Fishing In Akagera National Park
Fishing in Akagera national park is one of the most enlightening traveler’s activities that visitors can participate in while on a Rwanda wildlife safari in Akagera national park. The park is located It is home to some of the rare wild animals in Africa and a perfect place to go on a game drive. Situated in the Eastern part of Rwanda, Akagera national park sits on an area of 2500 sq km and it is found on the boarder of Rwanda and Tanzania and the park was gazetted as a national park in 1934 and was named after the Kagera river which flows water along its eastern border with Tanzania . Akagera national park is the only savannah national park making it the only place for wildlife viewing experience in Rwanda.
The park is a home of different unique wildlife species for example the big five exciting animals including the Elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos, leopards and other mammal species like , zebras, giraffes, warthogs, impalas , bushbucks others lions, hyenas, and several antelopes like the bushbucks, roan antelope, Topes, klipspringer, Oribis, Cape eland, water-buck, duikers and impalas. There are a number of primates species found within this park such as the olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, and the nocturnal bush babies. The shallow waters of Lake Ihema are home to a large number of crocodiles and hippos which can best be viewed during boat rides.
Fishing in Akagera national park is done on the shores of Lake Shakani located on the northeastern side of Akagera national park. Lake Shakani is home to several different fish species among which include catfish and tilapia. Fishing on Lake Shakani in Akagera national park is a unique water sport experience that involves catching and realizing the fish back to the waters of the lake but after the sport you are allowed to take one and experience the taste of it. Visitors interested carrying out fishing in the lake have an opportunity to catch fish species such as tilapia and cat fish among others.
Akagera national park also offers fishing game competition to tourists who are interested to take part in fishing activities in the park, tourist interested to take part in this tournament needs to prepare and book in advance at least 6 month earlier.
There are also other places you can go to do fishing in Akagera national park such as on lake kivu which happens to be the biggest fresh water lake in the country.
Besides sport fishing in Akagera national park, there also other activities that a traveler on wildlife safari in Akagera national park can participate to add on adventure experiences in the park such as fascinating guided game drives which will give you a chance to look at a variety of animals including the Big 5 African animals for example lion, elephant, buffaloes, rhinos and leopards. The park is also a home of giraffes, zebras, impalas, topis, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, cape elands, Kobs, and much more or night game drives in Akagera national park give you a chance to see nocturnal animals such as hyenas, leopards, bush babies, civets, and several cats.
On a game drive during the day, you get to be driven following the tracks, through the green savannah plains, past wide-leaved woodlands and into the habitat of beautiful mammal species in the Akagera National Park. Some other animals to be spotted out while on a day game drive such as The Defassa Waterbuck, Topes, Bohor Reedbucks, Oribis, Semi-Aquatic Sitatunga, Eland, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Elephants, Lions among others . Akagera National Park also offers night game drive where visitors will be able to explore the park with the armed guide park ranger to spot the nocturnal animals especially the wide-eyed bush babies, serval cats, civets, leopards. You will be guided by your flashlight and an experienced ranger and its only takes 2to 3 hour.
Nature Walks; Akagera national park management offers nature walks in some areas of the park with a ranger guide. During the nature walks which take 2 to 3 hours you will follow different hiking trials where you will be able to more time and engagement concerning butterflies, insects and plants that you could easily miss while on a safari. You will also enjoy the cool breeze, view of the beautiful hills, and listen to nice sounds of bird species among others
Boat rides; Boat rides in Akagera national park is an interesting activity that is done on Ihema which is the famous and biggest lake situated in the south part of the park. Boat ride in Akagera is done in different schedules, the day trip that is the morning and the evening schedule. During the boat ride you will be able to see large school of hippos and crocodiles in the waters, see other animals like buffaloes, waterbucks, elephant, and warthog’s drinking water at the shores, among others
There are others activities than you can also take part while in the park such as cultural tours, helicopter tour, walking the Nile, behind the scenes and many more.
Cost of sport fishing permit in Akagera national park
While fishing, visitors can enjoy a cold drink while listening to folk songs and folk tales or stories that are told by the local fishermen. This is also a great opportunity for visitors to interact with the local people of Rwanda and learn more about the Rwandan cultures. Visitors interested in sport fishing in Akagera national park can acquire a sport fishing permit at a fee of USD 25 dollars and the fees are charged on per person, per day basis. However, visitors interested in the activity are advised to book your fishing permits at least six months in advance since permits are in limited supply especially during the peak season in the national park.
Where to stay in Akagera national park
Akagera national park has a wide range of accommodation from budget to mid-range to luxury. These include Magashi Camp, Ruzizi Tented Camp both of these are luxury accommodation, Akagera Game Lodge a mid-range accommodation and lastly Karenge Bush Camp. There are also other accommodation facilities near the national park includes Akagera country club, Akagera resort and Vintage cottage among others.
Getting to Akagera national park
Akagera National Park, as the lake is located within the park. Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda, near the Tanzanian border. The distance from Kigali to Akagera national park is about 108 kilometers and the park can be accessed by either road a short flight. By road it takes about 2 hours. And 30 minutes’ drive from Kigali the capital city vial the town of Rwamagana to the southern gate of the park (the northern gate is used for exit only at the moment). For luxury visitors to Akagera National Park can use helicopter flights from Kigali international airport to Akagera provided by the Akagera Aviation.
Other places to visit in Rwanda include the famous Volcanoes national park the home of mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, Nyungwe Forest National Park a home to chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and canopy walk in Rwanda. Last is the newly Gishwati Mukura national park for its precious primates.
