Overview & Attractions
Akagera National Park covers about 1,120km2 and is one of Africa's oldest national parks, first gazetted in 1934.The north of Akagera is mostly fairly low-lying grasslands and savannah plains, similar in feel to the 'traditional' safari areas of East Africa. To the west are rolling hills and valleys more typical of Rwandan countryside while to the east, the Akagera River feeds into a series of lakes, marshes and papyrus swamps that constitute central and eastern Africa's largest protected wetlands. So, for a fairly small National Park, an Akagera safari can be extremely diverse with a variety of habitats, wildlife and birds, and some lovely scenery. Akagera National Park has had a troubled past, with refugees from Rwanda's civil wars returning to live in the area in the late 1990s, harming the environment through cattle-grazing and poaching. Consequently, the government reduced Akagera by half, allowing the new residents to stay in one part and protecting the rest.Today, Akagera National Park is managed in conjunction with the conservation organisation African Parks, which is bringing it back to life.
Accomodation
- Akagera Game Lodge is located in Eastern Province; about 2 hours drive from Kigali.
- Akagera Game Lodge is within the boundaries of Akagera National Park its south entrance.
- Akagera Game Lodge has an attractive setting on a ridge overlooking Lake Ihema.
Comments are closed.