Boat cruise on Lake Ihema is a participating activity carried out in Akagera National Park in Rwanda and the lake is the biggest of all the 10 lakes found in the park. Akagera National Park is located in northeastern Rwanda covering over 1122 square kilometers of land. The park was originally bigger at the time it was established in 1934 with a size of 2500 km².
Due to the Rwanda genocide in 1994, the park became a battleground and many wildlife animals lost their lives. Some were hunted down by poachers, and others were displaced taking the biggest part of the park for the resettlement of the refugees. Currently, the park harbors over 8,000 wildlife species along with 500 bird species.
Akagera National Park holds numerous stunning beauty among which are the savannah grasslands, and seasonal lakes that re-sighted in the wet season, drying up in the dry season. The permanent lakes are the treasure of the park supporting all the flora and fauna throughout all seasons year in and out. These include Lake Ihema, the biggest of all the lakes attracting plenty of wildlife, Lake Hago, and Lake Shakani among others. While on Lake Ihema, you have a chance to view animals like lions, savannah elephants, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and many more.
Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
Lake Ihema is one of the 10 lakes of Akagera National Park, in the eastern province of Rwanda, positioning the Lake in the southern part of Akagera National Park. The lake is the biggest in Akagera National Park and the second biggest in Rwanda after Lake Kivu. Lake Ihema covers 90 km² at a depth of 5-7 meters, at 1292 meters above sea level. This is a perfect height for boat cruises in Akagera National Park.
Boat cruises on Lake Ihema are scheduled four times a day, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, as listed at 7:30 am, 9:00 am then 3:00 pm, and 4:30 pm. The 4:30 pm boat cruise provides the beauty of the sunset over the thousand hills of Rwanda and the astonishing flora. However, for visitors who are spending a short time on safaris, the park officials can as well organize them at their convenience time.
For the boat safari on Lake Ihema, visitors should stand expectant of wildlife such as crocodiles, savannah elephants, hippopotamuses, herds of antelopes, lions, highest concentrations of buffaloes among others. Birds including the rare shoe bill stork, hawks, Malachite kingfisher, herons, Sandpipers, and many more
Your private guide will drive you to the jetty, the park cruise guide will then join you and escort you on the boat, giving you instructions set by the park authority. Safety is the number one priority of Akagera National Park for the tourists and wildlife. As you jump onto the boat, a team of well-trained experts accompany you, with life jackets for safety. This is to ensure that water disturbances like the water hyacinth and weather changes cause no harm while on the boat safari.
What is the best season for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema?
Boat safaris on Lake Ihema are open any time of the year and depending on the tourist’s interests of travel view, every season offers the most bewildering and phenomenal boat cruise experience. The dry season runs from June to September, a time when the lake has less water with several animals feeding on the shores of the lake. Filling the camera with awesome memories.
Wet seasons span the months of October, November, December, January, February, March, April, and May, longer than the dry season. The boat safari during the wet season is the best for bird watching, sport fishing, and game viewing of the water-loving wild animals.
