Safari in Akagera Combined With Gorilla Trekking

A safari in Akagera combined with gorilla trekking allows you to explore both the savanna dwellers and mountain gorillas. Akagera National Park is a perfect destination to combine with Volcanoes National Park. The beauty of combing a safari in Akagera National Park with gorilla trekking in Rwanda is that you get a chance to explore the Big 5 game and mountain gorillas plus other species that thrive in the rainforest/bamboo forest.

A safari in Akagera National Park

A safari in Akagera National Park offers a remarkable opportunity for you engage in the exciting savanna game viewing excursions. Akagera provides unmatched wildlife experience and is the only savanna protected that guarantees epic encounters of the big five game plus multiple antelopes and small mammal species.

What awaits you on Akagera National Park Safari?

Game drives

Akagera National Park safaris offer unforgettable wildlife encounters in the savanna grassland. Akagera game tracks are perfectly explored using a 4×4 safari vehicle. While on a game drive, expect to come across diversity of wildlife including African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, giraffes, black rhinos, leopards, zebras, and hyenas. Other wildlife to explore on a safari in Akagera include topis, impalas, bushbucks, warthogs, and primates like bush babies, vervet monkeys, and olive baboons.

Visitors can embark on a day safari or night safari in Akagera. During the day game viewing excursions, expect to encounter lots of early morning risers as they become active for the day. The night safari drives take you on a search for nocturnal species including hyenas and nocturnal species of birds like the nightjars.

Birding

Akagera offers enriching birding excursions to guests on Rwanda tour. The 1122 sq. km Akagera savanna park provides refuge to a total of about 500 species of birds. The birds present in Akagera and worth exploring include elusive shoebill stork, African fish eagle, white-faced whistling-duck, Egyptian goose, Knob-billed ducks, red-billed ducks, spur-winged goose, coqui francolins, squacco heron, booted eagle, African jacanas, African darters, pallid harriers, and more.

Sport fishing

Enjoy a memorable sport fishing excursion on Lake Shakani. Engaging in the sport fishing excursion is ideal for visitors with valid permits. The kind of fishing excursion carried out here is catch and release.

Boat cruise

If you enjoy boat cruise excursions on the freshwater lakes then Akagera National Park has you sorted. Launch cruise excursions in Akagera are done on Lake Ihema. Lake Ihema boat cruise presents a great sights of aquatic species including hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.

Nature walks

Guided nature walks also present you a chance to explore Akagera National Park in a different way. Nature walks bring you close to natural wilderness as you interact with amazing creatures including wildlife, birds, and more. With guided nature walks, expect to explore spots hardly reached by a 4×4 safari vehicle.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is the only park where gorillas can be spotted. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park allows you to explore mountain gorillas, learn more about their behaviors, and taking photos. Volcanoes National Park is nestled in the Northwestern end of Rwanda and is only accessible within 2-3 hours’ drive from the heart of Kigali.

Volcanoes National Park features among the oldest parks on the African continent. Gazetted in 1925, Volcanoes National Park occupies a compact area in the Ruhengeri region about 160 sq. km. A visit to Volcanoes National Park to track gorillas offers you a lifetime opportunity to interact with a gorilla family of your choice while in their natural habitat.

Gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park include Susa A, Ugenda, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo gorilla family, Bwenge, Umubano family, Kwitonda gorilla family, Amahoro group, Hirwa, Muhoza family, and others.

A maximum of 8 (eight) guests can track one gorilla group each day and visitors can be led by an experienced guide. The location of gorilla families may vary depending on where they have gone to feed in the course of the day.

Gorilla trekking adventures in Volcanoes National Park start at Kinigi. The landscape of Volcanoes National Park is characterized by the spectacular Virunga volcanoes including Sabyinyo, Gahinga Volcanoes, Karisimbi, Muhabura, and Bisoke.

The available travel itineraries that combine safaris in Akagera and gorilla trekking

Visitors interested in Akagera National Park wildlife safari and gorilla trekking combo can choose from the various itineraries that offer combined tours. The numerous travel plans which offer unforgettable experience of both Akagera National Park and gorilla adventure include;

What else to do in Rwanda

Golden monkey tracking

Golden monkey tracking is a perfect addition onto the primate adventures in Rwanda. A guided trek with golden monkeys involves exploring already habituated troops of these primates in their natural environment. Golden monkey treks in Rwanda are done in Volcanoes National Park where gorillas are trekked. Visitors can combine golden monkey treks and numerous activities in Rwanda including gorilla trekking, Virunga volcano hiking, and bird watching.

Dian Fossey tomb trek

Embark on trekking journey through the jungle while you step foot into the Dian Fossey’s path. Explore the unique history of the Dian Fossey –a prominent conservationist who spent 18 years when researching on gorillas. Her presence in the Virunga Region back then played a significant role in disseminating their plight into the world. Today, there is a great success story to be told about conservationists about the thriving mountain gorilla population.

Virunga Volcano hiking

Adventure seekers can also have an addition to the list of exhilarating experiences offered in Volcanoes National Park. The Virunga Volcanoes to hike include Bisoke, Muhabura, Karisimbi, and Gahinga.

Rwanda safaris to explore Nyungwe

With an extensive trip, visitors can also incorporate Nyungwe National Park adventures. Lying in the Southern Province, Nyungwe is home to over 310 species of birds, 75 mammal species, and many floral species. A safari in Nyungwe National Park takes you through unique experiences including chimpanzee tracking, forest walks, canopy walk, and more.

When to go for a safari in Akagera combined with gorilla trekking

Majority of the safari activities in Akagera and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park are best done during the peak dry season. The dry season begins from June to September then December to February. The dry season offers favorable weather conditions characterized by low or no rainfall. Due to little or no rains, the trails and game tracks become drier and offer easier navigation through the park in search of your favorite attractions.

What to pack for a safari in Akagera and gorilla trekking

Packing list for gorilla trekking and Akagera safari include long-sleeved shirts, trousers, a safari hat, first aid kit, toiletries, long pants, a camera, gardening gloves, a rain jacket, insect repellents, sunscreen, and more.

Where does a safari in Akagera and gorilla trekking start?

A safari in Akagera National Park and trekking begin from the heart of Kigali. From Kigali, you can be safely travel up to Akagera National Park or Volcanoes National Park for you to engage in the numerous experiences. Driving to Volcanoes National Park can take between 2 and 3 hours then to Akagera, expect to spend only 2.5 hours’ drive.