Lake Shakani is part of the rich and diverse wetland/drainage feature in Akagera National Park located in the East of Rwanda.
Akagera National Park is one of the top tourist destinations in Rwanda, and to explore Lake Shakani, you have to visit this Savannah park. The park has a number of lakes, including Lake Shakani, which stands out as the only lake in the park and in Rwanda at large where sport fishing as a tourist activity is allowed.
Lake Shakani at a Glance
The lake is located in the Northeast of the headquarters of Akagera National Park, in the Southern region of the park.
Visitors can go sport fishing on Lake Shakani, where they could catch different fish species, commonly the catfish and tilapia. The activity is open to both beginners and professional anglers, and visitors are advised to carry their own equipment for the fishing activity or you can hire the fishing equipment.
Interested in birding? Then visiting Lake Shakani on your safari to Akagera National Park will be rewarding. The lake boasts of a good number of different bird species that you get a chance to see during your Lake Shakani exploration. Giant kingfisher, herons, lapwings, papyrus gonolek, the great egret are among the many bird species you will see.
For a night out in the wilderness under the starry sky, visitors can camp out at the Lake Shakani Campsite. The camp is safe for visitors with basic facilities like shared bathrooms, water, wood for your campfire, and toilets. Campers should carry their own equipment and supplies.
There’s a lot more to do and explore while in Akagera National Park:
- Game Drives: Both day and night guided game drives are available in Akagera National Park. Visitors will be able to encounter different animal species like elephants, zebras, giraffes, lions, water-bucks, buffalos, rhinos, civets, bush babies, impalas, hippos, Nile crocodiles, among others.
- Boat Cruise: The boat cruise gives you a different wilderness exploration adventure. In Akagera, you will be able to explore its wildlife sailing on Lake Ihema, one of the biggest lakes in the park. Look out for the semi-aquatic animals like the Nile crocodiles and the hippos, other animals grazing or drinking water at the shores, and different water bird species.
- Bird Watching Safaris: Going birding in Akagera National Park will be so rewarding as the park is home to over 500 different beautiful bird species. Take on a guided birding tour with an experienced guide to help you spot as many species as possible.
- Hot Air Balloon Trips: Up and early in the morning to rise with the sun in Akagera, the hot air balloon trips will see you glide above the open Savannah, marshes, and swamps of Akagera with a stunning aerial view. This is a wilderness activity worth experiencing.
- Guided Nature Walks and Hiking: Akagera National Park has different trails you can take to explore the Savannah park on foot, getting you closer to the wildlife and the flora of the park. You will be able to spot smaller wildlife up-close like the butterflies, birds, insects, and the plant species.
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