Game Drives in Akagera National Park : If you are looking for a game drive in Rwanda, Akagera National Park is the place to go. A game drive is the best way to see wildlife in the park and it will give you the best chance of spotting the animals you want to photograph. You can opt for a day tour or an overnight safari depending on your personal preferences and budget. For the day tour, you will start your drive from the park entrance at around 8.30 AM and return in the evening after sunset.
The park is home to diverse wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. Game drives through the park are fun and exciting, as you will get a chance to see different animals up close. Various guides can help you learn more about wildlife in Rwanda. As the largest protected area in Rwanda, Akagera National Park has a variety of animal species, birds, reptiles and plants too.
The park has a total area of 1660 square kilometers with an altitude of between 1500 to 3000 meters. It is one of the largest parks in Africa and has an abundance of various animal species such as the white rhino, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, zebras, and giraffes among others. The forest of Akagera National Park is a beautiful sight that complements the hilly topography of the park. The park is also home to various plant species such as euphorbia and ebony trees which are a habitat for many bird species including the endangered Sharpe’s grysbok. The park offers a range of exciting activities such as elephant back safaris, canopy walks in the rainforest, and many more, Game Drives in Akagera National Park.
The rainy season is from March to May and the dry season is from June to October. Although there is less rainfall during the dry season, it becomes very hot, making it uncomfortable for animal viewing and walking in the jungles. Therefore, it is recommended to go during April or May when the weather is nice and warm but not too hot.
How do you get to the park?
The best way to get to the park is to take a charter flight from the Kigali International Airport to Butare Airport which is less than half an hour away from the park. Alternatively, you can also take a bus from Kigali which will take around 6 hours depending on traffic conditions.
- Basic game drive – Rwf15,000/US$20 per person per night
- Accommodation – camping accommodation (bring own tent and sleeping bags) or basic lodge rooms (not recommended for first-timers in Akagera) – Rwf30,000/US$40 per person per night
- Other services – boat cruises on the river Nile at sunset (for an extra cost) and Rwf5,000/US$7 per person
- . There are also several restaurants inside the park where visitors can eat meals. Prices for meals will vary depending on the type of restaurant you choose and the number of people you are dining with. For lunch and dinner, you can expect to pay between Rwf1,500 and Rwf3,000/US$2-4 per person. On average, a meal at the basic restaurant will cost between Rwf700/US$1 and Rwf900/US$1.50 per person. If you are planning to stay at one of the lodges in the park, you will be provided with a buffet-style breakfast each morning for an additional charge.
