MAGASHI CAMP – AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

Perched on Magashi Peninsula, Wilderness Safaris’ Magashi Camp looks out over Lake Rwanyakazinga towards the Mutumba Mountains in the west. On the peninsula’s western side waterbuck, impala and warthog can often be seen grazing while on the eastern flank, eland frequent the lakeshore. The shore offers the chance to see hippo, large crocodiles and a chance of elephant bulls and the Amahoro lion pride.

The six spacious and airy tented guest rooms offer wonderful views over Lake Rwanyakazinga.  Magashi has been established in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and African Parks, demonstrating a commitment to pioneering sustainable and authentic ecotourism in Rwanda.

You will be able to view a range of wildlife on expertly guided game drives, walks and boating trips, including buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, spotted hyaena, zebra, topi, roan, eland and more. The Park also boasts almost 500 species of birds including the rare and elusive shoebill with its implausibly massive bill and the near-endemic red-faced barbet.

LOCATION

Magashi Camp is set on the shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga in Akagera National Park in north eastern Rwanda bordering Tanzania.  Access is by road from Kigali which takes approximately 2.5 hours by road.  You can also fly from Kigali to Magashi by helicopter.

CAMP

Magashi is set in Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda along the international border with Tanzania. The park was founded in 1934 and includes savannah, montane and swamp habitats. The park is named for the Kagera River which flows along its eastern boundary feeding into Lake Ihema and several smaller lakes.

There are just 6 spacious canvas tented rooms on an elevated deck with elevated wooden walkways connecting tents to the main areas.  Each tent has stunning views over Lalk Rwanyakazinga, comfortable beds and ensuite facilities at the back of the tent with an indoor shower, single vanity basin and separate toilet.

The tents are equipped with a wardrobe, luggage rack, writing desk and chair, hat and coat stand, easy chairs, seating area, mosquito net, electronic safe, tea and coffee making facilities, multi-plug adaptor charging facilities for mobile devices, mini-bar and outside deck with seating area.  There is no air-conditioning but there is a pedestal fan in each tent.

In the rooms are bathrobes, slippers, liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner, body lotion, insect repellent, shower caps, vanity kit with cotton tipped swabs and cotton balls, tissue dispenser, washing powder (for smalls), umbrella and room spray.

Magashi’s main area has a luxurious lounge, dining and bar area, a swimming pool and expansive viewing deck with fire pit. The architecture and interiors are traditional to Rwandan culture.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

Magashi Camp is situated in the productive and phenomenally diverse north-eastern corner of Akagera National Park overlooking beautiful Lake Rwanyakazinga and comprises some of the most scenic savannah in East Africa – open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp, and grassy low mountains.  It is home to one of Africa’s highest hippo densities, some very large crocodiles as well as well as the rare sitatunga and more than 520 bird species.

Teeming with plains game Akagera now also boasts a healthy population of lion which were reintroduced into the park in 2015 after a 20-year absence, as well as black rhino which were reintroduced in 2017.

Game Drives – explore the area in an open 4×4 vehicle. Each vehicle accommodates a maximum of seven guests, allowing each individual an outside seat.

Boating – in eight-seater swamp cruisers. This is an excellent way to view the water birds and many other aquatic animals seen around Lake Rwanyakazinga.

Birding – Akagera is renowned as one of the best birding areas in the world with almost 500 species of bird recorded here.

Fishing – on a catch and release basis only.

Guided Nature Walks – view East African birds and wildlife on an expertly guided nature walk.

GIVING BACK

Wilderness Safaris’ core purpose here is to help conserve Rwanda’s last protected savannah ecosystem and species like black rhino and the rare and elusive shoebill and it is hoped that their presence in Akagera National Park will contribute towards enabling the park to become economically self-sufficient for the first time.

Magashi is participating in Shoebill and Sitatunga Conservation – ongoing surveys and research projects monitoring the populations of these two rare and elusive species.  It is also involved with the conservation project for Akagera’s carnivores, including individual leopard, hyaena and lion identification and monitoring.

Children in the Wilderness, a life skills educational and environmental programme for children who live in the villages around the conservation areas, is an independent non-profit organisation established and supported by Wilderness Safaris. CITW focuses on the next generation of decision-makers, inspiring them to care for their natural heritage and to become custodians of these areas in the future.

MAGASHI IS CLOSED DURING MARCH AND APRIL EVERY YEAR

THE LODGE WELCOMES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 6 YEARS AND OLDER. 

FOR FAMILIES TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 12 YEARS, SOLE USE OF A GAME VEHICLE IS REQUIRED