Getting to Akagera National Park
Getting to Akagera National Park: Kigali International Airport is the main entry point into Rwanda. The airport serves a variety of foreign flights, including those operated by SN Brussels, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Burundi, and, of course, RwandAir Express. The airport is roughly 10 kilometers outside of Kigali and is where your journey to Kagera begins. Getting to Akagera National Park is an easy chore and a very interesting one as one passes through Rwanda and sees wonderful things along the way. The big five animals in Rwanda can only be found in Akagera National Park, which is not found in either Nyungwe National Park, which is famous for chimp trekking tours, or Volcanoes National Park, which is famous for Rwanda gorilla tours. When it comes to Akagera National Park, the experience is different because you will be treated to one of the top wildlife safaris in Africa.
See Giraffes an a safari to Akagera National Park
The Akagera National Park is located in the north-eastern area of Rwanda, about 110 kilometers from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, which is a two-and-a-half-hour journey. It’s a lovely park with lush greenery and plenty of wildlife and birds to see. The most popular and often used mode of transportation to the park is by car. The road is generally in good condition. There may be a few bumps along the route, but that should not deter you from making the journey. The last 28 kilometers of the 110-kilometer journey from Kigali are primarily dirt roads, as are all of the routes within the park. Safari vehicles with four wheels are suggested, especially if traveling during the wet season.
Akagera National Park is known for its diverse biodiversity, which includes species such as plants, grasslands, shrub thickets, bird species, and butterfly species, as well as landscapes such as the numerous water bodies that can be seen in the park, such as swamps, lakes, rivers, and so on, which make the park one of the best attractions that can be seen on the Rwanda tour packages. Among the many attractions and activities in Akagera National Park that make it a must-see, include the following to make your visit memorable.
Directions to Akagera National Park From Kigali
After arriving in Kigali by flight or bus, you can begin your Akagera safari from the city center. Drive out of town towards the airport from Kigali. Take a left around 100 meters before you reach the airport. After that, you’ll be traveling east towards Rwamagana. Travel through Rwamagana to Kayonza. When you arrive in Kayonza, take the first right at the roundabout and continue until you reach a Discentre station on the left side of the road as you enter Kabarondo. Following the petrol station, there is a dusty road. Take a left onto the road and drive for about 15 kilometers until you reach a junction in Rwinkwavu. On the left, there will be a sign that says Akagera National Park. After the marker, the park gates are about 13 kilometers ahead. Your safari operator of choice can arrange for 44 cars. Most tour companies will supply a driver and a guide, but if you are feeling daring, you can drive yourself and rely on maps and directions to get you there. Everything will be interesting and fun. Several safari businesses with stores and ties with big hotels in Kigali operate in Rwanda.
Tourists arriving from outside the country can enter the country via landing at Kigali International Airport, where they will be met by a representative of the tour company with which they booked their trip, or they can lease a car at one of the airport’s various car rental shops. From Kigali International Airport, you can begin your journey to the Akagera National Park, passing through towns such as Rwamagana, Kayonza, Kabarondo, and Rwinkwanvu before reaching the park. The distance between Kigali International Airport and Akagera National Park is roughly 98 kilometers, and the journey will take approximately two and a half hours. Tourists from nearby countries, such as Uganda, can utilize the border to enter the country, whereas tourists from Tanzania can enter the country via the Rusumo border.
Safari activities to do in Akagera National Park
Game viewing in Akagera National Park
On game drives, you will see several game drives that will offer the best experience, such as watching a school of hippos trying to dive deep into the waters of different lakes, such as Lake Ihema, and crocodiles can be seen on the banks of the river Akagera, sunbathing or waiting for their prey, which is usually the Uganda kob, antelopes that come to take a sip in the waters of the river, and zebras, which makes the safari experience so much more interesting and wonderful.
Boat safaris in the park are one of the calm yet exciting activities you can do while in the park to ensure you have a nice time filled with thrilling experiences. You can choose to participate in the sundowners boat tour, which usually includes those who want to witness how the animals interact in the evening and others who want to see the sunset while enjoying the boat excursions. You can also hire the boat for a specified period for you and your group of friends or loved ones for a fee that is listed in the Akagera National Park fees and permits.
Birding is another pleasant activity that can be done in the area because tourists will have the opportunity to witness over 350 bird species, some of which are endemic to the park. The endangered shoebill stork, which is commonly spotted while on boat tours throughout the park, can be found in the park’s marshes.
Sport fishing activities can also be done in the park to ensure that you have the best safari experience possible, which will involve the practice of catch and release, but what’s interesting about the park is that you will be allowed to keep a fish as a reward for participating in one of the challenging activities. However, because sport fishing in Akagera is only done by people who have a fishing license, it’s easy for every participant to catch at least one fish.
To participate in the above activities, tourists should visit Akagera National Park, which is quite easy to reach due to the various modes of transportation available and the improved road transport systems with well-constructed roads that will allow you to arrive in the shortest time possible while enjoying great views of the countryside. Contact us at Africa Adventure Vacations for guidance to Akagera National Park in Rwanda.
