Akagera National Park is a two-hour drive from the capital city of Kigali. Established in 1934, the parks wildlife population was devastated after the Rwandan genocide when returning refugees clashed with the animals.

Akagera National Park is the only Big Five safari park in Rwanda and it is also one of the most unique national parks in Africa because of its varied and beautiful rolling hills, landscapes, lakes and swamps.

Akagera is Africa’s largest protected wetland and covers 12,000 hectares of hills, swamps, lakes and savannah in the east of Rwanda, on the border with Tanzania which is delineated by the Akagera River where the park gets its name.

Once home to over 200 lions, the population was quickly wiped out by angry cattle herders.

The efforts to build the park started in 2010 after the signature of a collaboration agreement between African Parks and the Rwanda Development Authority. Since then, law enforcement was strengthened and a fence built along the park to protect wildlife from the rural communities living outside the fence to avoid encroachment. Since then, the park has started to flourish and is expected to continue improving and growing in terms of wildlife, recognition and visitors.

Today, the 1,122 square kilometers park has recovered. A new perimeter fence has been erected, and anti-poaching strategies have helped the wildlife populations to grow.

In fact, Rwanda reintroduced lions in 2015 and this year 20 black rhinos brought up from South Africa which had been missing from the park since 2007, making the park to flourish.

The Big Five Safari animals and other Wildlife in Akagera National Park

The Akagera National Park is home to more than 12,000 mammals and almost 500 bird species and is considered one of the best birding destinations in the world.

The Big Five have been reintroduced in Akagera recently and most notably, lions and black rhinos, which used to inhabit the country, have been brought back from South Africa in 2015 and 2017 respectively repopulating the wildlife that was lost.

Five lionesses were donated by Phinda Private Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park also in KwaZulu-Natal, donated two male lions. The population has expanded since with the birth of several calves.

But the Big Five are not the only advantage to the park, one will be able to spot several antelope including topi, eland and waterbucks. Large herds of zebra are also common, buffalos are also found in great quantities. The park also has about 120 elephants that are split into two herds but are not so easy to spot since they hide in the lush forests found in the park.

Either way, Akagera has a few loops and roads crossing the park which take you to the various ecosystems. Since the entrance to the park is in the south and the exit in the north, you can also do a quick one day safari crossing the entire park.

Other activities inside Akagera National Park beyond game drives include

Birding opportunities in Akagera National Park

Aside from the popular game drives, Akagera also offers several other activities like bird watching on the lake near the park headquarters. This gives you the chance to see the many birds that live in the smaller islands inside the lake and also see the hippos from up close. The boat rides last for one hour and cost $35 for foreigners

Boat cruises at Akagera National Park

If you are looking to get down and dirty, join one of the rangers on the boat cruise every day. This will give you a better appreciation of the real risks to the park and the human-wildlife conflict faced by Akagera National Park.

The landscapes in Akagera National Park

If you are keen on seeing the nightlife and night game drives, this will cost $40 per person for foreigners and will last 2-3h in the park’s vehicle (not your own). At night, the nocturnal wildlife will come out and you may have a higher chance of spotting the elusive leopards and other wildlife.

Where to stay in Akagera National Park

While you can visit Akagera on a day trip from Kigali you can decide to stay over and not miss out on the stunning early morning and evening sounds and feeling of the park.

The following are some of the lodges you can find at the park;

Akagera Game Lodge

If you are looking for a permanent structure with more rooms, brick buildings and expansive views from the hilltop, Akagera Game Lodge is your best bet. The hotel has 60 rooms and its location gives it a great perspective of the park.

Ruzizi Tented Lodge

This is the best place to stay in Akagera. This is a tented lodge so there are few permanent structures. The tents are elevated to protect from crocs and hippos and all are near the lake. The viewing platform where meals are served is surrounded by the sounds of hippos and birds and the food is fresh and tasty. This is definitively the most safari-like experience you can have in Rwanda and looks and feels like a safari lodge.

Magashi Lodge

This is the newest lodge by Wilderness Safaris to open in Rwanda at the end of 2018 and it infuses much needed exclusivity and luxury to the park. While this is a notch above the Ruzizi tented Lodge, it follows the same philosophy of low impact and being one with nature. The tents and common areas are open to the surrounding area and the park.

The lodge is located in the north of the park in an exclusive private game reserve where only guests of the lodge will be accomodated.

Getting to Akagera National Park

Akagera National park is located 2,5h from Kigali on a well paved road except for the last 30min which are on a red soil gravel road. This last stretch is still in pretty good shape as this part of the country is the driest and hottest.

Precautions and safety

Akagera is a national park hence it comes with a set risks like insects, diseases and other hazards. It pays to be well prepared. Make sure to see a doctor before traveling and organise malaria tablets and Yellow Fever vaccinations.

The park is full of tsetse flies and while they are harmless, they make for an incredibly painful bite. As you will be driving with the car windows open, they will come into the vehicle and not leave, making your drive quite unpleasant. The only way to keep them away is to shower in repellent because they can still bite through your clothes. The park staff has laid out traps across the park to try to contain the numbers but you will not be able to escape them. Hence bringing along a strong insect repellent will come in handy.

Opening times and fees

The park opens its gates from 6am to 6pm every day and the daily park fees range from $6 for locals to $40 for foreigners. Vehicles also pay fees at around $10-$20 depending on the size.

Akagera National Park Entrance and Activities Fees