AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

Akagera National Park sits on Rwanda’s border with Tanzania, with habitats of savannah, montane, and swamp. The complex system of lakes and papyrus swamps make up over a third of the park, the largest protected wetland in eastern-central Africa. After intensive conservation action over the last ten years, Akagera is once again a premier wildlife viewing location. It is Rwanda’s only savannah national park and has been restored as a Big Five destination after the reintroduction of black rhino and lion. The variety of habitats and the central Akagera River make this park a beautiful place to safari.

Akagera is open for visitors year-round. The climate is generally warm and temperatures fluctuate little as Akagera sits close to the equator. Akagera experiences short rains from October to December and longer rains from March to May. You may experience daily, but not full-day, rains during the short rainy season. The long rains from March to May will bring rain most days and for long stretches of time. The dry season June to September is the best time for viewing wildlife as the bush thins out and wildlife concentrates around water sources. Temperatures in the dry season range from 81°F during the day to 57°F in the early mornings and evenings. We recommend you bring warm clothing for the early mornings and night drives.

After intensive conservation efforts and reintroduction programs, Akagera is once again a Big Five destination, with lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and rhinos roaming the area. Akagera’s savannah habitat supports larger herds of zebra, giraffe, bushbuck, and impala, while its wetland and swamp habitats have waterbuck and the rare sitatunga. In the dry season most wildlife can be viewed as they congregate around the main water sources in the park. Akagera also offers excellent birding opportunities. It is the second-most prolific birding site after Nyungwe Forest National Park, with over 480 species recorded in the park, 100 of which are found in no other protected area in Rwanda.