​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 National Park is Rwanda’s only savannah reserve, and after recent reintroductions of rhinos and lions, you have a chance of spotting the Big Five. You’ll also see plenty of plains animals, such as giraffes, zebras, impalas and topi. In terms of pure wildlife viewing, Akagera can’t compete with the more famous parks in Kenya and Tanzania. However, the park is very scenic and the birdlife is particularly rewarding.

 
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Best Time to Go June to September and mid-December to mid-February (It is drier and wildlife is easier to spot)
High Season June to September (The park is busiest at weekends)
Size 1,122km² / 433mi²
Altitude 1,286-1,718m / 4,219-5,636ft
+23 Photos

Pros & Cons

  • Good wildlife viewing with the Big Five present
  • Excellent birding includes many rarities, raptors and waterbirds
  • Beautiful scenery with several forest-fringed lakes
  • Night drives, boat trips and balloon safaris available, along with the usual game drives
  • Big cats are relatively difficult to spot
  • Tsetse flies (although harmless) can be annoying

Akagera NP Safari Reviews

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

Wildlife

Since African Parks assumed management of Akagera in 2010, wildlife numbers have been on the increase. Buffalo are abundant, and elephants are commonly seen on the lakeshores. After the first reintroductions of 2015, there are now more than 40 lions roaming the savannah plains. Leopards are common, but harder to spot. These secretive big cats are mostly seen on night drives.

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 10°C/50°F below the average daytime temperature, therefore warm clothing is recommended for early morning game drives. The main Dry season runs from June to September, but there is a relatively dry spell from mid-December to mid-February too.

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 main 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. Mid-December to mid-February, a dry spell in the Wet season, is also a good time to visit.

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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