Uganda, The Pearl of Africa

Game drives stand out to be of the most activities that attract tourists to visit Akagera national park. Typical game drives are enjoyed in a safari vehicle cruise through the park starting early in the morning as you search of the leopards, hyenas, and the recently re-introduced lions as they begin the hunt for there prey before the sun increases. Along with the game drive, enjoy the scenery of this beautiful park and several other big mammals like Elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, Zebra, and Giraffes. The landscape and beautiful wild flowers will make for good pictures for the interested photographer.

It is also possible in Akagera to self-drive your own vehicle around the park. Guides are available to accompany you on your drive. The guides can direct you to areas where wildlife is most abundant and guide you to stunning scenic spots that you may otherwise miss.

Akagera national park is undoubtedly an important and remarkable point for birding with nearly 500 bird species. The bird species to look out for include the remarkable shoebill, Papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Openbill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed and Water Thick-knee.

Birding safaris are popular amongst regular visitors and the immense variety and abundance of species will not fail to impress. Serious birders can seek out several endemic species as well as rare gems such as the near threatened papyrus gonolek (Laniarius mufumbira), which is restricted to papyrus swamps, the localized red-faced barbet (Lybius bidentatus) and the sought after swamp flycatcher (Muscicapa boehmi).

Experience the rural Rwandan life around the cattle keeping communities near Akagera national park. You have the opportunity to observe and or participate in traditional cattle grazing, milking, traditional milk storage in calabashes for preservation. You then go through the process of converting milk into different products like traditional yogurt, ghee and lastly take part in preparing a meal with some of the ingredients from the milk products.

These activities also provide opportunities for engaging with people about their daily lives and excited about sharing their stories. Meanwhile, the income from these activities and is shared with the participating community members and it gives additional revenue, directly through tourism to the families living along the boundary of the park, showing the benefits of tourism and thus creating long term support for the conservation of Akagera National Park.

The park offers an opportunity of sport fishing on Lake Shakani. You are required to make a booking with the park for sport fishing on this lake. Even though the expectation is catch and release, you are given an opportunity to take one catch for a meal if interested. Lake Shakani is the site of sports fishing in the park; spend a relaxing day fishing off the lakeshore and then cook your catch over an open fire at the campsite.

In case you have your own gear, you can only pay $20 for a permit to fish for the whole day from the shores of Lake Shakani. The hippos also stay in the water during the day as well as the banks of the shores are also gently sloped you can see any crocodile that is approaching before they consume you. This means that there is nothing to worry about as you are fishing.