Lake Ihema Boat Cruise Safari: A boat cruise safari on Lake Ihema is a major highlight on any travel itinerary to Rwanda’s Akagera National Park offering an up-close and personal game viewing and bird watching experience. Set along the southern park boundary and spreading over an area of 90 km 2, Lake Ihema is the largest of the freshwater lakes that form the Kagera river wetland complex protected within Akagera National Park. Hemmed in with papyrus stands and woodlands, Lake Ihema is a wildlife and birdlife haven hosting a diversity of species.
Scheduled Lake Ihema Boat Safaris
Scheduled boat cruise safaris on Lake Ihema set off on different daily schedules to explore the lake banks and islands that teem with birdlife and wildlife. Boat trips last 1 hour with two morning (07.30 – 08.30 and 09.00-10.00) and afternoon (15.00 –16.00 and 16.30 – 17.30) Outside these schedules, one can opt to hire a private boat cruise at a standard fee of 180 USD running for 1 hour duration.
Wildlife highlights while on Lake Ihema Boat cruise Safari
A boat cruise safari on Lake Ihema brings you up-close to a plethora of wildlife and birdlife that occur on the quiet and secluded lake banks often not accessed while in game drive safari vehicles or even walking safaris. On these waters, the most abundant wildlife is the semi-aquatic hippo which occur in sizable herds or pods each headed by a dominant/alpha bull and controlling large territories along the lakeside banks.
Bulky, naked skin and short-legged, the Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) is the third largest herbivore adapted to semi aquatic lifestyle and notoriously known for its aggressive behavior. The hippo’s unique adaptability to aquatic habitats is due to its sensitive skin that cannot stand for long in hot sun where it risks dehydration and sunburn for lack of sweat glands. However, hippos will leave the comfort of their water habitats to forage on lake shores and as far as 10-km during the cool of the night. While on a boat cruise safari here, listen out for the wheeze-honking calls made by hippos, it’s one of the most impressive African wildlife sounds!
The prehistoric Nile crocodile is abundant here including oversized individuals often seen sun-busking on lake shores. Other wildlife includes Nile monitor, otters while savanna buffalo, elephants, Impala, waterbuck and more frequent these shores to cool off and drink.
Birding highlights on Lake Ihema Boat cruise Safari
Lake Ihema is a top birding hotspot in Rwanda, boasting an excellent bird list comprising quality wetland and woodland associated bird species. Dedicated birding boat cruise safaris here are private (should be) and set out early mornings where light and activity is great. Bird highlights include African Spoonbill, Spur winged Geese, Spur-winged Plover, African Jacana, Knob-billed and White-faced Whistling Ducks, Goliath Heron, Open-billed Stork, African Darter and more.
Other specialists to look out for include; Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Hamerkop and Swamp Flycatcher hunt the water edges as the African Fish Eagle patrol the skies over the lake. The woodland edged lakesides host Little Sparrow hawk, Narina Trogon, Woodland and Giant Kingfisher and various colonies of weavers. Lake Ihema protects the largest breeding sanctuary dominated mostly by African Darter, Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, Little Egrets alongside dozens of breeding Black-crowned and White-backed Night-herons.
Sunset Lake Ihema Boat cruise Safari
With its rolling hills along its western edges and extensive flatlands stretching as far as the eye can see on its eastern flanks, Lake Ihema is a perfect venue for a sundowner. Beyond the excellent wildlife and birdlife viewing, a sunset cruise safari here is an ideal way to wind up the day, to relax and soak up the stunning scenery, as you watch the sun paints the landscape with shades of golden yellow, orange, red and lilac. The sunset boat safari leaves at 16:30 to return by 17:30 local time attracting both photographers and landscape enthusiasts aiming to capture that epic golden hour.