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Sport Fishing in Akagera National Park
Sport fishing in Akagera National Park offers the most amazing game fishing expeditions for travelers on Rwanda safari tours. Fishing in Akagera Park costs $25 for visitors who have their own fishing gear and it can be done for the whole day.
Lake Akagera sport fishing tours take place from Lake Shakani—one of the many lakes found in Akagera protected area.
This water body holds hippos and even crocodiles, which are normally sighted on the banks of the gently sloping shoreline of Shakani Lake. You can easily spot them before they approach you! Therefore, there is nothing to worry about.
Visitors on sport fishing safaris in Akagera National Park can catch fish species like tilapia & catfish, among many others. This thrilling adventure gives you a golden opportunity to travelers to learn about the various methods of fishing used in Rwanda for example, the gill net method and the hooking method, among others.
While fishing, anglers can enjoy a cold drink, or listen to folk songs and stories that are told by local fishermen.
Furthermore, the good news about sport fishing in Rwanda Akagera Park is that you get to keep what you fish. In case you feel like cooking it, you can take it to the lodge and it’s roasted for you.
Where Is Spot Fishing Done in Rwanda Akagera National Park?
Fishing tours in Akagera National Park are carried out from Shakani Lake. This amazing adventure can be done the whole day or half a day. The fishing spots along Shakani Lake are carefully chosen—free from predators.
The capture-and-release fishing method is applicable, but it is not usually adhered to. It’s okay to take one of your catches to be prepared for dinner at your lodge if you are interested.
In order to engage in sport fishing in Akagera National Park, one must first get fishing permission. Additionally, it is necessary to have your own fishing equipment, as those hired around can be limited some days.
Tilapia fish, Nile perch & catfish are commonly caught, but tilapia and Nile perch are the most preferred catch.
Visitors enjoying sport fishing on Lake Shakani also have the opportunity to learn about the numerous fishing techniques that are used by local fishermen in Rwanda.
The local fisherman will entertain tourists with folk songs, folk tales, and stories while they are fishing. Tourists can enjoy a refreshing beverage while listening to the tales and music.
In addition, this water spot gives tourists a wonderful opportunity for tourists to engage with the local people thus, learning about Rwanda’s culture.
Various fishing methods in Rwanda used by travelers:
- Cast net method
- the gill net method
- Lampara method
- The spearing
- Shot arrow method
- Scoop net method and,
- Lastly, the hooking method.
As tourists are fishing in Rwanda Akagera Park, it’s possible to see different bird species and game animals such as Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, and Cape Buffaloes can be spotted along the lake shores.
Cost for Sport Fishing in Akagera National Park
The cost for a permit for sport fishing in Akagera National Park is $25. These payments are levied per person, a day. Additionally, those who are interested in participating in the activity are strongly encouraged to reserve their fishing permit at least two months in advance. This is due to the fact these fishing permits are limited in supply, particularly during the peak season for Rwanda safaris.
Visitors below 6-12 years are charged $12 each day per person.
It’s possible to book your permit for fishing in Akagera Park through your tour operator in Rwanda.
Best Time for Sport Fishing in Akagera National Park
The best time to go for sport fishing in Akagera National Park is between the months of June and September or between December and February; these are the dry months in Rwanda. Within the dry months, the waters are calm, and little rainfall is received within this protected area.
In Rwanda, game viewing tours in Akagera Park and gorilla trekking safaris in Volcanoes National Park are remarkable. The trails are dry and mud-free, thus easy to trek.
Other Tourist Activities in Akagera National Park
Tourists interested in fishing safaris in Akagera Park can also do other activities in this stunning protected area controlled by Akagera Management Company, African Parks, and Rwanda Development Board.
The following are more activities for tourists undertaking Akagera National Park fishing tours:
Game Drives in Akagera National Park
Going for a game drive is the best way to spot game animals in Akagera National Park. You’ll explore various game tracks with beautiful vegetation covers, searching out cape buffalos, zebras, elephants, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, leopards, and many antelope species.
Akagera Park offers visitors morning game drives and even night game drives (nocturnal game drives). During the morning game drive, be expectant to encounter numerous bird species.
Boat Safaris on Lake Ihema
During the boat safari in Akagera Park, visitors will spot wonderful wildlife species that are hard to spot during game drives. Among these are hippos as well as numerous water birds such as cormorants, herons, kingfishers, egrets, African darters, and pelicans, among others.
