Akagera Park was a 2-hr drive from Kigali, border to Tanzania on the east.
We stayed at Akagera Game Lodge, the only hotel situated inside the national park. The official website of this Lodge (last update was in 2008) gave a complete false data of room rates. It was stated USD60 and 80 for a single and double room respectively, instead we were shown the revised rates of USD110 and 150. The room, not larger than 3x5m, acceptable clean, but my toilet was partially flooded and a small spider was lying in my bathtub. The only complimentary item – soap, smelled like detergent.
The tourists were countable. The facilities were poorly maintained, the moss-coloured milky opaque pool water was obviously not changed for weeks. Baboons wandered inside the hotel compound, mainly around the restaurant, attracted by the scent of the foods.
We paid the park entrance fees, USD40 for 2 days (or USD30 for 1 day). The park ranger, Charles guided us to the game drive. He said lion has been extinct in this park after 1994 due to unregulated hunting by the farmers to protect their cattle. Unlawful poaching was still happening occasionally. The park was not immense, game (wild animals) was not plentiful. We could get close to the giraffes, impalas within 10m range, but the highly alert zebras, wild hogs and waterbucks fled instantly when our vehicle was approaching. Hippos and crocs could be seen around the lake and islands. Boat trip can be arranged for USD20 per person.
Elephants could still be seen in this park, but they used to wander far away and hard to be spotted. By chance we saw one… one big pile of fresh elephant shit, but no trace of him.
I never thought of making a safari trip in this mountainous landlocked country. With no high expectation, I enjoyed the trip quite well. Of course the size, variety, organization, quality and value-for-money were no way to compare with my previous Kenya visit.
(the photos below are partly collected from my colleagues and friends).
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Akagera Park entrance.
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Single room for USD110.
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Dirty pool water, and cold.
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Reception, registration and the entrance fees include guide to the park (tips is expected).
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Valley
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Impalas
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Giraffe family.
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Beautiful spots on giraffe.
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Zebras
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6 leg zebra, wonder of the nature.
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Wild hogs.
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Lake side.
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Hippos were staring at me.
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Alexander The Great.
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Bushbucks.
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Sunset... after sunset the evening was deadly quiet.
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Baboon on the roof of the restaurant, seeking breakfast. A guard was holding stick to chase them away.
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4-wheel drive is a must in the park, we had a very good and very expensive driver.
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Buffaloes were quenching thirst.
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This is a shallow man made pond, to gather and provide drinking water to the games.
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Big pile of elephant dung.
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Giraffe and tourists walked freely on the plain.
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Signboard
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I like this photo - monkey sitting on a pole.
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Guinea fowl, it is said delicious. The feather is beautiful.
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Blue flowers blossomed, the colour is comfortable and soothing.
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Faded flowers dropped on the ground.
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Boats for tourist ride.
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Wild hog bent the front knees, used the nose to unearth foods.
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Yawning...
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Picking and eating fleas... snacks.
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Giraffes
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Landscape in the park.
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Buffaloes herd.
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Bird nest.
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Park ranger and guide - Charles.
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Do you see the crocodile?
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Hippos cooling down in the lake.
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| Alexander, Charles and me. |
