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Akagera National Park

Through sloping hilltops, forest-edged lakes, papyrus swamps and the golden savannah plains, Akagera National Park is stunning in its scenic beauty. Safari drives coupled with amazing guides ensure a wonderful wildlife experience. Taking a boat trip on Lake Ihema at sunset, or spending a day fishing on the shores of Lake Shakani will undoubtedly make your safari a uniquely wonderful adventure.

  • Best Time To Go

    July - September

  • Average Safari Cost

    $300-$800 pp/day. Park fee: $40 - $730

  • Highlights

    Great game drives with an abundance of animals, including the Big Five, over 500 species of birds, boat trips, fishing and a chance to tour the park headquarters.

Why Visit Akagera National Park?

Game Drives

  • Car hiring - full day: $275; half day: $175 (5hours)
  • Night game drives: $40

Game drives in Akagera are fantastic. You have the option to hire a vehicle with a driver and a guide, or drive your own vehicle with an accompanied guide. It is preferable to have a guide along with you, as they will know the most beautiful scenic spots that you might otherwise miss. The wildlife population is great, offering the Big Five, a large variety of plains game, and a few big predators as well.

The park is home to over 500 bird species, making this a bird-lover’s dream come true. The highly sought-after Shoebill stork can be found in the swamps, and there are many water and savannah species available.

Boat Trip

  • Morning/day: $30 (1 hour)
  • Sunset: $40 (1 hour)
  • Fishing: $20 (own equipment)

If you are looking for a less standard safari, taking a boat trip on Lake Ihema is the perfect choice. Gliding on Akagera’s largest lake offers a beautiful scenic view of the forest fringing the lake, and hippo and crocodiles are a common sight. Birdwatching is also excellent on the lake. Feeling more wistful? Take a sunset boat ride instead, and be mesmerized by the stunning landscape backlit by the vibrant colors of the setting sun.

Boat trips are scheduled at four times a day, although you can book an unscheduled trip at a different time, as well. The scheduled times are: 7:30am, 9am, 3:30pm and 5pm.

You can also spend a relaxing day sport fishing on the shore of Lake Shakani, and then cooking your catch at the campsite, over an open fire.

Behind the Scenes: $20 (1,5 hours)

Interested in the conservation developments of the park, or maybe you just want to know how the park is run, or how things are done? A tour of the park headquarters is open to everyone. There are a limited number of people allowed per group, so be sure to book your spot. This activity was designed to provide information to travelers who have a special interest in conservation, or the park itself, and is great for educational groups, but everyone is welcome.

Pros And Cons

All safaris come with challenges. It is up to you to decide if the adventure is worth the obstacles that you may face.
Pros
  • The Big Five
  • Great game drives and wildlife viewing
  • Boat trips and fishing
  • Super knowledgable guides
  • Beautiful scenery in Africa’s largest protected wetland
  • Over 500 species of birds
Cons
  • Heavy rains can cause a lot of the park to be inaccessible
  • Car hiring is expensive

Best Time To Go

Dry season: July – September and January

Wet season: October – December and February – June

The best time to visit Akagera is in the driest months from July to September, although the park is open all-year round. During the dry months, the daytime temperatures average 71 - 80°F (22 - 27°C), while night time temperatures drop to 60 - 69°F (16 - 21°C). This is best time to visit for most park activities – game drives, boat trips and fishing. Birdwatching is generally great all year, and particularly good in the wetter months, due to migratory birds and the breeding season.

During the rainy months, there are heavy downpours daily, although the sun usually comes out once the rain stops. It is best to avoid the park during March, April and December as these are the wettest months and many roads will be flooded and impassable.

For more details about when to visit broken down by months/seasons see our Rwanda Safari - Complete Travel Guide.

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Wildlife And Birds

The wildlife population is large and diverse, and includes the Sitatunga antelope, which is restricted to the papyrus swamps. Lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are all present, and the black rhino has been reintroduced to the park, which completes the Big Five. Hyena and the side-striped jackal can be spotted, and there are several species of antelope including duiker, reedbuck, oribi and the rare roan antelope. Primates are present in the park as well – olive baboon, blue monkey, vervet and the nocturnal bushbaby. You will not be disappointed with a visit to Akagera.
List Of Animals
  • Lion
  • Elephant
  • Leopard
  • Hippo
  • Hyena
  • Giraffe
  • Black Rhino
  • Zebra
  • Crocodile

Rare Animals

  • Black rhino
  • Sitatunga antelope
  • Blue monkey

Infrequently Seen Animals

  • Lion
  • Leopard
  • Hyena
  • Side-striped jackal
  • Bushbaby

Frequently Seen Animals

  • Elephant
  • Buffalo
  • Zebra
  • Topi
  • Waterbuck
  • Eland
  • Roan antelope
  • Duiker
  • Bohor reedbuck
  • Oribi
  • Klipspringer
  • Bushbuck
  • Impala
  • Olive baboon
  • Vervet
  • Hippo
  • Crocodile

Birdwatching

Birdwatching is superb in Akagera, with over 500 recorded species. Most notable here, is the Shoebill stork that can be found the papyrus swamp and the endangered Grauer’s broadbill. As Africa’s largest protected wetland, coupled with a landscape of savannah, forest and highlands, the park overs a great variety of bird specials – waterbirds are particularly common. The rainy season offers a great chance to see many birds in their breeding plumage, and migratory specials are available from November to April, making this best time for birding.

Endangered Birds

For a complete list of endangered birds in Rwanda see our Rwanda Safari - Complete Travel Guide.

Getting There And Safety

The main entry point in to Rwanda is Kigali International Airport, located 10km (6miles) from capital, Kigali. From there, Akagera is two-hours from Kigali, approximately 80km (50miles).

Pick up from the airport, as well as further transportation for the duration of your visit, is usually arranged by your tour operator, as part of your tour package.

Flights

If you are based in the UK and Europe, check out these flights to Rwanda.

If you are based in the USA and Canada, check out these flights to Rwanda.

Visas

For the details about visas to Rwanda see our Rwanda Safari - Complete Travel Guide.

Vaccinations

There is some concern with malaria in the country. Please speak to your healthcare provider concerning preventative medication. A good insect repellent (30% DEET) is necessary, and you should keep your arms and legs covered as much as possible.

For more details about vaccinations see our Rwanda Safari - Complete Travel Guide.

Travel Insurance

Going on a safari in Africa comes with obvious risks. We recommend you get travel insurance for all safaris in Rwanda. Make sure your insurance has full medical coverage, emergency air evacuation, repatriation and the standard travel insurance for cancellations, delays and luggage cover.

Check World Nomads’ travel insurance calculator to see the cost of the safari trip cover.

What To Pack

Sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and a good insect repellent are essential. You will need long-sleeved clothing for Rwanda, especially in the wet months of October – December and February – June, to protect against mosquitoes. Ensure that you have a plenty of water on your during safari.

Wet-weather gear – waterproof jacket/pants, waterproof boots and backpack – for the wet months. The waterproof backpack is to ensure that your camera and other equipment does get damaged due to rain.

For more details on what to pack see our Safari Packing List.

Boat Trip Safety
The guides will give you instructions before setting out, and it is a good idea to abide by these rules. The hippos and crocodiles are more than likely habituated to humans, however, that does not mean that you should not be cautious. They are wild animals – predators, in fact – and should be treated as such. Do not take unnecessary risks.
ATMs
There are no ATMs in the park, but there are ATMs in Kigali, and some restaurants have card machines, however it is best to ask before ordering anything. It would also be best to draw money and use cash at the parks, as they are unlikely to have card machines.