Akegera National Park Safari - 9th June

 Picking up our guide

We picked up our guide, Felix, from reception at 6:30am - and he was keen to get going straight away. He hopped in the back seat and we set off into the park.

Just to now be aware, that it gets a bit picture heavy from here on in...

The map was huge (right) but we mainly made our way up and down the right hand side, dipping in and out of the loops by the lakes, and then to the plains, Mohana and Kilala.

Animals, animals, everywhere...

It's almost easier just to list what we saw and when (because I took a list) but I'll tell you about the best bits, and then put all the rest of the pictures at the end.

One of the first animals we saw was an adult male water buffalo, who was injured, potentially by a lion. We reversed to see it closer but Felix was fairly insistent we put the car back into drive in case we needed a quick get away! 

We then made our first turn towards the lake to see if anything was having an early morning drink and were met by five beautiful Masai Giraffe. They walked right across our path, very close to the car - they're a lot bigger that close! We followed them for a short while and then got back to the main road. 

I got very excited seeing my first Zebra and Impala, but after half an hour I learned that they were more like seeing rabbits on the side of a country road in England, so I cut my awe gazing down to 5 minutes a time!

We then had the most incredible encounter - 4 white rhino just walking up the road ahead of us. We got within about 20m then turned off the engine. They turned to look at us, waited a little then wandered off into the bush. As we drove past I looked at the gap they had entered and they had disappeared - I have no idea how 4 animals of that size managed to vanish - but they did! 

In the first plain, we saw a herd of water buffalo, all waiting to cross the path we were driving on - we had to reverse and go forward a few times to get out of their way and be in a position where they felt comfortable, but when they went it was great to see! 

The waterbuck were also very beautiful - we didn't see many but they were almost fuzzy and so they were easily recogniseable. 

Any time we were near water we also kept an eye out for hippos and crocodiles - one hippo trotted across our path and into the water - amzingly graceful for its size. 

In the second larger plain at the North, we saw many zebra, impala and topi and a few more girrafe. Felix tried to spot the lions that had been seen there the day before but we didnt manage to see them. At the top of the plains we were allowed out for a leg stretch and selfie (and a jungle wee if you so desired) before heading back down to the picnic spot by the lakes. There were of course many birds, lapwings, sea eagles, goliath herons....

By this point it was mid afternoon and most animals were hiding away (apart from the baboons) from the sun. We spotted a bull elephant across the lake but we could only just see it with binoculars - sadly they were not to be seen despite being around the day before! We were getting concerned about petrol at this point, so Felix was going to take us to his Village outside of the park to get fuel, before we dropped him off. 

We took one last detour off to the bit of lake where you catch the boats from, just to see if there were any animals having a drink, but there was nothing. Until we saw a tiny movement under a tree - a leopard! at 3pm! We didnt think we were going to see a leopard as the night drive was full, but we were very lucky! 

Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Ruzizi is an expensive option to stay, but it was worth every single penny. Very much 'glamping' our tent was equipped with a full king sized bed, hot shower room, and balcony, just on the edge of the lake - we heard hippos very clearly round the corner!

They served us a 3 course dinner on their veranda over the water and it was amazing food. At night we could hear the vervet monkeys playing on the roof. 

For breakfast they served us out on the veranda over the lake again - this time we could actually see as it was light - and we overlooked Tanzania in the distance. They gave us exceptional service, and the packed lunch was also free.