Akagera National Park
“Rwanda's Savanna Safari — Africa's Conservation Success Story”
Akagera National Park is one of Africa's most inspiring conservation success stories. After being reduced to a fraction of its original size and suffering severe poaching in the 1990s, the park was revitalised through a partnership with African Parks, which led to the reintroduction of lions in 2015, black rhinos in 2017, and a dramatic recovery of the entire ecosystem. Today, Akagera's 1,122 km² of savanna, woodland, and wetland supports the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — alongside large herds of zebra, topi, impala, and eland. The park's eastern border is Lake Ihema, part of a chain of lakes that make Akagera's landscape unique in Rwanda: rolling savanna hills reflected in the glassy lake surface, with hippos and Nile crocodiles in the shallows and extraordinary waterbirds — including the rare shoebill stork — in the papyrus swamps. Akagera provides a classic Big Five game drive experience within Rwanda, making it a natural complement to gorilla trekking.
Highlights
Wildlife You May Encounter
Climate & Weather
Savanna tropical. Warm year-round (20–28°C). Two dry seasons: Jun–Sep and Jan–Feb are best for game drives. Rains Oct–Nov and Mar–May keep vegetation lush and birding excellent.
