Akagera National Park

A stunning park where nature has been revived.

Akagera National Park, located in northeastern Rwanda along the border with Tanzania, is a more affordable option when booked with our company. Originally founded in 1934, much of the park was reallocated as farmland, and by 1997 its size was reduced from over 2,500 sq km (nearly 10% of Rwanda) to its current 1,122 sq km. However, since 2010, a partnership with African Parks has helped restore Akagera to its former glory, making it a prime destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

Akagera National Park is named after the Akagera River, which flows along its eastern border and feeds a network of lakes, the largest being Lake Ihema. Its forest-fringed lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains, and rolling highlands make Akagera one of the most scenic reserves in Africa. The park boasts remarkable biodiversity and is home to the largest protected wetland in central Africa, making it a vital ecological treasure.

A car rental to Akagera National Park combines well with visits to other attractions like Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking or Nyungwe Forest for a canopy walk and chimpanzee tracking. This allows travelers to experience Rwanda’s diverse landscapes and wildlife, creating a well-rounded adventure. The flexibility of having a rental car also makes it easier to explore cultural sites, such as Kigali Genocide Memorial, along the way.

Akagera is home to large plains game species, including elephants, buffalo, topi, zebra, waterbuck, roan antelope, and eland, as well as species unique to the papyrus swamps, such as the Sitatunga and the elusive Shoebill Stork. Other antelope like duiker, oribi, bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, bushbuck, and impala are also commonly seen. Primates such as olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and the elusive blue monkey can be spotted during the day, while bushbabies are often seen on night drives. This combination of parks offers a diverse and thrilling Rwandan wildlife adventure. Plans to reintroduce black rhinos will soon restore its “Big 5” status.

Game Drives

The park offers a two-tier guiding system with 10 park-employed guides and 15 community freelance guides. Visitors can choose between experienced park-employed guides, with 2 to 12 years of guiding expertise and recent training in content, interpretive guiding, and first aid, or opt for enthusiastic Community Freelance Guides. These freelance guides have undergone an in-house training and assessment program, offering a fresh perspective while supporting local economic development. By choosing a freelance guide, visitors help strengthen the relationship between Akagera National Park and its neighboring communities, ensuring that tourism benefits the people living alongside the park.

Boat Trips and Fishing

For a unique safari experience, take a boat trip on Lake Ihema, drifting past hippos and crocodiles while enjoying birdwatching opportunities. Scheduled trips are available four times daily at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 3:30 PM, and 5:00 PM, with private options on request.

Lake Shakani is perfect for sport fishing, allowing visitors to fish from the shore and grill their catch over an open fire at the campsite, making for a delightful outdoor day.

Bird watching

Birding safaris are a highlight for visitors to Akagera National Park, with an impressive variety of species. Over 500 recorded species, including waterfowl and savanna birds, ensure there’s always something to see. Serious birders can seek rare finds like the near-threatened papyrus gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri), restricted to papyrus swamps, the red-faced barbet (Lybius bidentatus), and the swamp flycatcher (Muscicapa boehmi).