Ibanda-Kyerwa National Park was gazzeted in July 2019, after being a game reserve since 1972. It covers 200 square kilometers. The average elevation is 1,288 meters above sea level, and there are two wet seasons: September through December and March through May. The dry season lasts from June to early October, yet wildlife stays abundant since the Akagera River flows through about half of the National Park and there are perennial springs elsewhere.
The green season lasts from October to May, although despite the generally heavy rainstorms, most of the park is still accessible, and wildlife watching is excellent due to the extensive tracts of medium-grass savannah.
The park is situated in northwest Tanzania, bordering Rwanda to the west and sharing a short border with Akagera National Park. The Kagera River forms the park’s physical boundaries. To the north, the park shares a border with Uganda, where the Kagera River serves as the actual boundary.
This lonely and picturesque area of Tanzania is characterized by open Acacia savannahs with some medium grass and a line of rolling hills and valleys to the west and south bordering a central basin with low hills and plains split by seasonal rivers and scattered lakes and swamps.
IBANDA KYERWA PARK LOCATION
The Ibanda-Kyerwa Park Location can be found in this former wildlife reserve, which is located on the eastern bank of the Kagera River, which serves as a natural border between Tanzania and Rwanda. The enthralling beauty of the park will enhance and complete your Tanzania safari tours.
WILDLIFE AT IBANDA-KYERWA
Plains game, particularly topi, eland, impala, waterbuck, reedbuck, and bushbuck, abound. Roan, a huge and spectacular antelope, can be found in vast herds. Buffalo herds are also prevalent. Because there is no lion in Ibanda at the moment, the two major large predators are the leopard and the hyena. The Kagera River, as well as several of the lakes and wetlands, are teeming with hippos and crocodiles.
On the Tanzanian side, the Kagera River is bordered by grassy banks that descend down to dense foliage with forest trees and palms, and there are wonderful overlooks of the river where one may relax with a picnic or have a tea break during a wildlife game drive.
KAGERA RIVER
This is one of Tanzania’s major rivers, forming a border with Rwanda. The river separates the two countries as well as the two national parks, Ibanda-Kyerwa in Tanzania and Akagera in Rwanda. The rivers also form a border with Uganda to the north, making it convenient to visit even from Uganda and Rwanda.
GETTING THERE: IBANDA KYERWA PARK ACCESSIBILITY
The Ibanda Kyerwa Park is accessible by road via numerous buses that travel to Bukoba town in the Kagera region. A steamboat can also take you to Bukoba town in the Kagera region. If you are flying, there are flights from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza City. With recent development efforts in and around the park, it is now easily accessible and popular with visitors.
GAME DRIVE
With its broad savannah grasslands, scattered lakes, hills, valleys, Kagera River and basins, and herds of buffalo, zebra, leopards, topi, eland, impala, waterbuck, reedbuck, and giraffe, a game drive inside the park is inspiring to many people.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN IBANDA-KYERWA PARK
Hunting safaris are the most popular activity in this area, and for those looking for excitement, this is the place to be. The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including leopards, hippos, roan antelopes, buffalo, and many others. To avoid potential mishaps, we recommend that you visit the park with a 4WD Safari vehicle. Ibanda Kyerwa Park, with its amazing beauty and picturesque views, is the most promising Tanzania Safari destination and is strongly recommended as a must-see while visiting Tanzania. Below are the things to do in Ibanda-kyerwa National Park in a summary:
- Game viewing by vehicle
- Walking safaris guided by a Park Ranger
- Bird watching
- Picnicking
- Camping
IBANDA-KYERWA ACCOMMODATION
- Camping at National Park sites can be organized through park authorities, and inexpensive accommodations are available in Murongo, which is about 3–12 km from the park boundary.
- Modest accommodations are available in Murongo, which is about 3–12 km from the park’s boundary.
IBANDA-KYERWA SAFARI IDEAS
The Ibanda-Kyerwa National Park complements the parks on the western sides of Lake Victoria. A safari like this may start or end in Musoma and include stops in Saanane, Burigi-Chato National Park, and Rubondo Island National Park.
