Days 8 & 9 - Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park  - sits at the border of Tanzania separated by Lake Ihema and follows the Akagera river.  The park has plains, valleys, hills, wetlands and the savannah.  We were welcomed at the visitor's city by park rangers and the Black Mamba [most venomous snake in the world].

We stayed at the Akagera Lodge, treated to a wonderful lunch watched the baboons play and try to enter the swimming pool.

 

 

The next morning we drove through the park with the fresh, crisp, clean air flowing through the jeep.  A Vervet monkey approached the truck standing behind Linda; I think he wanted to join us.

 

 

7:05 am:  We saw a leopard in the bushes.  I was unable to get a picture and it disappeared quickly.

7:13 am:  A family of blue monkies in the road

 

7:56 am:  McDonald Impala - a "M" on the backside; they walk in a single line.

 

8:09 am:  Hippos in the water, African Fish Eagle

9:00 am:  Waterbuck antelope

9:28 am:  Hippo beach

9:39 am:  Warthog

10:18 am:  Impala, male Waterbuck, Maasai giraffe, Cape Eland, Monitor Lizard, Crocodile, Water Buffalo, Zebra

 10:55 am:  Maasai giraffe, zebra, crown crane of Uganda

 

As we drove from the south park to north park, we only encounter one other car at that was early in the morning.  It is the end of rainy season, and there was very muddy road; we eventually got stuck in the marsh.

11:10 am:  Stuck in the mud

We used a log and mats from the truck for traction; the back wheels were stuck. Since I know how to drive a 5 speed, I attempted to steer us while the men pushed & rocked.  It was not successful.  They placed more substance under the tires [particularly the left].  Cindy, Amie and rocked the truck as Andrew was able to drive it out of the marsh.

11:32 am:  Out of the mud.  Only 22 minutes. We had heard other stories of people being stuck for 3-4 hours.

12:30 pm:  Maasai giraffe

12:40 pm:  Large herd of zebra

12:55 pm:  Lunch at the North entrance point.

1:32 pm:  Leaving the park