Shakani is the small lake immediately north of Ihema, and it does something none of the bigger lakes manage: it lets you sleep on the shoreline. The public campsite sits in a grove of acacias a few metres from the water, unfenced, with nothing between you and the lake but a strip of grass that hippos graze across every night.
By day it is a superb spot for birds. The shallow, reedy margins draw jacanas, herons, storks and crakes, and the acacia woodland behind holds bee-eaters, rollers, hornbills and — if you are lucky — the near-endemic red-faced barbet, one of the species birders come to Akagera specifically to find.
Shakani is also one of the two lakes where the park permits sport fishing. Anglers work the margins for tilapia and catfish under a permit arranged at reception, and the whole thing is refreshingly low-key.
Top things to do at Lake Shakani
Camp on the shore
The Shakani campsite is the most atmospheric of Akagera’s three public sites. Bring everything you need — there is no water, power or shop — and expect a noisy night in the best possible way.
Fish for tilapia and catfish
Arrange a fishing permit at park reception. Bring your own tackle. Fishing is bank-based and strictly regulated, and it is one of the very few African parks where you can do it at all.
Bird the reed margins at dawn
The first hour of light around the lake edge is exceptional. Set up with a scope or binoculars and work slowly along the shoreline path near the campsite.
Watch hippos come ashore at dusk
Hippos leave the water to graze in the evening and return at dawn. From a safe distance at the campsite this is one of the easiest wildlife spectacles in the park to witness.
How to get to Lake Shakani
- Shakani is in the southern sector, a short drive north of park headquarters and the Ihema jetty.
- It is easily reached on a day trip from Kigali as part of a southern loop.
- Camping and fishing permits must be arranged in advance through park reception or your operator.
- The campsite is unfenced and hippos walk through it at night. Stay in your tent after dark and never block the path between the water and the grazing ground.
- Cook and store food carefully, and pack all waste out with you.
- A head torch with a red filter keeps you from blinding yourself — and the wildlife — at night.
Best safaris for Lake Shakani
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Lake Shakani and the surrounding park:
Multi-day safari from $490 2-Day Akagera Big Five Safari with Hilltop Camping
The cheapest realistic way to reach Akagera’s northern plains, which is where the lions and the biggest herds are. You game drive up through the park on day one, camp on the high ground with a fire and an enormous night sky, and are out on the plains again at first light — the single most productive game-viewing hour of any Akagera itinerary. Basic, brilliant and very well reviewed.
- Two full days of game driving, including the northern plains
- Camping on the park’s highest ground with bushfire and stargazing
- Big Five, plus 500+ recorded bird species
Best for: Adventurous travellers, budget-conscious wildlife lovers, backpackers
from US$490 per person
Day safari + boat from $259 Akagera 1-Day Safari with Boat Cruise & Park Fees Included
Akagera’s park fees are significant and many day tours quote them separately, so a package that bundles entry, a game drive and the Lake Ihema boat safari into one price is genuinely useful. This one does exactly that. You get the classic southern-sector drive plus an hour on the water among the hippo pods, with nothing left to pay at the gate.
- Park entry fees included — no surprise costs at the gate
- Game drive plus a Lake Ihema boat safari in one day
- Hippos, Nile crocodiles and superb waterbird viewing
Best for: Anyone who wants one all-in price with the boat included
from US$259 per person
Multi-day safari from $590 2-Day Akagera Game Drive & Boat Safari with Resort Stay
The comfortable version of the two-day Akagera trip. You cover the same ground — southern lakes, central woodland and as far north as time allows — but sleep in a proper room with a pool and a restaurant instead of a tent. The Lake Ihema boat safari is included, and the second-morning game drive means you are inside the park at the best hour of the day.
- Overnight at a safari resort rather than under canvas
- Game drives on both days plus a Lake Ihema boat safari
- Big Five, hippos, crocodiles and 500+ bird species
Best for: Couples, first-time safari-goers who want comfort, older travellers
from US$590 per person
