Akagera National Park

This weekend I left Kigali and went camping with some friends in the east of the country. We first visited Akagera National Park, which is located on the Tanzanian border. "In contrast to the rest of the country, the area is relatively warm and low-lying and its undulating plains support a cover of dense, broad-leafed woodland interspersed wit lighter acacia woodland and patches of rolling grassland studded evocatively with stands of the superficially cactus-like Euphorbia candelabra shrub. To the west of the plains lies a chain of low mountains, reaching elevations of between 1600m and 1800m. The eastern part of the park supports an extensive wetland: a complex chain of a dozen lakes linked by extensive papyrus swamps and winding water channels fed by the mighty Akagera River." (Bradt Guide, Rwanda)

We entered Akagera in the south and drove northward along the edge of the lakes and swamps. Unfortunately we had to roll up the windows of the vehicle while we were in the lowlands to avoid the tsetse flies that inhabit the area, so I wasn't able to take many pictures.From the wetlands, we then headed northwest through the grasslands and into the hills. Although the wildlife in Akagera is significantly more limited than that in the Tanzanian game reserves, the park is consequently much less visited, which made the journey much more enjoyable. Once leaving the wetland area, it wasn't until the next day that we saw another vehicle. So, as we drove into the hills, we really were in the middle of nowhere. At the ridge of the hill, where we decided to set up camp, we could see for miles in every direction across the lakes and hills and grasslands of the park and neighboring areas. While we set up our tents and started a fire to cook dinner, we looked around at the breathtaking views and watched as warthogs, impala and zebra wandered around our campsite.The next morning we continued to drive north in the park. As we drove, we passed more incredible views and saw impala, zebras, warthogs, topi, giraffes and other animals.The views and scenes in the park were truly beautiful, and having the opportunity to camp in such an uninhabited, naturally gorgeous place was as incredible experience.