number rose to 44,000 by 2018. This increase has allowed Akagera to become 80% self-sustaining and therefore less reliant on donors.
Wildlife in Akagera National Park:
Animals in Akagera National Park
Sizeable herds of elephants, buffaloes, topis, and zebras are everywhere plus all the Big 5, taking advantage of the bountiful grasses, while waterbucks are perfectly at home wading through the swamps and reed past pods of hippos. The endangered roan antelope may be somewhat elusive, but the towering statuesque eland is unmistakable, dwarfing surrounding impala and duiker. Klipspringer shows off tiptoe agility on the rocky crags of hilly slopes. Large olive baboon and vervet monkey troops, the consummate survivors, represent the primates. Sightings of blue monkeys are less frequent, but they have been spotted over recent years, firmly disproving the belief that they are extinct in the park.
Birds in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is also one of the best birding regions in Africa, if not the world, with over a whopping 480 species recorded in the park. The diversity of habitats on display means that fervid birders can apply their skills in several different ways, from peering through reeds and rushes for a papyrus Gonalek to scanning the skies for the grasshopper buzzard or listening out for the call of a red-faced barbet in a thicket.
Other notable species include Tabora and Carruthers’ cisticola, white-crested turaco, and northern brown-throated weaver. Shoebills have been seen lurking in the swamps, and, most recently, a sighting of the somewhat unfairly named plain nightjar had the birding chatrooms all aflutter.
Tourist activities in Akagera National Park:
Bird watching in Akagera National Park
During bird watching in Akagera National Park, an experienced bird guide will accompany you and follow different birding trails in the park where you will see different bird species.
Boat cruises in Akagera National Park
Boat cruises in Akagera National Park Rwanda are one of the best ways to spend your afternoons in Akagera National Park. Boat safaris are done on Lake Ihema. You are able to catch hippos in the water and crocodiles by the shores of the lake and the waves on the lake in their smooth flow.
Game drives in Akagera National Park
Among the most rewarding activities in the park are the game drives where you will see several animals in the park. These are done onboard 4x4 SUVs and led by experienced guides and include both day and night game drives.
Sport fishing in Akagera National Park
Sport fishing is one of the most adventurous activities in Akagera National Park. Sport fishing in Akagera National Park is done on Lake Shakani, which is south of Akagera National Park. It is one of the most adventurous activities any avid angler enthusiast on Rwanda safari should not miss out on.
Other activities in Akagera National Park
Travelers can even opt for the “behind the scenes” tour of the park headquarters, where they can talk to park officials and learn more about the strenuous business of keeping a national park operational. Cultural community experiences also provide the opportunity to learn more about Rwanda’s remarkable people while contributing to local enterprises.
Best Time to Visit Akagera National Park
Though Akagera is accessible year-round, the best time to visit is during the dry season, from June until September, when the wildlife viewing is at its best and rain is less likely to be disruptive.
Where to stay in Akagera National Park
For the Budget traveler, there are four public campsites: Shakani on the shores of Lake Shakani (where fishing is permitted), Mutamba at the highest point in the park, Muyumbu overlooking Lake Ihema and Lake Shakani, and Mihindi, near the shores of Lake Mihindi.
Karenge Bush Camp is a good mid-range option, offering furnished tented accommodation. There are also a few high-end accommodation options inside the park, including Ruzizi Tented Lodge, which is fully catered.
Akagera is a convenient and beautiful park to visit. It can be a short getaway for those living in Rwanda, a fascinating combination with Nyungwe National Park, or an easy add-on before or after visiting the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Despite being relatively small, Akagera is home to an impressive array of wildlife. Since 2010, when African Parks was invited to manage the park, wildlife numbers have rebounded dramatically.
Akagera remains a relatively undiscovered gem, so enjoy excellent wildlife sightings without the crowds.
Arrange and Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the safari tour of Akagera National Park in Rwanda.
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