Ukonga Wetland Akagera National Park – Bird-watching & Wildlife Safaris

Ukonga Wetland – Ukonga Wetland is a wetland located in the central area of Akagera National Park, a Savannah park in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, close to the Tanzania border.

Akagera National Park houses the largest protected wetland in Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which comprises rivers, including the famous Kagera River, freshwater lakes such as Lake Ihema, Lake Shakani, Lake Rwanyakazinga, Lake Gishanju, Lake Hago, Lake Mihindi, and Lake Kivumbi, as well as swampy marshes.

The Muhuru Wetland (Western area) and the Nyungwe Wetlands (Eastern area) are the other two wetlands in Akagera National Park.

These wetlands are an important part of Akagera’s ecosystem and a habitat for rich and diverse wildlife, including semi-aquatic animals and various water bird species.

Ukonga Wetland is easily accessible to visitors as it is located in the center of the park. Those interested in having an eco-adventure alongside an open grassland Savannah safari in Akagera should explore the small but serene and lush Ukonga Wetland.

Exploring the Ukonga Wetland in Akagera National Park

During your exploration of the serene Ukonga Wetland, look out for the rare White-tailed Eagle among other water bird species, including pied kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, the rare papyrus gonolek, marabou storks, common cormorants, the elusive shoebill stork, African skimmers, egrets, herons, open-billed storks, ibises, darters, grey crowned cranes, African fish eagles, African jacanas, and many other bird species that inhabit Akagera National Park.

Animals to look out for include Nile crocodiles, hippos, the sitatunga antelope (a swamp-dwelling antelope), waterbucks, reedbucks, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, rhinos, impalas, topis, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, and mongoose, among many others.

Visitors to Akagera’s wetlands can engage in various activities in the park, such as game drives, nature walks, bird watching, fishing, boat rides, walking safaris, hiking, and participating in behind-the-scenes tours.

Getting to Akagera National Park

From Kigali City, drive eastward via the M1 highway, and after a 2-3 hour drive, you will arrive at Akagera National Park. You can use private or public transport, such as buses.

By air, scheduled flights from Kigali International Airport are available to Akagera airstrip, or you can charter a private transfer or helicopter transfer to Akagera National Park. You will reach the park in 25-30 minutes.