The Akagera River, around the Akagera National Park, is one of the East African river, forming part of the upper headwaters of the Nile River and carrying water from its most distant source, that has great impact on the Rwanda Safaris as it is one of the major source of water and habitat for wildlife at Akagera National Park.
Originating from Burundi, flowing out from Lake Rweru. From the lake, Akagera River flows east along the Rwanda-Burundi and Rwanda-Tanzania borders to a confluence with the Ruvubu River. The waters of the Akagera River are thus provided by two major tributaries, the Nyabarongo of Rwanda, which feeds Lake Rweru, and the Ruvubu of Burundi.
It is unknown which of these two Feeder Rivers is the longer and hence the ultimate source of the Nile River.
From the confluence, the Akagera flows north along the Rwanda-Tanzania border, over Rusumo Falls and through Akagera National Park.
It then takes a turn to the east, following the Tanzania- Uganda border and emptying into Lake Victoria in Uganda one of the most popular East African Safari sites.
The Akagera National Park which derives its name from this river has been marked as so beautiful and blessed with abundant flora and fauna marked by beautiful water bodies including Rwanyakizinga, Shakani, Ihema, nd Gishunju – which has made the Rwandan Safaris so memorable.
Akagera River, features a very remarkable history that makes it stands out in Rwanda. In 1894, German Gustav Adolf von Götzen crossed the Kagera at Rusumo Falls, beginning the Rwandan colonial era; and in 1916, during World War I, the Belgians defeated the Germans, entering Rwanda by the same route, as their gate way to Rwanda.
However, the Akagera became so famous when it gained international notoriety in 1994 for carrying bodies from the Rwandan Genocide into Lake Victoria, causing a state of emergency to be declared in areas of Uganda, where these bodies eventually washed up.
During the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, the Akagera was used to dispose of corpses as thousands of Tutsis and Hutu political moderates were murdered on the river banks.
With this rich historical background, River Akagera has contributed in much boost in the tourism number on the safari visit to the Akagera National Park for a remarkable Rwanda Safaris.