Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s biggest and only savannah protected area, making it the only park where night game drives can be done in the country. It is located in the eastern region of the country bordering Tanzania. Spanning over 1,122 square kilometers lush vast savannah plains and wilderness, Akagera National Park stands as one of the oldest destinations in Africa having been established in 1934.
Akagera National Park gets its name from River Kagera that flows through the park to Lake Ihema and is a lifeline to many animals here.
About night game drives in Akagera National Park.
Night game drives in Akagera National Park involve encountering wildlife in the comfort and safety of your safari vehicle in the night while using a spot light to view the nocturnal species in the park. Akagera National Park night game drives offer visitors an incredible encounter with nocturnal wildlife species in the park. For visitors who want an action-packed wildlife encounter, Akagera National Park offers the best night game drive adventures.
Various wildlife species like apex predators, lions, and leopards, use the cover of darkest as their favorite hunting time. This is because they have excellent night vision enabling them to spot prey before it can even flee. Visitors can enjoy the calls of nature from animals like the lions as roar to announce their rule to rivals. The cool temperatures in the night ensure that you enjoy your game drive, unlike extreme heat temperatures that interrupt the experience. Night game drives also present visitors with a great chance to spot more wildlife species as most animals come to the open from the day’s hiding from the heat.
When do night game drives begin?
Night game drives begin at 7:00pm every day for visitors staying inside Akagera National Park. These night game drives always begin at the cover of the darkest as it is the best time to unveil the hidden nocturnal life of Akagera National Park. These night game drives in Akagera National Park take place in the southern region of the park. The night game drive lasts between 2-3 hours.
How much do night game drives in Akagera National Park cost?
The night game drive in Akagera National Park costs USD 40 per person. The exciting night game drives in Akagera National Park come at a slightly high cost which every visitor must pay before engaging in this adventure. The money collected from the costs of these night game drives in the park goes to conservation efforts and also developing the neighboring communities.
What is the best time to have a night game drive?
The best time to enjoy an incredible night game drive in the park is during the dry season. This season is characterized by little or no rainfall and extremely dry weather conditions. The country’s proximity to the equator earns it an equatorial type of climate which is characterized by two wet and dry seasons annually.
The dry season runs from June to September and December to February. During this time, the trails for night game drives in the park are dry which eases navigability and also the vegetation is sparse aiding the visibility of most of the wildlife. This is contrary to what it may be during the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery hindering proper navigation from the heavy rains received and also the dense vegetation that hides the wildlife and hinders visibility.
What else to do in Akagera National Park?
Akagera National Park is not only about night game drives but also other incredibly exciting activities that can fit any visitor’s bucket list. The other activities to do in Akagera National Park include the following.
Boat cruise
Boat cruise adventure experiences are also available in Akagera National Park. This boat cruise experience takes place on Lake Ihema located in the southern region of the park. This is the largest lake in the park. It offers a chance for visitors to explore and encounter the aquatic life of Akagera National Park. While on this boat cruise, visitors can encounter various wildlife species like hippos, crocodiles, and other species like elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes that come to quench their thirst on the waters of Lake Ihema on the shores.
Birding
Akagera National Park is a birder’s paradise as it hosts approximately 500 bird species in its vast various ecological systems. Experienced birding guides pave the way for the visitors to enjoy the best birding adventures in the park by helping the visitors to sight these birds and educate them on the various bird species in the park. Several designated birding trails in the park take visitors to the bird habitats thereby increasing the chances of spotting more bird species.
Guided nature walks
Professional armed rangers guide visitors on an interesting guided nature walk in Akagera National Park. This activity is another exciting and highly anticipated adventure in the park as it gives visitors a chance to have an up-close encounter with some of Africa’s incredible species.
The armed ranger helps visitors keep them safe and secure as they trail the park and encounter various wildlife species. These guided nature walks take place along designated trails inside the park. Some of the several wildlife species to look out for while on a guided nature walk include elephants, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs, waterbucks, giraffes, antelopes, and elands to mention but a few.
