​Overview – Akagera NP

Ariadne van Zandbergen
Expert
By Ariadne van Zandbergen

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Rwanda.

Akagera NP is Rwanda’s only savannah reserve and is again a Big Five destination after the recent reintroductions of lion and black rhino. Other animals include elephant, buffalo, giraffe and hippo. In terms of pure wildlife viewing, Akagera can’t quite compete with the more famous parks in Kenya and Tanzania. However, the park is very scenic and the birdlife is particularly rewarding.

 
View Photos (25)
Best Time to Go June to September (It is dry and wildlife is easier to spot)
High Season June to September (The park is busiest at weekends)
Size 1,020km² / 394mi²
Altitude 1,286-1,718m / 4,219-5,636ft
+23 Photos

Pros & Cons

  • Great wildlife viewing with the Big Five present
  • Excellent birding includes many rarities, raptors and waterbirds
  • Off-the-beaten-track destination
  • Beautiful scenery with several forest-fringed lakes
  • Night drives and boat trips available, along with the usual game drives
  • Limited accommodation in the park
  • Big cats are relatively difficult to spot
  • Tsetse flies can be a problem in the park

Akagera NP Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

Wildlife numbers are on the increase in Akagera NP and animals are slowly becoming less skittish (problems have included human encroachment and poaching). Buffalos are easily seen, and elephants are quite common. Leopards are around, but very secretive. Lions were reintroduced from South Africa in 2015 and there were 19 in the park as of early 2018, along with the same number of black rhino, which were reintroduced in 2017.

Scenery

Akagera is particularly scenic and offers a wide diversity of habitats in a small area. Visitors can drive along a string of forest-fringed lakes and wetlands fed by the Akagera River. Tall mountains form a lovely backdrop to the ever-changing vegetation, which includes papyrus swamps and acacia woodland.

Weather & Climate

Akagera is located near the equator and has a consistent, moderate to warm climate. Temperatures are very uniform throughout the year. The average nighttime temperature is about 12°C/54°F below the average daytime temperature, therefore warm clothing is recommended for early morning game drives. There is a short Dry season from June to September.

Best Time to Visit

Although Akagera can be visited at any time, the best wildlife-viewing months are from June to September. This corresponds with the Dry season, when animals are drawn to the lakes as a source of water. At this time the bush is not as lush either, which makes spotting animals a bit easier.

Want to Visit Akagera NP?

Akagera NP Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Stephen Cunliffe  –  
South Africa ZA

Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa.

Wilderness reborn
4/5

Akagera is the only protected area offering traditional Big Five safaris in Rwanda. It boasts good wildlife opportunities, although not on quite the same scale as other iconic East African parks. Unlike the densely forested protected areas...

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Latest User Review
Matt  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Apr 10, 2022
Wonderful wildlife, beautiful scenery, and staggering birds
5/5

Akagera was amazing. Each view is more breathtaking than the last. Watching the sunset as the animals gathered in the plains in the north of the park was the greatest moment of our whole trip (if you have the time, make sure you spend the...

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