Is Akagera National Park Worth Visiting?

Is Akagera National Park Worth Visiting? Akagera National Park is among the top destinations to visit while on your Rwanda safari for travelers interested in enjoying wildlife safaris. The park is home to the only big five animals that. Located in the eastern part of Rwanda, adjacent to the Rwanda border. Covering 1,122 sq. kilometres, which makes it the largest, protected wetland in East-Central Africa, it harbors a number os attractions from the over 8000 mammals, including the big five animals (lion, leopard, elephants, buffalo and the leopard).  Over 500 bird species can be seen in the park, of which 100 species are found nowhere in Rwanda, and the rolling hills, drainage features, among other attractions, make the park one of the most beautiful national parks in Rwanda.

Akagera National Park is one of the national parks in Rwanda that shouldn’t be missed out on visiting, and in this article, here are some of the reasons why Akagera National Park is worth visiting, and some of the reasons you should hop on your next flight to Akagera National Park include;

Home to the big five animals

One of the reasons why travelers visit Akagera National Park is to watch the Big Five animals in the park. The animals include the rhinos, leopards, buffaloes, and elephants. Interesting about the animal species is the fact that you will enjoy tracking the species as you participate in the game drives in Akagera National Park. With the game drives in Akagera National Park, you can choose either day or night game drives to watch the wildlife species. With the day drives, you’ll watch the species like the herbivores as they graze within the plains, but also get to participate in the night game drives in Akagera National Park, where you will have the chance to watch the carnivores catching their prey.

Away from the big five animal species, the park is also home to 85 mammal species that can be seen occupying the savannah plains, grazing within the plains, along the water sources like the Akagera River and Lake Ihema as they quench their thirst from the water source. Some of the different animal species that can be seen include: the gazelles, elands, bat-eared fox, zebras, Masai giraffes, hippopotamus, crocodiles, hyenas, primates like the baboons, olive baboons, vervet monkey, and blue monkeys, among other mammal species.

Home to the endangered shoebill stork

The park is home to the endangered shoebill stork, a prehistoric bird with several interesting facts, such as the fact that the bird can stand motionless in one spot, keeping their eye on their prey. The bird also makes the sound similar to that of a machine gun and is considered one of the most intelligent birds that can be seen in the park. You will also have the opportunity to access over 400 bird species for travelers interested in birding in Rwanda, where rare bird species like can be seen during your birding experience in Akagera National Park, like the papyrus gonolek and many other birding species in Akagera National Park

Diverse eco-systems

Another reason you should make your way to Akagera National Park is so you don’t miss out on the different ecosystems in the park that act as a habitat to a number of different species that will make your safari experience quite memorable. Ecosystems like the savannah grasslands are home to several herbivores that can be seen grazing within the plains. Some of the species that can be seen include: the elands, gazelles, Uganda kobs, the giraffes, bushbucks, and many other species.

The wetlands and swamps, including the scenic lakes like Lake Ihema and the River Akagera, will give you sightings of several attractions, including the endangered shoebill stork, king fishers, and papyrus gonolek. You will also have the chance to watch several animals quenching their thirst from the water sources, like the elephants, buffalo taking dips within the water, hippos, and you will watch the crocodiles sunbaking as you enjoy the boat cruise and many other attractions, while you enjoy your time in the park.  The hills and woodlands offer habitats for mammals like the bushbuck, gazelles, and the oribi, and many more. The riverine forests act as habitats for primates like the olive baboon, vervet monkey, the blue monkey, and bush babies.

Easy accessibility

Another reason you should visit Akagera National Park is the fact that it is easily accessible from the airport and Kigali city. Travelers will take about 2 hours to reach the park from Kigali city, which makes a day Akagera safari experience quite possible, where you can participate in activities like the game drives and the boat cruise on Lake Ihema on the same day, and then head back to Kigali city.

“With the above reasons and more, you should consider booking your next flight to Akagera National Park and let us customize your safari experience to your liking, and let us give you the chance to watch the big five animals, the big cats, and many other eye-catching attractions that will make your Rwanda safari enchanting.”