Planning a tour to Akagera National Park prepares you for an unforgettable Rwanda safari experience in the country’s only savanna park. Rwanda is a renowned primate safari destination home to two Great Apes: Chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.
Most Rwanda safari experiences revolve around mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, as many enthusiasts hike the forested mountains to meet the rare apes. This leaves Akagera Safaris exclusive and unique because of the park’s diverse ecosystems.
Planning a tour to Akagera National Park is highly recommended to maximize your Rwanda tour experiences. Here is a guide to help you organize an unforgettable tour to Akagera National Park.
Choosing your Akagera Safari Time
The dry season from June to September is ideal for a tour to Akagera National Park. Minimal rainfall disturbances during the dry season make exploring the park’s game drive trails easy. Wildlife viewing is easy as vegetation is less dense and animals gather around major water holes to refresh.
December to February is relatively dry, and wildlife viewing in the Park is equally great. For the best birding safari, visit the park from November to May. Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s second most Important Birding Area and migratory birds are present during these months.
What to do on a Tour to Akagera
Game drives are the major Rwanda safari adventures you can do on a tour to Akagera. The park is home to the Big Five Mammals and major savanna safari animals. Giraffes, Elands, Zebras, and Waterbucks are notable animals spotted on game drives. You can experience the park’s nocturnal wildlife on night game drives and bush walks.
Boat safaris along Lake Ihema highlight Rwanda tour adventures to Akagera National Park. The Lake is home to Hippos and Nile Crocodiles often sighted along the shores.
Birding safaris are a must on a tour to Akagera. The park’s diverse ecosystem makes it a prime birding destination. Notable birds in Akagera National Park include the Pre-historic Shoebill stork, Grey-Crowned Cranes, Fish eagles, and papyrus gonolek.
Where to stay
There are accommodation options for all budget categories. Magashi Camp is the most luxurious accommodation facility situated in the northern sector of the park. It lies on a private concession right next to Lake Rwanyakazinga. The camp offers exclusive Rwanda tour adventures with all-inclusive offers that make your stay more remarkable.
Ruzizi Tented Lodge is another luxurious option. It is an eco-friendly tented eco-lodge with private self-contained tents. These are secluded with incredible views of the surrounding ecosystem.
Akagera Game Lodge is the only deluxe option in Akagera National Park. It has spacious self-contained rooms with a balcony that partly overlooks the swimming pool and park wilderness.
A designated camping area within the park offers a classic way of enjoying Rwanda Tour adventures under canvas.
Getting There
The park can be accessed by road transfer from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, in a 2.5-hour drive. The drive is scenic as you traverse the Rwandan countryside with stopovers for photography at places of interest.
You can also access the park by air transport via Kagera Aviation. They have both scheduled and charter flights that give you quicker access to the park ahead of your Rwanda Tour experience.
Visiting other Rwanda Safari destinations.
A tour to Akagera National Park is best enjoyed when combined with other Rwanda tour destinations. Start with a Kigali City tour, visiting the genocide memorial, local markets, and other places of interest.
Volcanoes National Park offers the ultimate Great Apes Adventure as you meet Mountain gorillas in the misty Virunga Mountains. Our 6-day Rwanda Safari combines a tour to Akagera and Volcanoes National Park.
Nyungwe is also an incredible primate trekking destination home to chimpanzees and 12 other primates. It is Rwanda’s best birding destination, making it a perfect fit to explore alongside Akagera National Park. Our 10-day Rwanda Safari features Nyungwe, Akagera, and Volcanoes National Parks. It is the ideal Rwanda tour adventure and Discovery Journey.
Connect with us now and start planning your Rwanda Savanna wildlife journey!