While on the Ihema Lake boat cruise, it’s hard to miss the sights of the Nile crocodiles as well as antelopes, zebras, warthogs, Cape buffalos, and elephants drinking water.
Non-scheduled boat trips are possible.
Bird Watching in Akagera National Park
Birding tours in Rwanda Akagera Park offer a notable bird-watching experience in this country. Over 480 bird species are recorded in Akagera, and 100 species can’t be found in any protected area of Rwanda—these are the savannah birds.
Lake Ihema boat trips in Akagera National Park offer the best experience but, game drives in open savannahs are also great. Saddle-billed storks, pink-backed pelicans, Kingfishers, African openbills, African fish eagles, black-headed gonoleks, crested barbets, double-toothed barbets, and martial eagles are some of the notable bird species in Akagera.
Water birds are spotted best while on a boat trip on Lake Ihema.
Nature Walks
Game walks are organized by Akagera Management Company and are only done in specific areas where there are no predators like Lions. During this adventure, the ranger guide will accompany you as you explore this biologically diverse protected area on foot to spot amazing wildlife species.
Most nature walks in Akagera Park take about 2-3 hours and it’s possible to encounter zebras, buffalos, giraffes, hartebeests, elands, and bushbucks, to mention but a few. Elephants are common as well.
Other tourist activities on top of sport fishing activities in Akagera Park;
- Community tours or community cultural experiences
- Helicopter rides
Popular Akagera National Park Lodges for Tourists
Lodges in Akagera National Park (Rwanda’s largest national park) are affordable to all classes of travelers on Rwanda safaris, especially those on wildlife tours. These facilities vary from budget and standard to luxury lodges. Campsites are available also.
The common lodges normally used by tourists on Rwanda wildlife safaris in Akagera Park include
- Akagera Game Lodge
- Ruzizi Tented Camp
- Karenge Bush Camp
- Akagera Rhino Lodge
- Magashi Safari Camp
- Mutumba Campsite
How to Get to Akagera National Park in Rwanda?
Akagera National Park is situated in the eastern part of Rwanda, close to the border with Tanzania. It takes about 108 km to get from Kigali to Akagera National Park. You can either drive there or use a helicopter drive to reach this park.
By road, it takes about a 2-3 hour drive to reach Akagera park. You’ll drive through Rwamagana Town to get to the park’s southern gate. At the moment, only the northern gate is used to leave the park.
Akagera Aviation offers helicopter rides from Kigali International Airport to Akagera for people who want to visit Akagera National Park in style.
Getting to Akagera Park by air is used mostly by travelers on luxury safaris in Rwanda. Helicopter flights from Kigali International Airport to Akagera are provided by the Akagera Aviation.
FAQs About Akagera National Park Fishing Tours
What Is the Fishing Method in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park?
Sport fishing in Akagera National Park is done using various fishing methods; however, the hooking technique is the most common. Other fishing methods include; the scoop net method, shoot arrow method, and cast net method to mention but a few.
Where Else to Go for Sport Fishing in Rwanda?
In Rwanda, fishing activities take place mainly on Lake Shakani but there are other places as well to enjoy this water sport. The other wonderful lakes where you can also go for spot fishing in Rwanda are Lake Kivu, Lake Gishanju & Lake Mahindi.
Each year, fishing tournaments are organized on Shakani Lake. Get in touch with your tour operator if you wish to take part.
What Is the Best Place for Spot Fishing in Rwanda?
Sport fishing in Akagera National Park Lake Shakani offers the best fishing experience for travelers on Rwanda safaris. Within this lake, you can catch various fish types such as Tilapia and other fish species. Numerous game animals such as Elephants, Cape Buffalos, Antelopes, Hippos, and crocodiles, plus many water bird species, can be spotted during this adventure.
What Is the Most Popular Fishing Method in Rwanda?
Hooks are commonly used during sport fishing in Akagera National Park, Rwanda. Travelers should come with their fishing equipment as those available are limited.
What Is the Most Fish Caught in Rwanda?
Tilapia is the most common fish caught in Rwanda’s Shakani Lake. Consult your tour company about the fishing tournaments that are organized each year in this country. Private tours can be arranged for travelers.
Fishing activities in Akagera National Park are normally an extra adventure for tourists exploring Akagera. This thrill is usually a complement to game drives, boat cruises, and bird-watching tours in Rwanda Akagera Park. Dry months offer the best experience!
Contact our knowledgeable team to tailor your African safari tour in Rwanda.
