Game drives in Akagera national park; Akagera national park is the only savannah national park in Rwanda located in northeastern part of Rwanda. The national park was established in 1934 and it’s a home of different wildlife species including the big five mammals which are elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards and lions, other animals like Uganda kobs, bushbucks, elands, impalas, reedbucks, topi, and different bird species.

Game drive is the most popular activity in Akagera national park where tourists will get an opportunity to explore the savannah plains in a comfortable pop up safari vehicle with a professional driver guide. Game drives in Akagera national park are done in three sessions for example the morning game drive which start very early in the morning at around 6:30am, the afternoon game drives which start around 12:00pm and the evening game drives which start at around 4:00pm. Game drive in Akagera national park is best done early in the morning when animals are most active and in the evening when animals are going back to their resting areas.  During the game drive, you will be able to view animals like giraffes, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, waterbucks, rhinos, topi, bushbucks, impalas, elands, view some bird species among others.

Akagera national park also offers night game drives where you will be able to explore the park at night with spotlight torches for clear viewing of nocturnal animals which become active at night. Night game drive in Akagera national park is done in the southern part of the park and takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive. During the night game drive, you will be accompanies by an experienced ranger guide who will help you to sport nocturnal animals like leopards, lions looking for a hunt, hyenas, civet, serval cats, view hippos feeding, listen to sounds of night birds like the night jars among others.

Best time to visit Akagera national park

Akagera national park can be visited all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this time there is less rainfall in the park therefore game drive tracks will be dry and passable, vegetation will be short which allows you to view different wildlife species clearly. During the dry season, animals will gather around the water bodies which helps you to view abundant animals and take great pictures.

How to get to Akagera national park

Akagera national park is located in northeastern part of Rwanda and can be accessed by road transport means whereby tourists will drive from Kigali to the park headquarters which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive in a safari vehicle.

Akagera national park can also be accessed by air transport means where you will book charter helicopter flights from Kigali international airport by Akagera aviation to the national park

Other activities in Akagaera national park

Akagera national park offers other interesting activities that you can engage in apart from game drives including boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will be able to view hippos and crocodiles in water, other animals along the shores drinking water, water birds, bird watching where you will be able to view variety of bird species like the African Darter, Yellow-browned Citril, Common Squacco, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, African Wattled Lapwing,  cultural encounters where you will be able to interact with the local people who live in the neighboring communities,  sport fishing where you will be able to catch different fish types, guided nature walks where you will get up-close and personal with different wildlife species among others.

Where to stay in Akagera national park

Akagera national park has a number of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your safari including Magashi Tented Camp, Karenge Bush Camp, Ruzizi Tented Camp, Akagera Game Lodge, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Akagera Transit Lodge, Akagera Rhino Lodge, Akagera resort and counry club, Vintage cottage, Nyagasambu Realm Beach Hotel among others.

For breathtaking moments on your Rwanda safari, game drives in Akagera national park can be combined with other activities in Volcanoes national park like golden monkey trekking, gorilla trekking, activities in Nyungwe forest national park like chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk, activities in Bwindi impenetrable national park like gorilla trekking.