Is Akagera National Park one of your dream destinations in Rwanda and you are not sure of which attractions to enjoy? Akagera National Park is remarkably one of the most scenic safari destinations with amazing natural wonders that wait for you to explore while on your vacation in Rwanda. Its natural treasures are a true reflection of Kenyan wilderness. It comes with incredibly the most stunning open savanna plains, broad-leaved forests and spectacular hills, candelabra euphoria trees, Lakes which feature crocodiles and huge confinement of hippos. Most of its tourist attractions include;

Wildlife

Akagera National Park conducted a 2 subsequent aerial census between 2010 and 2013 which showed a boom its wildlife species. This park boasts of several large plain wildlife species and other wilderness species which are restricted to papyrus wetlands. They include among others the Maasai giraffes, lions, buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), rhinos, elephants (Loxodonta Africana), warthogs, black masked civet, serval cats, bush pigs, catlike genet, black-tailed mongoose, Vive rid, side striped jackal-Canis adustus, hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), Burchell zebras, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes especially topis, roan, elands, Defassa waterbuck, Bohor reedbuck, Oribis, common duikers, klipspringers and the semi-aquatic sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei). There are several primate species for you to spot out most of which include vervet monkeys (chlorocebus pygerythrus), olive baboons, blue monkeys (Cercopithecus Mitis), wide eyed bush babies and many others.

Birds

With more than 520 bird species, Akagera National Park is undeniably one of Rwanda’s Important Bird Areas that any bird lover should pay a visit. About 100 of these bird species are rarely sighted or even never seen in any part of the country. There are over 44 raptor species, papyrus gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri), the rare shoebill storks and many migrant bird species especially the Lesser Kestrel, great snipe. This park features the northern limit of several Zambezian biome species most of which include the long-tailed cistola, sauza shrike, arnot chat and others. Besides, there is one Guinea-Congo Forest biome species at this park and 7 afro tropical highlands biome.

Water bodies

Besides wildlife, Akagera National Park also features a number of swamps fringed Lakes and the Akagera River that offers refuge to several aquatic life and offers the vast protected wetland system in Central Africa. Its Lakes include Lake Ihema which also features as the second largest in Rwanda, Lake Rwanyakizinga, Lake Gishanju, Lake Mihindi, and Lake Shakani. Most of these remarkable water bodies offer refuge to Nile crocodiles, hippos and numerous fish species. Akagera River, on the other hand, transverses the eastern boundary of the protected area prior flowing to Uganda via Tanzania to empty itself in Lake Victoria making one of the sources of the mighty River Nile.

In conclusion, Akagera National Park is a natural wonder of its own. If you are interested in exploring most of savanna wildlife species while on Rwanda safari then this is the best park that will reward you with that feeling of the Maasai Mara wilderness and you won’t regret spending a holiday in this protected area.