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Rwanda

Akagera National Park

PLAN MY TRIP

Akagera National Park in Rwanda contains some of Central Africa’s most beautiful wetlands as well as some of its most diverse landscape.

The game-rich Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda on the border with Tanzania and was founded in 1934. Akagera gets its name from the Kagera River which flows along its eastern boundary and feeds several of its lakes. The park encompasses around 386-square miles of varied topography including open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp, and grassy low mountains. Akagera nearly disappeared twenty years ago when refugees of the Rwandan Civil War flocked to the savannahs for survival and began using the park’s abundant natural resources. However, in 2010 Africa Parks took over the management and restored the park.

Akagera is home to an abundance of wildlife such as buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, spotted hyena, zebra, topi, roan, eland, and many more. Moreover, conservation efforts have nearly eliminated poaching. In 2015, lions were introduced back into the park after a fifteen-year absence. To strengthen the lion prides, two male lions were relocated to Akagera and have consequently tripled the lion population. In 2017, eighteen eastern black rhinos made a successful reintroduction to the park’s savannahs.

Birding enthusiast will revel in the almost 500 species of local and migratory birds including the spectacular shoebill, swamp fly catcher, and the near-endemic red-faced barbet. In fact, Akagera is ideal for seeing such rare species as the papyrus gonolex which is found in the papyrus swamps. While Lake Rwanyakazinga boasts one of Africa’s highest hippo densities as well as crocodiles and many waterfowl.

Visitors to the park can enjoy a wide range of activities. The local safari lodges and hotels offer daily game drives led by an expert guide and tracker in a comfortable safari vehicle. Guided bush walks explore the savanna in more depth for a closer investigation of the local flora and fauna. While boating trips around Lake Rwanyakazinga will provide a closer view of bathing hippos and toothy crocodiles. Anglers can obtain a fishing license and try their hand at catching fish at Lake Shakani where they can keep the fish for a tasty meal cooked over an open fire.

1 of 9
2 of 9
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4 of 9
5 of 9
6 of 9
7 of 9
8 of 9
9 of 9

Rwanda

Akagera National Park

PLAN MY TRIP

Akagera National Park in Rwanda contains some of Central Africa’s most beautiful wetlands as well as some of its most diverse landscape.

The game-rich Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda on the border with Tanzania and was founded in 1934. Akagera gets its name from the Kagera River which flows along its eastern boundary and feeds several of its lakes. The park encompasses around 386-square miles of varied topography including open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp, and grassy low mountains. Akagera nearly disappeared twenty years ago when refugees of the Rwandan Civil War flocked to the savannahs for survival and began using the park’s abundant natural resources. However, in 2010 Africa Parks took over the management and restored the park.

Akagera is home to an abundance of wildlife such as buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, spotted hyena, zebra, topi, roan, eland, and many more. Moreover, conservation efforts have nearly eliminated poaching. In 2015, lions were introduced back into the park after a fifteen-year absence. To strengthen the lion prides, two male lions were relocated to Akagera and have consequently tripled the lion population. In 2017, eighteen eastern black rhinos made a successful reintroduction to the park’s savannahs.

Birding enthusiast will revel in the almost 500 species of local and migratory birds including the spectacular shoebill, swamp fly catcher, and the near-endemic red-faced barbet. In fact, Akagera is ideal for seeing such rare species as the papyrus gonolex which is found in the papyrus swamps. While Lake Rwanyakazinga boasts one of Africa’s highest hippo densities as well as crocodiles and many waterfowl.

Visitors to the park can enjoy a wide range of activities. The local safari lodges and hotels offer daily game drives led by an expert guide and tracker in a comfortable safari vehicle. Guided bush walks explore the savanna in more depth for a closer investigation of the local flora and fauna. While boating trips around Lake Rwanyakazinga will provide a closer view of bathing hippos and toothy crocodiles. Anglers can obtain a fishing license and try their hand at catching fish at Lake Shakani where they can keep the fish for a tasty meal cooked over an open fire.