Akagera National Park is found in north eastern Rwanda at the country’s border with Tanzania, it was founded in 1934 to protect animals and vegetation and is the largest protected wetland in Africa. The park was named after the Akagera River which flows along its eastern boundary. It used to cover an area of 2500square kilometers but during the Rwanda genocide, most of the land close to 50% was issued to the refugees after the crisis. 

The park is a remarkable eco-system dominated by swamps, small lakes and rivers. It’s characterized by woodlands, low mountains, and savannah. The varied terrain shelters wild life including zebras, elands, giraffes, elephants, lions, curvets, impalas and hundreds of bird species which range from water, forest to savannah for example the red-faced barbets, swamp flycatcher, the famous shoebill, and the rare papyrus gonolek.

The game drives in Akagera National Park are the main activity despite being a small park compared to others in Africa. It is well known as the gem of Rwanda with a beautiful landscape and ability to see different animal species in a short time. The beauty of the park can be seen anywhere and thrilling as you adventure through the park, surprise holds while nature reveals its treasures inform of wonders. The beautiful scenery, flora and fauna about the night game drives are quite different from day time. There is a big opportunity to view the predators on the prowl as they look out for water and what to eat. These animals are rare to see during the day like lions and hyenas. While at the game drive, one can participate in fishing having a chance of being in an African wild with the wildlife. There are a number of Rwanda Car Rental options that can enable you to fully explore this park. Akagera is a great place for fishing for its endowment with water bodies. One can hire a guide to come along with at 25 dollars for half a day or 40 dollars for the whole day. The night game drives can be arranged separately from the park.

The game drives are accompanied by a guide who is knowledgeable about the park at the drive, one is advised to stay in the car unless the park guide sees it safe to get out and take a look. In order to enjoy the ride, one is advised to carry along a snack for lunch, long sleeved shirts and trousers, insect repellant.

The main entry point into Rwanda is Kigali international airport which is open to various flights like the Ethiopian airlines, air Burundi, Brussels, Kenya airways and Rwandair express. It is 10 km out of Kigali. It takes two and half hours’ drive from the capital to the park; the functional park entry gate is 500 meters from the newly constructed Akagera game lodge. Accommodation within and outside the park is available for example the Akagera game lodge, game lodge, among others.

Akagera is a wonderful place to visit while in Rwanda and a self drive car rental in Rwanda option is a great way to explore this park. It is endowed with an abundance of animal species and hundreds of bird species that one should not miss while on their safaris to Rwanda.

Today, busy is the norm. Some of us can’t tell the difference between a weekend and a weekday. That is why a 3-day holiday weekend trip is a perfect opportunity to take a break and enjoy yourself for all the past months you worked day and night. This is a few suggestions for a perfect long weekend holiday!

When planning a trip to a whole new country or even continent, there is quite a number of things and emotions you find yourself battling through. Choosing a tour agency to go with is probably up there at the top of the list, this is a person/people you would have to spend a good number of days together, someone you will have to trust with your life and the people you care about. There are a lot of guides out there but selecting a ‘good’ one requires a lot more than who best fits your current budget. Here are a few tips to help you make the better choice; 

In Uganda Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park while in Rwanda, Gorilla trekking is done at Volcanoes National Park 

Price/Gorilla Permit Cost

The prices differ in Rwanda and Uganda for Gorilla trekking activity. In Uganda, a Gorilla trekking permit costs US$ 700 for foreign non-residents, US$ 600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000/= for East African Citizens. The permit cost in Uganda includes the gorilla trekking fee and park entrance fee for that day which is valid for 24 hours. On the day of gorilla trekking, you will be briefed and assigned a gorilla group or family and the ranger guides will escort you in the forest to search for the Gorillas depending on where they slept on the previous day. 

