The Akagera National Park is located in the eastern part of the country at the border with Tanzania and covers an estimated 1,200 km² in area. The park was established in 1934 to protect animals and vegetation in three eco regions; savannah, mountain and swamp. The park is named after the Kagera River which flows along its eastern boundary feeding into several lakes the largest of which is Lake Ihema. The Kagera River is believed to be one of the sources of the river Nile. The complex system of lakes and linking papyrus swamps makes up over a third of the park and is the largest protected wetland in central Africa.
The Akagera National Park is unlike the rest of Rwanda because it lies at a lower altitude compared to the rest of the country. You will not see the folding hills that characterize most of Rwanda but rather a maze of lakes, swamps and marshes that surround the river Kagera throughout its course. The park is your usual African savannah grassland with tangled acacia, shrubs and open space with vast grasslands.
The park just like most savannahs is a haven for the herbivores in the food chain like buffalos, elephants, zebras, giraffes, hippos and various antelope all reasonably visible. The lakes in the park are home to some of the highest concentrations of hippo anywhere in Africa, as well as numerous large crocodiles. However, just like any other good thing the park has one major shortcoming with very small recorded numbers of the lion, leopard and black rhino but on good day all these can be spotted. The park also boasts of some bird activity with species such as the fish eagle, water birds, papyrus gonolek, and the bizarre shoebill stork.
Akagera National Park is a very large game park with well maintained roads meandering through the entire park. The park is so large that one could drive for hours without the sight of another road user. This vast area provides a good spectacle of suspense as one will never when or where the next sighting of an animal will be and this makes the whole idea of a game drive even more interesting. Akagera is also among the most scenic of savanna reserves, with its sumptuous forest-fringed lakes, tall mountains and constantly changing vegetation.
Tourist activity
- The Mitumba Hills are a spectacle and the only significant ones in the park. Just like most of the hills in Rwanda these hills are beautiful with one hill folding and disappearing into the other, pure splendor and magnificence.
- Kagera River is a spectacle on its own not to mention the important historical incidents that are connected to the river like the start of German colonial rule in the country, the German defeat to the Belgians and most recently the Rwanda genocide. A visit to this park gives one the chance to see this historical river. The river is also home to several aquatic animals like crocodiles and hippopotamus and fish species.
- There is a large number of birds within the park with a little over 525 species identified and recorded. Some of the world’s rarest and unique species are an ever present spectacle for the visitors to the park. Species like the Shoe billed stocks and papyrus gonolek which are very rare can be seen in the park while some endemic ones like the jacanas, ibis, sand pipers and herons are also present in the park.
- Akagera national park is vastly endowed with animal populations with mammals like; elephants, buffalos, lions, Maasai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel’s zebra, topi, bush baby, leopard and bushbuck.
- There is a host of lakes within the park and these provide a good attraction due to the many activities that take place there. These lakes include Ihema, Kivumba, Hago, Mihindi, and Rwanyakizinga.
Accommodation
There is only one existing option for accommodation within the park and that is if you wish to stay for long. The Akagera Game Lodge is located within the game park itself and it offers good views of Lake Ihema with a large swimming pool. The lodge is more of a hotel than your usual safari lodge and has African styled rooms well furnished too.