GAME DRIVES IN AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

GAME DRIVES IN AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK.

Rwanda being a pocket sized country, it is blessed with only three national parks protecting distinct ecosystems and variety of species. These parks include Akagera national park, volcanoes national park and Nyungwe forest national park all offering stunning wildlife safaris in Rwanda.

Just at the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda border, the oldest park in the world; Volcanoes national park is positioned in the Virunga mountain chain, homing almost half of the world’s remaining total population of the mountain gorillas. This has made it one of the best destinations for gorilla trekking in the world.

For Nyungwe forest national park is located in the southwest along the Burundian border and hosts the largest number of chimpanzees plus other primate species. If you are anywhere in or around Rwanda, and you are a primate lover, this park is a must do for chimp trekking in Rwanda.

Now the Akagera national park, the park with the best game drive experiences in Rwanda. It is located in the north east of the country along the Tanzanian border stretching to a total land area of 1122 square kilometers.

Akagera national park was named after the Akagera River that makes one way across the park

pouring its water into the famous Ihema Lake. The striking rolling hills dotted with acacia woodland and patches of grassland traversed with a chain of lakes and swamps all sum up into an eye catching scenery that is not seen anywhere else in Africa yet.

In spite of the small size of the park, Akagera has a varied wildlife base and within a few minutes, giraffes, Impalas, Topis, Zebras, bush bucks, African swallows, eland, vervet monkeys, warthogs, baboons, Mongoose, buffaloes, oribi, hippos, crocodiles, elephants and other mammals are spotted. 

Game drives in are the major activity that tourists on a Rwanda safari mainly engage in while in this park. Organized safaris with a driver and guide are always available at affordable prices, East African Community or Rwandan registered cars are charged 7 USD and 25 USD for the foreign cars.

Visitors can also have self-driven game drives in Akagera national park. This is the best experience ever, having to drive through the wilderness with freedom and at your own convenience. However most tourists have hired guides to go along with them at only 25 USD for a half day and 40 USD for a full day to avoid the annoying bit of getting lost in the park while on a self-drive. Note that you can also have a night game drive in this park.

Akagera national park management has two-tier guiding system with 10 park-employed guides and 15 community freelance guides to help you during your game safari in Rwanda. Visitors may choose to take a park-employed guide with guiding experience ranging from 2 to 12 years in the park, or choose one of the enthusiastic Community Freelance Guides who have completed an in-house training about interpretive tour guiding. Both the guides are dedicated and provide authentic experiences of the park.

All tour drives in Akagera national park are simply amazing, but the most remarkable one is the route from the south to the north, it’s give you tremendous opportunities to spot many various animals in their natural dwellings all creating a great adventurous experience and also the most beautiful views from the top of the mountain across lake Ihema towards Tanzania.

Don’t expect to see the big cats here, but there plans of reintroducing the lions and the Rhinos, that will make the park a big five destination once again. This national park will not disappoint you when it comes to game drives in Africa.

Safaris in Akagera national park can also expose you to birding experiences, launch cruise and fishing plus nature walks as the park currently doesn’t have many deadly predators. If you have not yet done a safari here, it’s high time you booked one for ultimate wildlife experiences.