DESTINATION GUIDE // RWANDA
Akagera National Park
Rwanda only savanna park, and one of the great conservation turnarounds in Africa. Big Five again since 2017.
1,122 km2
PARK AREA
Big Five
SINCE 2017
110 km
FROM KIGALI
490+
BIRD SPECIES
2010
TURNAROUND BEGAN
Quick answer: Akagera National Park covers 1,122 square kilometres in eastern Rwanda on the Tanzanian border, about 110 km from Kigali. Lions were reintroduced in 2015 and rhino in 2017, restoring the Big Five after decades of absence.
OVERVIEW AND LOCATION
Akagera National Park At A Glance
Akagera is the conservation success story of the region. By 2010 it had lost its lions and rhino entirely and much of the park had been settled. Under a partnership between African Parks and the Rwandan government, poaching collapsed, lions returned in 2015 and eastern black rhino in 2017. Today it is a functioning Big Five park a two hour drive from Kigali, with a chain of lakes along its eastern edge that make boat safaris possible.
| Detail | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern Rwanda, on the Tanzanian border |
| Distance from Kigali | Approximately 110 km, 2 to 2.5 hours by road |
| Size | 1,122 km2 |
| Established | 1934, restored under African Parks management from 2010 |
| Known for | Big Five, Lake Ihema boat safaris, shoebill stork |
| Wildlife | Over 490 bird species |
WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES
What You Will See and Do
Big Five Restored
Lions reintroduced in 2015 and eastern black rhino in 2017, alongside resident elephant, buffalo and leopard.
Lake Ihema Boat Safari
A chain of lakes along the eastern boundary supports large hippo pods, crocodile and outstanding waterbirds, best seen from the water.
Shoebill and Papyrus Birds
The papyrus swamps hold shoebill stork and papyrus gonolek, making Akagera a serious birding destination as well as a game park.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go
| Months | What to expect | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| Jun to Sep | Long dry season, animals at the lakes, best viewing | Medium |
| Dec to Feb | Short dry season, warm and clear | Medium |
| Mar to May | Long rains, lush, some tracks difficult | Low |
| Oct to Nov | Short rains, green and quiet | Low |
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