2 Day Akagera & Ihema Tour

This 2 Day Akagera & Ihema Tour takes us to Akagera National Park for a game drive and to Ihema Lake for a canoe ride to see the water animals and birds. Akagera National Park once protected nearly 10% of Rwanda and was considered to be one of the finest wildlife reserves in the whole of Africa.  There are three distinct environments in the park: standard savannah as seen in much of the region; an immense swampy area along the border with Tanzania that contains six lakes and numerous islands, some of which are covered with forest; and a chain of low mountains on the flanks of the park with variable vegetation, ranging from short grasses on the summits to wooded savannah and dense thickets of forest.

Of the primates, olive baboons and vervet monkeys are very common. The blue monkey, which was thought to have been extinct in Akagera, was recently rediscovered. Needless to say, it’s not easy to find.

Even if you don’t come across too many animals, you probably won’t come across too many other 2 Day Akagera & Ihema Tour drivers either. Indeed, the tourist trail has yet to fully incorporate Akagera, which means you can soak up the park’s splendid nature in relative peace and isolation.

Short boat trips are available on Akagera’s lakes which will give you the opportunity to get close to the plentiful waterbirds including numerous African fish eagles, marabou stork, crowned cranes, and open-billed stork, cormorants, herons, and egrets. If you are lucky you may even get to see the elusive shoebill stork.

2 Day Akagera & Ihema Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our 2 Day Akagera & Ihema Tour guide who will transfer you to Akagera National Park in the eastern part of Rwanda. The drive is approximately 2½ hours. On arrival, you will go for a nature walk after which you will have lunch at Akagera Game Lodge. In the afternoon you will go for a canoe ride on Lake Ihema to see aquatic animals such as Hippos, Crocodiles as well as water birds like the papyrus Gonolek, shoebill stork, and African fish eagle. You will be returned to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Meal plan Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Morning Game Drive – transfer to Kigali

After breakfast, you will go for the early morning game drive to see wildlife such as elephants, impala, black-tailed mongoose, hippos, oribi, bushbuck, antelope, zebra, cape eland, giraffe, buffalo, and also primates like the olive baboon, vervet monkey, bush baby, etc. You will return to Kigali for lunch and later transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Meal plan Breakfast, Lunch

When to Go

The best time to visit is during the dry season (mid-May to September). November and April are the wettest months.

Getting to Akagera National Park

Akagera is really only accessible for those with their own transport. Safari and tour companies in Kigali can arrange a vehicle, or you can negotiate with private taxis around Kigali, although taxis are far from ideal for a 2 Day Akagera & Ihema Tour.

Getting around Akagera National Park

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