Akagera National Park is a beautiful spot in the east part of Rwanda, covering about 1,200 square kilometers. It started in 1934 and is one of Africa’s oldest national parks. The park has a mix of grassy areas, forests, wetlands, and lakes.

Place and Look

The park is named after the Akagera River on its east side, making a border with Tanzania. It has hills, big open fields, swamps, and many lakes. Lake Ihema is the second-largest lake in Rwanda and is part of the park.

Akagera is known for its many different plants and animals. It has over 80 kinds of mammals, like elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and giraffes. You can also see antelopes, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles. The park is a paradise for bird lovers with more than 500 bird types, including special ones like the shoebill stork, African fish eagle, papyrus gonolek, and waterfowl.

People have worked hard to make Akagera National Park better. The Rwanda Development Board and African Parks, a group that helps protect nature, have fixed habitats, stopped poaching, brought back important animals, and connected with the local community to make sure the park stays healthy.

 

What You Can Do

If you visit the park, there are many fun things to do. You can go on a drive to see animals, take a walk with a guide, go on a boat in Lake Ihema, or watch birds. There are different places to stay, from fancy lodges to camping spots, so you can be close to nature.

If you’re in Kigali, Rwanda’s main city, it’s only a 2-3 hour drive to Akagera National Park. You can enjoy a nice drive through Rwanda’s countryside to get to the park and see its amazing views and animals.

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