Lake Ihema in Rwanda is a lake in the east of Rwanda at the border of Tanzania that lies within the Marshland of the Kagera River in which it empties via a very short channel.
With an area of 100 km. it is the largest lake entirely in Akagera national park. it is also one of the 23 lakes in Rwanda. The Kagera river feeds a complex of dozen of lakes including lake Ihema which is located at an altitude of 1,292m.
Akagera is the only savannah national park in the country. While in the park, you can do different tourism activities that vary from bird watching, canoeing, spot fishing among other adventures activities like biking, hiking, game driving, all these can be done along the shores of lake Ihema.
About Akagera national park
Rwanda as a country is well known for having a big number of endangered mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National park boarding Uganda, D.R. Congo. Other primates include golden monkeys, chimpanzees among others.
The park covers about 90 square km. lake Ihema is located in Akagera National park where the big 5 animals call home. The lake is Rwanda’s hidden gem that offers visitor perfect escape, chance to explore, adventure the wilderness, natural beauty and nature. The lake is a home to various types of aquatic life that include hippos, crocodiles and otters except fish.
The lake is a stopping point for different kinds of animals that could like to quench their thirst at the lake shores. You are assured to see different kinds of wildlife at the shores of Lake Ihema while doing a game drive in Akagera national park. the lake shores is a habitat for over 550 bird species including papyrus gonolek, shoebill, heron, jacanas, plovers, the lbis, sand pipers, malachite king fisher among other bird species.
Threats of Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park
The lake has a problem of water hyacinth. It is bad news to the lake since it blocks water ways, causes water pollution, and all this threatens the life of aquatic life that inhabits that lake.
The water hyacinth does this by covering the whole water body and this lowers the lake’s temperature, phosphate content and oxygen content life which is important for the growth of the aquatic life. All this leads to loss of aquatic life and these threaten growth of new life.
On the shores there are many wild life that come to the lake to quench their thirst. You will be able to do bird watching activity as you will be seeing birds of different species while on a safari as they fly fr0m their nests, making beautiful sounds to hear while you are on a boat trip. While you are on a boat trip, you will also see beautiful scenery views of local flora including rare plants, trees and perennial papyrus.
Spot fishing in Lake Ihema is arranged and allowed for those interested visitors. You see encouraged to carry along the fishing equipment in order to be permitted to do this activity. Tilapia is one of the most common fish within the lake. Spot fishing can be done in the morning hours, afternoon hours or the evening hours. As a travelers, you can decide to do fishing at sunset or sunrise.
Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema;
the boat safaris in Akagera national park are scheduled to depart at 7:30am, 9am, 3pm and 4:30pm. Non scheduled flights can be arranged for travellers who would to have a safari activity as per their preferred timing.
Hot air balloon, you can decide to do Hot air balloon in Akagera national park. This will give you an opportunity to view different tourist attractions in the national park at aerial view. This activity can be done at sunset when the weather is calm and the sky is clear.
Camping, this can be done near the shores of the lake which could be Lake Ihema, Lake Shakani and this would give you a chance to relax as much as you would like while you are on a safari in Akagera national park.
Lake Ihema is the largest lake in Akagera National park. Tourists seeking variation on the typical African safari should consider a boat trip on Lake Ihema. This is where you can draft along the forest fringed body of water in the midst of hippopotamuses and crocodile. For serious birders, this is a birding paradise and a boat trip is a must.
Akagera National park has other lakes apart from Lake Ihema like;
Lake Hago
The lake is located in the eastern province in Rwanda. The terrain that is estimated is 1285 meters above the sea-level. It is found in Kagera national park which is the most visited park for game drive safari. Lake Hago is surrounded by smaller Lake Kivumbi and Lake Gishhanju.
Lake Shakani
The lake is found a few kilometers in the north eastern part of the park headquarters in southern section of Akagera National park. The lake is a home of over 400 bird species also making it a perfect spot for birding safari.
Birds that can be seen include African wattled lapwing, blue-cheeked, bee eater, common squacco, crowned lapwing, Eastern grey plantain- eater, African Darter, Great Egret among others.
Other attractions to see around Lake Shakini is the Big 5 animals that can be seen during boat cruise activity. You can add spot fishing on you tour safari plans so as you fish some of the different fish species found in Lake Shakani that include Nile perch, cat fish, Nile tilapia among other fish types.
Lake Rwanyakazinga
The lake is one of the various lakes in Kagera National park. it is a scenic lake in north eastern section of the national park. Lake Rwanyakazinga is a home to hippos and crocodiles as well as number of birds.
Apart from lakes, there are other attractions in Akagera national park travelers can enjoy on a safari tour in Rwanda. These include visiting river Akagera which flows all the way through the park. Game drive where you will be able to see lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes among other wild life.
