Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is located in the north east of Rwanda along the bordering Tanzania. It is named after the Akagera River that flows along its eastern boundary and feeds into a labyrinth of lakes of which the largest is Lake Ihema. The forest fringed lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains and rolling highlands combine to make Akagera amongst the most scenic of reserves anywhere in Africa. It has exceptional levels of biodiversity and forms the largest protected wetland in central Africa
Although founded in 1934, much of the park was re-allocated as farms and in 1997 the park was reduced in size from more than 2,500 sq km (nearly 10% of the surface area of Rwanda) to its current extent of 1,122 sq km. Since 2010, a joint venture with African Parks has seen Akagera return to its former glories.
Akagera National Park combines well with Nyungwe and the Volcanoes NP to offer a great safari element as it is home to many large plains game species as well as species restricted to the papyrus swamps such as the Sitatunga and the sought-after Shoebill Stork. Notable plains game include elephant, buffalo, topi, zebra, waterbuck, roan antelope and eland. Other antelope are duiker, oribi, bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, bushbuck and impala. Of the primates, olive baboons, vervets and the secretive blue monkey are seen during the day, with bushbabies often seen on night drives
The Entrance Fees and Costs
In case you are planning to have a safari in Akagera, below is what you need to know about the park fees and prices. The park entrance fees are also charged per day per person and some of the prices include;
The adults 13 years and above:
Price per person;
Foreign international visitors – $40 per person
For Rwanda/ EA resident– $30 Per person’
Rwanda / E A nationals – $7 per person
Children of 6 to 12 years
Foreign international visitors $20 per person
Rwanda/ E A Residents- $15 per person
Rwanda / EA Nationals – $3.5 per person
Vehicle Entrance fees
Rwanda/ EA registered Motor vehicles/ Minbus – $ 10 per motor Vehicle
Rwanda/EA registered Minibus / Buses – $ 20 per vehicle
The foreign registered minibus/ Motor vehicles – $ 40 per motor vehicle
Foreign registered minibus / Buses- $ 100 per motor vehicle.
The costs and prices of the other activities
Night game drive – $40 per adult & $ 25 per child for 2 and half hours
Boat trip – $ 35 per person for one hour & $20 per child
Sun set boat cruise- $ 45 per adult & $ 30 per child
A private boat cruise which is none scheduled- $ 180
The behind the scenes tour- $25 per person & $ 15 per child for one and half hours.
Community experience -$30 per adult & $20 per child
Walk the line(7km) – $30 per adult & $ 20 per child
Game drive- $180 half a day operated by AMC & $ 280 for full day