Entry Gates at Akagera National Park Rwanda
Entry Gates at Akagera National Park Rwanda: When it comes to wildlife safaris in Rwanda, Akagera National Park ranks first. The national park is Rwanda’s largest and oldest national park, as well as one of Africa’s oldest. It has a radius of 1,122 square kilometers and was designated as a national park by the Belgian colonial authority in Rwanda in 1934.
Despite the fact that most of the national park was destroyed in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, much has been done to restore Akagera to its former beauty. The park is now maintained by the Akagera Management Company, which was founded following the signing of a joint venture agreement between the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks in 2009. The River Kagera, which flows through the park, inspired the name of Akagera National Park.
Entry Gates at Akagera National Park Rwanda.
The southern gate of Akagera National Park is used by tourists as an entry into the park and is located in the area of Kayonza, whereas the northern gate of the park is exclusively used as an exit out of Akagera. The park’s northern gate is located in the Nyagatare district.
Entry gates at Akagera national park in Rwanda are open for day visitors from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Day visitors are people who remain outside Akagera National Park and are forced to pay entrance fees for each day that they enter the park.
Rwanda’s Akagera National Park is the country’s greatest park to visit if you want to view savannah animals including zebras, giraffes, antelopes, topi, hyenas, and many bird species such the Papyrus Gonolek, jacanas, herons, sandpipers, malachite kingfisher, the hawk, and the uncommon shoebill stork.
It is also an ideal location for travelers wishing to see one of Africa’s Big Five wildlife creatures, including the African elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard, and lion. The park got five black eastern rhinoceros from European zoos in 2019, an accomplishment that has increased the number of black rhinos in the park since the 18 rhinos that were restored in the park from South Africa in 2017.
Over 482 bird species, 100 savannah elephants, more than 15 lions, and more than 25 giraffes may be found at the national park. The park features a total of around 8,000 land animals that may be observed wandering the savannah plains.
The park provides tourists with a variety of activities such as guided wildlife drives in the morning and evening, boat excursions on the magnificent Lake Ihema, sport fishing on Lake Shakani, camping, a behind-the-scenes tour, community cultural visits, bird watching, and a walk-the-line experience. All activities in the park are ideal for tourists traveling in a group or with their families.
Many improvements have been made in Akagera, including the establishment of an anti-poaching unit, the acquisition of a helicopter for aerial surveillance in the national park, the installation of a solar-powered electric fence to keep intruders and wildlife out of the park, and, finally, the hiring of more park rangers to enforce park rules and regulations and monitor all activities carried out in the park.
Accommodation in Akagera National Park.
Visitors who prefer to stay more nights in Akagera National Park can do so at Akagera Game Lodge, Magashi Safari Camp, Karenge Bush Camp, and Ruzizi Tented Camp, to name a few. For guests interested in camping, there are three designated campsites inside the camp: Shakani Akagera Campsite, Mutumba Campsite, and Muyumbu Campsite.
Best Time to visit Akagera National Park in Rwanda.
Visitors who wish to visit the park should do so between June and September, and between December and February. The dry months in the park are the greatest periods for tourists to see animals in the area. The roads in the park are not muddy at this time of year, so tourists can easily travel the park’s game drive paths. The grass in the national park is short during this time of year, making animal viewing considerably simpler. Furthermore, wildlife creatures in the park typically congregate near water pools in specific parts of the national park, making viewing wildlife much simpler for tourists.
How to access Entry Gates at Akagera National Park.
Road access to the entry gates at Akagera National Park is available from Kigali City. It is around 110 kilometers from Kigali and takes about two and a half hours to get there. Tourists are encouraged to hire 4×4 cars for their safari since the roads going to and within the national park are murrum, or dirt roads. Visitors can also hire a helicopter to bring them to the national park. Charter flights to the park are available through Akagera Aviation.
