What is the best time for game viewing in Akagera national park
What is the best time for game viewing in Akagera national park Rwanda? Akagera national park is found in Ruyonza district in the northeastern part of the country and there are so many activities in the park with different best months to visit and do such activities.
Dry season
Yes, dry is the best time for game viewing in Akagera national park. Most of the activities in Akagera national park are best done in the dry season which occurs in June to September and December to February when there is little or no rainfall in the park. The little and sometimes no rainfall in the park leaves the game trucks dry and less muddy, the vegetation is always short giving unclear views of the park animals and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Rainy season
There are activities and situations in Akagera national park that do require tourists to visit the park in the rainy season. The rainy season in Akagera national park happens from March to May and October to November and is characterized by too much rainfall that makes the game trucks muddy and slippery, the roads leading to the park impassable and the vegetation in the park is always tall giving unclear views of the park animals.
The most done activity in Akagera national park is the game drive and this is best done in the dry season of June to September and December to February when the game trucks are dry and less muddy due to less or no rainfall during that time. During the dry season, the vegetation is short giving clear views of animals, and the roads leading to the parka are passable. Other activities such as boat cruises, nature walks, and walk the fence line tour are best done in the dry season.
Tourists can still do the above activities in Akagera national park in the rainy season which occurs from March to May and October to November to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities. The challenge with visiting the park in the rainy seasons is that there is plenty of rainfall, the game trucks because muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall giving unclear views of the park animals and the roads leading to the park are impassable.
Activities that can be done in Akagera national park
Game drives: Game drives in Akagera national park do take place at different times of the day for example early morning sessions, evening sessions, and night game drives. The morning and evening game drives give the same experience as safari guides take you through the best game trucks with opportunities of meeting animals such as lions, topis, buffaloes, impalas, duikers, sitatungas, reedbucks, waterbucks, elephants, bushbucks, hyenas, cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, leopards, topis, and sitatungas to mention but a few.
The night game drive differs from the rest as this takes place in the night hours with a help of a spotlight and a ranger guide is a must to lead you throughout this activity. the night game drives do give tourists opportunities of meeting the nocturnal animals such as the lions, serval cats, leopards, bush babies, spotted hyenas, and much more. Visit Akagera national park in the dry season to enjoy any of the game drives conducted in the park.
Birding: Bird watching in Akagera national park is an activity that involves birders going to different birding spots within Akagera national park to look for different bird species. The birds of Akakgera national park include black-headed weaver, Denham’s bustard, eleonora’s falcon, cardinal woodpecker, dimorphic egret, stripped pipit, long-tailed cormorant, ring-necked francolin, black-headed weaver, short-tailed pipit, crested barbet, grasshopper buzzard, and shoebill stork.
Birding activities in Akagera national park are best done in the rainy season starting from October when there are migratory birds coming to the park and the food in the park is plenty for the birds. Birders will spot most of the permanent birds and the migratory ones.
Boat cruises: The boat cruises in Akagera national park can be done at any time of the year on Lake Ihema which is located in the southern sector of the park. The boat cruises are best enjoyed in the dry seasons when there is no rainfall to stop you from doing the activity due to high levels of water and speeding wind.
The boat cruises on Lake Ihema are done during morning or evening hours and do take you around the lake highlands as you spot different hippos and crocodiles as well as some of the park animals at the lake shores trying to drink water or bathe. The boat cruise also gives you an opportunity to spot some of the water birds such as papyrus gonolek, shoebill stork, grey craned crane, and open billed stork among others.
Sportfishing: Done on Lake Shakani, sport fishing is that activity that allows tourists to get on the boats and catch different types of fish such as catfish and tilapia and later release them back to the waters. Tourists that take part in sport fishing are later given fish to take back to the hotels as a token of participation. Sportfishing is best done in the dry season when there is no rainfall and the water levels are not too much.
Guided nature walks: Guided nature walks are other activities done in Akagera national park to enable the tourists to explore the park and have a closer look at the attractions on foot. The guided nature walks are done from different areas of the park and they do give tourists opportunities of spotting different park animals such as giraffes, buffaloes, lions, elephants, antelopes, rhinos, birds, lakes, and different vegetation covers. Nature walks can be done at any time of the year.
Community visits: Community visits can be done at any time of the year in Akagera national park and they give tourists opportunities of meeting different local people and interacting with them about how they live their day to day life, watch them do farming, prepare foods, visit some of their arts and craft shops and in the end get entertained by the traditional local dancers.
Getting to Akagera national park
Tourists will have to fly into Kigali international airport where they will meet the driver guide waiting for them. Later after briefing about the whole journey, you will use road transport means to Akagera national park via Rwamanga town to the park. The journey is about 110km and takes 2 hours to reach the park with beautiful views of the surroundings along the journey.
Accommodation options while at Akagera national park
After understanding the best time for game viewing in Akagera national park, you need to know where to stay during your safari. There are a number of accommodation facilities in and around Akagera national park where tourists can have their stay while on a safari in this park. The accommodation facilities are of budget, midrange, and luxury options so where to stay depends on your budget. The accommodation options in Akagera national park are Akarenge Game Lodge, Akagera Resort and Country Club, Magashi Tented Camp, Ruzizi Tented Camp, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Karenge Bush Camp, Magashi Safari Camp, Vintage Cottages, Akarenge Game Lodge, Nyagasambu Real Beach, and Hotel Akagera Rhino Lodge among others.