On the other hand, Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done at Volcanoes National Park and the Gorilla trekking permit costs US$ 1500 per person irrespective of your nationality. However, there is ongoing promotion valid until 31st December 2022 for all categories of citizens and groups as below. Please contact Gorilla Adventure Tours for the discounts

Access and Distance 

In Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the western parts of the country near the Rwandan border and it is around 480km from the Uganda capital Kampala. The park hosts over 459 Gorilla individuals which is almost half of the world population. The park can be accessed through the air transport from Entebbe International airport to either Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it takes only 2 hours of flying. The other option is by the road transport through Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara - Bwindi and it takes 10 hours drive with many stopovers on different attraction especially the Equator in Kayabwe, Masaka and Igongo Cultural and Country Museum in Mbarara and you will also have your lunch at this very point.  If you are lucky, you might also see Zebras roaming along the road in between Lyantonde and Mbarara.

While in your Rwanda safaris, Volcanoes National Park is the only Gorilla National Park in that country and it can be accessed using helicopters from Kigali International Airport for only 30 minutes fly and also road transport via Kigali –Ruhengeri road and the driving time is 2.5 hours drive from Kigali Rwanda Capital.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one the national parks which harbors the rare Mountain Gorillas and it is 2 hours drive from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and also 10 hours drive from Kampala or Entebbe on road and also flights can be used from Entebbe airport to Kisoro airstrip. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest national park in Uganda and it is one of three national parks in the Virunga region (Including Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DRC Congo). The park is around 500km from the Uganda capital city Kampala.

Both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can also be accessed via Kigali, Rwanda through the border of Uganda and Rwanda Cyanika border. So visitors can land at Kigali International Airport and they will be driven to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, costing 4 hours by road. This is the easiest and shortest way to make it up to the Gorilla Parks.

Gorilla Groups and Numbers 

There are over 20 Gorilla groups or families in Uganda from 5 sectors (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Nyakagezi sector) and 8 visitors are allowed to visit each Gorilla group on a daily basis. 19 Gorilla groups are available for clients to track in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and they include; Katwe, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Mubare group in Buhoma sector. Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguliro and Mukiza group in the Ruhija sector. Nkuringo, Bushaho and Christmas family in Nkuringo sector. Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye, Bweza, Nshongi, Mucunguzi, Bikingi and Kutu Gorilla family in Rushaga sector while in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only 1 (one) Gorilla family called Nyakagezi Gorilla family available for clients. This Park forms the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration as a continuation of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.

While Rwanda has over 10 Gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park available for clients to track. These gorilla groups include Susa, Igisha, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Agashya, Kwitonda, Umubano, Hirwa, Bwenge, Ugyenda and Muhoza. There are a number of excellent Rwanda Safari Lodges you can stay at while visiting Rwanda.

There is a total population of 1,063 rare Mountain Gorillas in the world and they can only be seen in East Africa (Uganda, Rwanda and DRC Congo).  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone contains a population of over 459 and the rest of the Virunga National parks (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park) contribute the 604 individuals of the rare Mountain Gorillas. 

Culture and Community Experiences Along Gorilla Trekking

On visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, endeavor to discover the history behind these national parks. These parks were owned by the Batwa tribes, the so-called pygmy. So the park was their home where they could hunt to get food and gather fruits to earn the living. The Batwa were evicted from the park to protect the lives of these rare Mountain Gorillas and they occupied the neighboring communities. 

The Batwa trail experience activity in either Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park will make you discover the history of the Batwa and they will showcase how they used to live in the forest, hunt and gather fruits for a living. Their dances will blow you off as you experience and discover the real life of the Batwa people.

For those who visit Volcanoes National Park, Iby Iwacu cultural experience and performance is a must. So you will be taken to a neighboring community for the experience and performance. 

Bush Camping or Just ‘Camping’ if you may; is one of the things everyone should try out at some point. Going on an adventure, exploring Uganda’s virgin beauty and raw nature is as exhilarating as it sounds, a getaway from the chaos of the city and to busk in the tranquility and relaxation of the wild. Bush camping is most favorable for people on a budget and those who want to truly connect with nature.