Game safaris in Rwanda are mainly done in Akagera National Park, situated in the northeastern part of the country. Akagera National Park is the only savannah park in Rwanda, spanning about 112,000 hectares. Akagera comprises vast plains, lovely lakes, hilly terrain, acacia woodland and the Akagera river wetland system among others. The ecosystem is renowned for housing the iconic big five mammals of lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos.
Other mammal species comprise the zebras, giraffes, warthogs, waterbucks and many other antelopes. These provide magnificent views for visitors on game drives. Visitors can also view the Lake Ihema and numerous bird species including the famous shoebill stork.
How Game Drives are done in Akagera National Park?
For a visitor to have an immersive game safari in Rwanda, they are offered an opportunity to enjoy a guided game drive in an open-top safari vehicle. You will be driven on specific tracks to view different wildlife species. You can utilize a pair of binoculars to view the animals and bird species that are quite far away from you.
Game drives are done either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. During these times, numerous wildlife species are more active thus offering perfect game viewing experiences. An experienced tour guide will offer insight into the behaviors of the different wildlife species and you are allowed to ask as many questions as you like. You can take countless photos while in the vehicle for your memories.
When to Visit Rwanda for Game Safaris
You can visit Rwanda to enjoy the game drives in Akagera National Park throughout the year. Regardless, your choice will ultimately depend on your preferences for budget, ambience, or weather. The dry seasons are perfect for travellers preferring drier access roads and tracks that make game drives less challenging. Dry seasons normally occur from December to February and from June to September. The dry seasons are also suitable as they offering the best opportunities to clearly observe wildlife species since they are more concentrated around limited water sources. The vegetation is also less dense and the clouds are clearer to enhance visibility in the park.
However, the wet season is also a great time to visit the park for game safaris because it offers visitors luxurious and green landscapes, and a chance to spot wildlife with their offsprings. This season occurs from the month of March to May and the second wet season from the month of September to November. The park experiences heavy rains and the chances of rainfall are much higher compared to the dry season. The access roads and tracks are muddy and slippery, to offer more challenging navigation opportunities for the adventurous travellers. The birdwatchers will enjoy the wet season in the park as the heavy rains attract numerous bird species, offering excellent views.
Other Tourist Activities in Akagera National Park
- Boat cruise in Lake Ihema is another highlight if you are on a game safari in Rwanda. This is done on the second largest lake in Rwanda.
- Birdwatching is a crucial tour activity for avid birders who are interested in the 350 bird species in Akagera National Park. These include, blue-headed coucals, Denham’s bustards, African fish eagles, cormorants and the black-headed gonolek among others.
- Nature walks where visitors are offered an opportunity to observe various wildlife, landscapes, medicinal plants on foot.
- Cultural encounters at Akagera National Park offers visitors a golden opportunity to interact with the beautiful and welcoming Banyarwanda. They can also experience their unique dances, folktales, languages, food and cultures of these people.
What to Pack for Game Safaris in Rwanda
- Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
- Long-sleeved shirt and trousers
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Raincoat
- Backpack
- Basic first aid box
- Refillable water bottle
- Lunch box
- Insect repellent
- Yellow fever vaccination card
Reaching Akagera National Park for Game Safaris
Akagera National Park is about 68 miles by road from Kigali city center. This is a 2 to 3 hours scenic drive. This can be done using either a private hired vehicle or public means via towns like Rwamagana, Kayonza, Kabarondo and Rwinkwanvu. Akagera National Park can also be accessed by air transportation.
This is a 15-minute flight from Kigali International Airport. You can book a flight or safari vehicle through a reputable tour company. This offers the added benefit of creating a customized itinerary with you, which includes accommodation, meals, and other details.
How Safe is Rwanda for Tourists on Game Safaris?
Though Akagera National Park is in the wilderness, Rwanda is generally safe for tourists on game safaris there. The park rangers are well-trained to ensure the safety of both tourists and wildlife. The park rangers do continuous patrols to ensure that all security concerns are kept in check. The country mandates various security agencies to cooperate with the park authorities to keep law and order inside and outside the national park. Also, briefing sessions are done before game drives to ensure that visitors do not wander off into insecure areas of the park.