AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

Situated at lower altitudes on the Tanzanian border, Akagera is dominated scenically by a labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the meandering course of the Akagera River, one of the main sources of the River Nile.

Giraffe and zebra haunt the savannah alongside more than a dozen types of antelope, such as the diminutive oribi and the world's largest antelope, the eland. Pods of hippopotami splutter throughout the day while outsized crocodiles soak up the sun with their vast jaws agape.
Along the lake shores are some of the continent's densest concentrations of water birds, while the marshes are home to the endangered bird species like the exquisite papyrus gonolek and the bizarre shoe-bill, probably the most eagerly sought of all African birds.

Year of Gazettement: 1934
Size: 90,000 Hac.
Location from Kigali: Two and half hours drive east of Kigali

Habitats:

• Bush Savannah tangled with acacia and branchystagia woodlands with stands of Euphorbia candlehbrum, patches of rolling grasslands, riverine, lakes and swamps.
• To the west of the park are hills reaching to elevations of 1600m-1800m above sea level

• Features:

• Akagera River
• Lakes: Ihema, Kivumba, Hago, Mihindi, Rwanyakizinga
• Large concentration of mammals e.g. elephants, buffalos, lions, Maasai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel's zebra, topi, bushbaby, leopard and bushbuck
• Aquatic life e.g. crocodiles and hippos
• A large concentration of bird life over 425 species identified. Unique species such as Shoe billed stocks and papyrus gonolek can be encountered. Endemics include the jacanas, ibis, sand pipers and herons.
• Mitumba hills
• Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge, Campsites

Gates: Kabarando and Kiyonza