Day 8 - Akagera Wildlife Preserve

July 17, 2018

Giraffes, hippos, zebras... oh my!

Today was the long awaited trip to Rwanda's incredible Akagera National Park. Located in the far northeast of the country, bordering Tanzania and Rwanda, Akagera is home to the Big Five safari animals, and is a destination for tourists from all over the world.

We woke up at 4:30am to get on the road nice and early. It was about a 3 1/2 hour drive, and the earlier you get there, the more animals you're likely to see! Upon arrival, we hired a guide, Leo, who joined us on our bus as we drove the 6 hours through the park, from south to north.

Right off the bat, we ran into a huge pack of zebras! Throughout the day, we encountered giraffes, waterbucks, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, ibis, guinea fowl, warthogs, baboons, vervet monkeys, fish eagles, and cape buffalo. We were so hoping to see elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinos – but no such luck. Oh well! The animals we did encounter were simply breath-taking. There’s nothing like seeing a wild animal in its natural habitat.

And the best part? This extraordinary experience only cost us $30/person! And over 13 hours in a bus… but boy oh boy was it worth it.

Enjoy some of our favorite shots from the day...