Rwanda · National park
Akagera National Park
Rwanda's Big Five savanna
Size
About 1,120 km²
Location
Eastern Rwanda
Best time
June – September
Known for
Big Five, boat safaris
About the park
Lakes, swamps and rolling savanna
Akagera is Rwanda's only savanna park, a landscape of open grassland, acacia woodland, lakes and papyrus swamps along the Akagera River on the border with Tanzania.
Since African Parks began managing it in 2010, Akagera has become one of Africa's great conservation comebacks. Lion were reintroduced in 2015 and black rhino in 2017, making it a Big Five park once again. It is quiet, with few other vehicles, and an easy drive from Kigali.
Highlights
Why visit Akagera
Big Five game drives
Look for lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard on the northern plains.
Lake Ihema boat trip
Glide past hippo, crocodile and large colonies of water birds.
Birdlife
Around 500 species, including the rare shoebill in the papyrus swamps.
Night drives
Look for nocturnal animals such as genet, civet and hyena after dark.
When to visit
June to September is the long dry season and the best time for game viewing, when animals gather near the lakes.
Wildlife you may see
Lion, black and white rhino, elephant, buffalo, leopard, giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile and many antelope.
Getting there
About 2.5 hours by road from Kigali to the southern gate.
Visit with Asili
Safaris to Akagera
9 days
Rwanda Discovery Safari
Add-on
Add Akagera to your safari
Tailor-made
Design your own Rwanda trip
Plan your Akagera safari
Tell us your dates and we'll combine Akagera with gorillas, chimps or a few days on Lake Kivu.
Enquire now