Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Akagera National Park: Rwanda's Big Five Safari

Akagera National Park lies in Rwanda's east, along the border with Tanzania. Its landscape is entirely different from the mountains and rainforests found elsewhere in the country. Instead, you'll find rolling savannah, papyrus swamps, and a chain of lakes fringed with acacia woodland. It is also Rwanda's only Big Five destination, and a remarkable conservation success story.

A Park Reborn

Akagera suffered badly during and after the 1994 genocide. Much of its land was resettled and, as a result, wildlife populations collapsed. However, since 2010 a partnership between the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks has transformed the reserve. Lions returned in 2015, followed by eastern black rhinos in 2017 and 2019. Consequently, the Big Five are back in Rwanda for the first time in decades.

Wildlife

The park is now home to lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and both black and white rhino. In addition, you can see giraffe, zebra, and large herds of antelope. Akagera also holds one of the region's largest populations of hippos and Nile crocodiles, mostly around Lake Ihema. Furthermore, it is an important birding site, with over 500 species recorded. These include the elusive shoebill stork in the northern papyrus swamps.

Game Drives and Boat Safaris

Game drives along the park's network of tracks are the main way to explore. Morning and afternoon drives offer the best chances of sightings. A boat safari on Lake Ihema is equally rewarding. For example, it brings you close to pods of hippos, basking crocodiles, and a wealth of water birds. It also makes a relaxing change of pace after a day in the vehicle.

Behind-the-Scenes Conservation

The park also offers behind-the-scenes activities for visitors with a deeper interest in conservation. For instance, you can visit the anti-poaching K9 unit and its tracker dogs. You can also learn about the rhino reintroduction programme directly from park rangers.

Planning Your Visit

Akagera is around a two-and-a-half hour drive from Kigali. Therefore, it is an easy addition at the start or end of a Rwanda safari.
The dry seasons offer the best game viewing, because animals gather around permanent water sources. These run from June to September and from December to February.
Accommodation ranges from a public campsite to comfortable mid-range lodges and a luxury tented camp overlooking Lake Ihema.
Full-day visits are a popular way to see the most of the park. Typically, they combine a morning game drive with an afternoon boat safari.

Akagera proves that Rwanda's appeal extends well beyond gorillas. Above all, it offers a genuine Big Five safari and a powerful example of what sustained conservation can achieve.