Big Five Mammals in Akagera National Park
Big five mammals in Akagera National Park : What was once only a fantasy has now come true. As the sole savannah destination in the nation, Akagera National Park in Rwanda is home to all five of the big five animals, making the country a Big Five safari destination. Rwanda, which is well-known for being a mountain gorilla destination, will soon also be a Big Five destination. Before travelling to Rwanda for the well-known gorilla trek, tourists won’t have to travel farther to witness the African Big Five.
For decades, Rwanda had been devoid of rhinos and lions. After years of park revitalization and the installation of robust security measures, like as an electric fence, the moment had come to restore these creatures and finish the big five in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park.
Lions were brought back into the park in 2015, while the first group of rhinos Black Rhinos were welcomed two years later. Both animals are doing well and procreating. Below are the big five mammals in Akagera national park.
Rhinos.
There are black rhinos and white rhinos in Akagera National Park. It is rare for parks and nature reserves to be home to both species.
There were fifteen black rhinos when they were first reintroduced to the park in 2017. These are found in the park’s southern forest region, which is home to many acacia woodlands and forests. This is the perfect environment for black rhinos, who are browsers and eat on the leaves of trees. Due to their limited number and environment, there is virtually little chance of encountering black rhinos.
In 2021, thirty white rhinos were moved into the park. These are thriving in Akagera and a calf has been born from this group in May 2022. Since white rhinos are grazers, they are primarily found in the park’s grassland northern sector, especially in the area surrounding the Kilala plains. There are greater probabilities of observing the white rhinos than the black rhinos.
Additionally, visitors can participate in Akagera Park’s rhino tracking programme, which allows them to accompany park rangers on their daily rhino monitoring walk. You can reserve the rhino tracking safari activity if you’d want a certain approach to get the rhinos to smile.
Lions.
With the translocation of seven lions into Akagera National Park in 2015, the “king of the jungle” returned. As of 2022, the lion population has flourished and proliferated seven times, increasing the likelihood of witnessing them during an Akagera safari.
Although lions have been seen in both Akagera’s north and south, the best places to see them are in the north, close to the plains, where antelopes and other grazers abound and create ideal meadows for lions and other cats to hunt.
After the early-morning hunt in the plains, you can probably locate the lions lounging beneath a tree at the conclusion of the extensive game drive from the south to the north. The southern entrance of Akagera National Park serves as the starting point for safari excursions.
Buffaloes.
The most prevalent of the big five in Akagera National Park, buffaloes can be seen in a range of habitat types around the park. There are about 4,000 buffaloes in the park. Large herds of buffalo can be found in the northern plains.
Elephants.
Elephants were headed for extinction in Rwanda a few decades ago, along with lions and rhinos. They suffered greatly from civil war-related poaching. However, congratulations to Rwanda’s government and the African Parks organization, which has been running the park for the past ten years. Their efforts have made the park one of Africa’s most protected national parks, and as a result, the number of elephants has been gradually increasing. Based on data from the 2021 wildlife census, Akagera National Park has approximately 133 elephants.
A decade ago, discovering a herd of elephants, let alone solitary ones, while on a safari in Akagera was an act of pure luck. You will now be unfortunate if your safari in Akagera National Park does not result in seeing a herd of elephants.
Leopard.
Of the African Big Five, this one is the most elusive and takes some luck to spot. The leopards are lone animals that move very stealthily. You have a better chance of seeing leopards during the night safari drive because they are more active during the night. Residents of Karenge Bush Camp have access to the night drive in both the north and the south.