ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES WITHIN AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

Are you planning to travel to Rwanda’s only Savannah National Park to encounter the Big Five animals (African lions, Leopards, Cape Buffaloes, Rhinos and African Elephants) and Antelope species? How would u like to remember the trip, as a horrible or memorable one? If you wish for the latter, it can be made possible if you book for a comfortable place to stay for your time in the National Park and country in general. The good news is that the Akagera National Park offers some of the most exquisite accommodation facilities you can ever encounter while on a safari and these include;

Akagera Game Lodge

Situated in the North-eastern side of the Park, around two and a half hours’ drive from Kigali City is the classic Akagera Game Lodge, a place you must stay in while on a safari in Rwanda. Its strategic location on a ridge provides views of the breathtaking Lake Ihema amidst a collection of grass, bogland, deep valleys, varied terrain of hills, marshes and bushes.

Akagera Game Lodge is known to be a superior venue offering an excellently relaxed ambience perfect for meetings and conferences, is a serene getaway for vacations and authentic encounter with nature.

This Lodge offers 64 rooms in form of single, twin, double, executive suites, family and luxury in cottages with each of them featuring a private balcony overlooking the magnificent Lake Ihema allowing the guests to marvel at sunrise and sunset in a typical African setting.  Designed in a captivating African style, each of the rooms is furnished with en-suite bathrooms, two comfortable beds, a writing desk, satellite TV and a chair. Not only that, all the rooms have personalized interior designs that blend with Pan-African themes. There are also a number of facilities at this Lodge and these include;

The shoebill restaurant that serves delicious buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner within a serene ambience.

The elephant bar opposite the restaurant provides a perfect retreat from the scotching sunshine of the day as you enjoy cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You will be sure of enjoying a relaxed paradise for quiet moments by night as you marvel at the spectacular views of the African starlit sky. The patio overlooking the beautiful swimming pool and Lake Ihema allows tourists to have their meals and cold drinks in a secluded way.

When you visit this Lodge, it’s not only accommodation that will await you but also several interesting activities such as guided nature walks, birding, boat rides within Lake Ihema and fishing among others.

Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Ruzizi Tented Lodge is a small luxury tented eco-Camp found at the heart of the riverine forest among swaying giant fig and trees and sprawls on the edge of the phenomenal Lake Ihema within Akagera National Park. Its exceptional design blends with the environment hence offering tourists with the feeling of being connected with nature.  Interestingly, most of the trees and vegetation within and around the Lodge were left untouched at the time of construction. Most of the furniture and adorning was hand-crafted by some of the best local artisans and members of community cooperatives.

Constructed in January 2014 and completed by the end of the year, this 20-bed tented Lodge is linked together using boardwalks hence making it exceptional and one of a kind within the country. The most fascinating thing about Ruzizi Tented Lodge is that it is powered by solar energy (for lights, charging your electrical gadgets, Lodge fridges and the kitchen equipments) and boasts of being one of the most ec0-firendly Safari Lodges in Rwanda. Each of the Tents accommodates at least two guests sleeping in spacious twin or Queen Beds.

There is also one family tent that accommodates up to four guests and another one that you must try being the tree-top tent that provides luxury experience as well as the breathtaking views of Lake Ihema and other areas within the Park. Ruzizi Tented Lodge was built and designed by the Management of Akagera National Park hence the revenue received goes towards the Conservation of the Park and its unique flora and fauna.

Karenge Bush Camp

“Karenge” is a Kinyarwanda word meaning “small footprint” derived from the name of the nearby river at which the Bush Camp was first set up. You would be wondering why the small footprint name. This is because of the Bush Camp’s aim, which is to leave a small and light footprint on the earth. Karenge is a seasonal Camp that is opened bi-annually and by the time it is removed, you will not find any evidence of being visited before.

It offers a total of 6 tents accommodating up to 12 visitors inform of camp beds with beddings and mattresses. There are also reed mat floors, camp chairs and solar lights provided. The outdoor bathrooms use buckets and canvas basins for bathing and guests are offered with warm water.

Every tent contains two comfortable beds as well as basic things like towel and toiletries.

The rates charged at the facility include breakfast, lunch and dinner that you can choose to enjoy within the Bush (in the open). Tents are raised from the ground to reduce risks of wild animal entry as well as increasing safety of the guests.

Camping

There are three self-catering campsites within this National Park and they include Shakani Campsite within the shores of Lake Shakani, Mutamba Campsites at the highest point in this Park and finally Muyumba Campsites situated on a ridge hence offering tourists with the phenomenal views of Lakes Ihema and Shakani in addition to the neighboring Tanzania. Each of these Campsites offers basic amenities and facilities such as shared bathrooms and pit toilets.

All the Campsites charge the same rates that include $25 for International, regional and local guests.