Game Drive Safaris in Rwanda

Game Drive Safaris in Rwanda.

Game Drive Safaris in Rwanda ( Rwanda wildlife safari ) offer tourists a unique wildlife experience in the country. If you wish to embark on a game drive safari in Rwanda, you will have to drive to Akagera National Park. The park provides the only safe haven for all savannah wildlife animals in Rwanda. It is also the only national park in Rwanda where you will get to see Africa’s famous Big Five.

Akagera National Park is located in the northeastern part of Rwanda, in Kayonza and Nyagatare districts. The park is the biggest national park in Rwanda, spanning over 1,122 square kilometers. It is also one of the oldest national parks on the African continent, following its establishment in 1934.

Originally, the national park covered 2,500 square kilometers, but much of it was destroyed following the return of Rwandan refugees, who had fled the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. A large portion of the national park was lost to large scale deforestation, land encroachment, and most of the wildlife animals were hunted down by the masses as an alternative source of protein food.

However, following the creation of the Akagera Management Company in 2010, much of has successfully been restored to its former glory, and majority of the wildlife animals like lions, rhinos and elephants that had gone extinct in the national park have been reintroduced back to the park.

Game drive safaris in Rwanda will allow you to explore the vast savannah landscapes in Akagera national park, and also view the stunning wildlife in the park. According to surveys carried out in Akagera, the national park is believed to have a total population of about 8000 large wildlife animals.

While on a game drive safari in Akagera national park, you will be able to see a variety of wildlife species such as; antelopes, Sitatunga, African bush elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippos, impala, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, duikers and many more.

Akagera national park in Rwanda has about 100 African Bush Elephants, over 80 giraffes, more than 25 black eastern rhinos, over 1000 buffaloes and about 20 lions. This national park is home to over 12 different species of antelopes, and they are among some of the wildlife animals that are commonly sighted by tourists on a game drive safari in Akagera.

Game drive safaris in Rwanda are offered at a fee of 25 USD for a half day game drive in Akagera national park, and 40 USD for a full day game drive. Visitors on a game drive safari in the park are accompanied by an experienced park ranger/ guide. This makes the whole game drive experience worthwhile since you will be able to locate specific wildlife species that want to see much easily and faster with the help of the park ranger.

Game drive safaris in Rwanda can be conducted either in the morning or at night. Morning game drive safaris in Rwanda’s Akagera national park commence at 7am and 9am respectively. The morning game drive safaris in the park take between 1-2 hours at most.

The night game drive safaris in Rwanda will offer you a great opportunity to view nocturnal animals such as; lions, leopards, civets, and bush babies to mention but a few. While at it, you might also sight some nocturnal birds like owls. Night game drive safaris in Akagera national park start at 6pm every evening, and visitors must be accompanied by a park ranger.

Game drive safaris in Rwanda will also give you the opportunity to view the stunning birdlife in Akagera national park. The park is said to have over 500 species of birds, and among some of the commonly sighted birds in the park include; the Suaza shrike, marabou storks, the white egret, the African fish eagle, the open billed stork, herons, the African darter, the papyrus Ganalex, the black-headed weaver bird, and the grey-crowned crane among others. You also stand a high chance of spotting the rare Shoebill stork, an aquatic bird that is highly sought after by many bird lovers.

In Conclusion: Game drive safaris in Rwanda are one of the many activities that you can enjoy along with friends and family as there are no age restrictions tied to the activity. Travelers planning to go on a game drive safari in Rwanda should book their trips through a trusted local tour operator like Explore Rwanda Tours. Do checkout some of our tour package for the best offers!