Akagera
Situated at lower altitudes on the Tanzanian border, Akagera is
dominated scenically by a labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the
meandering course of the Akagera River, one of the main sources of the
River Nile.
Giraffe and zebra haunt the savannah alongside more than a
dozen types of antelope, such as the diminutive oribi and the world's
largest antelope, the eland. Pods of hippopotami splutter throughout the
day while outsized crocodiles soak up the sun with their vast jaws
agape.
Along the lake shores are some of the continent's densest
concentrations of water birds, while the marshes are home to the
endangered bird species like the exquisite papyrus gonolek and the
bizarre shoe-bill, probably the most eagerly sought of all African
birds.
Habitats:
- Bush Savannah tangled with acacia and branchystagia
woodlands with stands of Euphorbia candlehbrum, patches of rolling
grasslands, riverine, lakes and swamps.
- To the west of the park are hills reaching to elevations of 1600m-1800m above sea level
Features:
- Akagera River
- Lakes: Ihema, Kivumba, Hago, Mihindi, Rwanyakizinga
- Large concentration of mammals e.g. elephants,
buffalos, lions, Maasai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi,
Butchel's zebra, topi, bushbaby, leopard and bushbuck
- Aquatic life e.g. crocodiles and hippos
- A large concentration of bird life over 425 species
identified. Unique species such as Shoe billed stocks and papyrus
gonolek can be encountered. Endemics include the jacanas, ibis, sand
pipers and herons.
- Mitumba hills