Rwanda is best known for its primates, especially mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys. As such, most people who visit it limit their focus to the habitats of these apes. Very few seem to realize that there’s also a Big Five savannah park, Akagera National Park.
Located out in the far east of the country, it offers a wide variety of habitats in a small area dominated by open savannah. Tourists can have scenic drives along a string of forest-fringed lakes and summit tall mountains that form a lovely backdrop to the ever-changing vegetation. This includes lush papyrus wetlands fed by the Akagera River and acacia woodland.
The park suffered immense poaching and inter-human wildlife conflict that wiped out most of its wildlife in the 90s. This followed the 1994 Genocide that disrupted smooth governance. Its turning point was in 2010 following a handover of its management by the Government to the non-profit African Parks. In an effort to restore it to its lost glory, they reintroduced lots of animals including lions and black rhinos. Today, it is heart-warming to see how this park has made a comeback from total neglect. Its ecosystem is complete and well balanced with an increasing density of both predators and prey. Lots of zebra, Masai giraffe, and 11 antelope species are present. The most abundant is the gracious topi& impala, both of which love to hang around atop termite mounds. While the Defassa waterbuck is frequently seen around the shoreline of lakes, the bushbuck is widespread in the woodlands. On the other hand, oribi dwells more on the Mutumba Hills.
On most of our visits, we have managed to see all of the majors; elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and buffalos. You never know what you’ll see where as is always the case on safari. Sometimes they are so distant, at times they are so up-close.
The park’s scenic beauty can best be seen on a boat trip in the papyrus-fringed lakes that boast lots of hippos, crocodiles, and bird life.
Compared to the south, the northern part of the park is more rewarding for game viewing.