Just two decades ago, Akagera National Park was on the brink of collapse—its wildlife decimated due to civil conflict and human settlement. Today, it’s a leading example of successful wildlife restoration in Africa.
Following years of habitat loss and the extinction of lions and rhinos, Akagera has made a powerful comeback. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, lions were reintroduced in 2015 and 2017, and 18 Eastern black rhinos returned, marking a new era for the park.
Managed through a public-private partnership, the park now thrives under strict protection and active anti-poaching measures. It’s a shining symbol of Rwanda’s resilience and commitment to conservation.
Safari Highlights in Akagera National Park
Akagera offers classic African safari experiences. Game drives reveal diverse wildlife including elephants, lions, rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas, hyenas, leopards, hippos, and crocodiles across its savannahs, wetlands, and forests.
Bird Watching Paradise
With over 500 bird species, Akagera is a top birding destination in East Africa. Spot rare and endemic species like the papyrus gonolek and shoebill stork, especially in the park’s papyrus swamps and along Lake Ihema.
Night Safaris & Boat Tours
Unique to Akagera, night game drives uncover nocturnal wildlife such as leopards, bush babies, and serval cats. For a different perspective, take a boat safari on Lake Ihema, home to some of East Africa’s densest hippo and crocodile populations.
Community Engagement
Each year, over 2,000 Rwandan schoolchildren visit Akagera for free, fostering conservation awareness and community involvement in protecting Rwanda’s natural heritage.
Expect a moderately warm climate with temperatures being fairly constant throughout the year. Daytime temperatures are usually about 27°C/81°F, cooling down at night to 14°C/57°F. The dry season runs from June to September. Akagera’s “short rains” are from October to December and the “long rains” run from March to May.
The park is in eastern Rwanda, along the border with Tanzania.
The park is open from 06h00 hrs. to 18h00 hrs. (6 pm).
The best time to visit is during the long dry season from June through September.
Birdwatching
Akagera is a birdwatcher’s paradise – you may spot over 500 species of birdlife here, along this Nile Valley bird migration route. Look for over 40 kinds of raptors. Throughout the park’s waterways, you’re likely to come upon kingfishers, ibises, herons, storks, cranes, rails, egrets, cormorants, and pelicans. Some of the migratory birds winging in are bee-eaters, terns, and flocks of ducks. Also inhabiting Akagera are the swamp flycatcher and the distinctive shoebill stork.
Nocturnal Game Drives
Searching for animals at night brings a different perspective to an African safari. The atmosphere is charged as you look for the nighttime’s active wildlife such as leopards, lions, hyenas, and wide-eyed bush babies. It is rare for a national park to offer a game drive at night so this is a special opportunity to experience a different sort of park adventure. The two-hour drive begins at 5:30 pm and requires several participants.
Lake Ihema Water Safari
Get ready to see one of the largest populations of hippos in East Africa. This water journey is also an opportunity to get up close to the large Nile crocodiles plying the lake. Adding to the activity, you’ll be able to spot plenty of water birds like African fishing eagles, darters, cormorants, and storks.
Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Want to see up close how the park is managed, talk to rangers, and see anti-poaching patrols? This unique 90-minute program allows a rare view into the world of a wildlife organization few get to see.
Walk the Line Tour
Here’s a chance to experience what it’s like to patrol the park’s borders as the rangers do. A guide will take you along the 7 km (4.3 mi) route, as you meet farmers, herders, and experience the birdlife and perhaps some wildlife on your journey.
Discover Akagera National Park
Experience the wondrous rebirth of this beautiful park with its revived fauna and flora. The populations of lions and rhinos are steadily expanding as is the rest of this natural eco-system. Enjoy the savannah-like variety of wildlife and also take a water safari to see great numbers of waterfowl, hippos, and fierce Nile crocodiles. Akagera once again has become a splendid park.