I visited Akagera NationalPark in Rwanda in February 2019, after almost ten years from my previous visit.
In my memory I could recall a kind of run down park with little wildlife and
limited infrastructure if any, basically a secondary game reserve option.
However I have been following the progress and the success of the new
management, the NGO African Parks, which started an incredible work since 2010,
including fencing off the park, constructing the Rusizi Tented Camp, opening
trails and repopulating animals.
After only 3 hours’ drive
from Kigali, as I entered through the Southern gate of Kiyonza, I immediately
found a well-organized recently built info point, with annex souvenir shop,
bar, restaurant and toilets, definitely a good first impression. My first
activity was the boat excursion on Lake Ihema, a guided activity done in small
covered speedy boats mostly in the afternoon but also at different scheduled
time. From the boat you have immediately the feeling of how immense is the lake
with it horizon and how rich of wildlife is this water. During the 2 hours trip on Lake Ihema I spotted plenty of
hippos, Nile crocodiles and expecially water birds found on the shores inside the
papyrus swamps. Among the common birds I saw I can recall the whisltling duck,
African openbill stork, African jacana, squacco heron, goliath heron, grey
heron, African darter, great cormorant, African Fish Eagle, pied kingfisher,
little bee eater, scarlet chested sunbird.
In the morning we went for a long photographic safari
following the well demarcated trails, from the Southern sector of the Rwisirabo
Trail (along Lake Ihema, Lake Birengero and Lake Shakani), continuing to the
central area of Lake Hago and Lake Kivumba to Kitabili. The trail proceeds for
more than 80 km North, as you stop over along open grass savannah or on the
wetland on the shores of the Lakes to spot birds. The far North is the area of
the Mohana plains and Lake Rwanyakazinga. Here is found the Northern entrance
of Nyungwe Gate. It might take the whole day
out to complete the circuit, however it is a continuation of game viewing, bird
watching and photograph of breathtaking nature and colourful sceneries. I didn’t
expect to encounter such a number of maasai giraffes, elephants, zebras,
buffaloes, impalas, topi. There is also a big number of a more unique specie of
antelope, the beautiful roan antelope. We were finally able to see a family of
lions. I learnt that currently in the park there is a small population of 19
lions. I didn’t spot the black rhinos, yet they were reintroduced in recent
years and they are said to be about 15 in the park.
In my conclusion, I was
very surprised to find that the park is currently a high quality game reserve,
not only for the unique sceneries, but also for the increased number of
wildlife. In fact Akagera National Park has an outstanding landscape, probably
the most various I saw in East Africa, where a total of twelve lakes makes a
big portion of the Eastern wetland of the reserve (all fed and connected by the
Akagera river that indicates the boundary with Tanzania), while the Western
mountains delimit the western boundary and the rest is an alternating of dense and forest like vegetation on one
side and extensive plain savannah on the other side. I would like to compliment
the management for the good work done in making Akagera a “must” game park,
actually Akagera is the new pearl of East Africa.
Accommodation in Akagera National Park
Currently accommodation is limited to
the Southern sector of the park, however new investments are expected to be
covering also the Northern sector.
Akagera Game Lodge.
This lodge is located on Lake Ihema
about 3 km from Kiyonza Entrance Gate. By mid 2019 the ongoing renovation is
expected to be completed with upgrading of rooms setting. This is a perfect
middle range hotel – style tourist facility that can accommodate most of the
expectations. With 60 en suite guest rooms and spacious restaurant, this is by
far the biggest hotel in the park. Among the services it provides: swimming
pool, wifi and satellite television in the rooms, breakfast open at 5.30 in the
morning.
Ruzizi Tented Lodge.
This is the facility of African Parks.
With nine tents, a luxurious restaurant and bar area, all built in harmony with
the surrounding nature on top of raised wooden platforms and walkways, this is
the upmarket retreat choice in the Akagera National Park. Some trees were
incorporated into the structure and this gives a touch of uniqueness to the
lodge. Each tent offers a verandah, en-suite bathroom with hot solar heater
water and solar power, spacious beds.
Trips to Akagera National Park
I recommend visiting Akagera National
Park as a 3 days 2 nights extension out from Kigali. See our website for the details. Also it works well as an extension to other trips, for example as a 2
days 1 night extension of the itinerary Thousand Hills Uganda & Rwanda.
