Book Akagera National Park Safaris in Rwanda at Discounted Costs

Ultimate Travel Guide for Booking Akagera National Park Safaris in Rwanda

Planning an Akagera safari in Rwanda? Akagera National Park is the only savanna park available for tourists on a Rwanda safari to visit and see all the big five African game in the wild.

It is one of Africa’s oldest parks, officially gazetted in 1934, and spreads to cover 1122 sq.kms of land area.

Akagera National Park 4K Video

The park is one splendid protected area with a unique landscape characterized by savanna grassland, montane, swamps/wetlands where different species of animals and birds live.

It derived its name from the Kagera River that flows on its Eastern border area before emptying its water into Lake Ihema, along with other water lakes.

Akagera offers activities such as game drives, bird watching, guided walks, boat cruises, and sport fishing. Notable attractions include Lake Ihema and Mutumba Hills.

The park’s climate varies with dry and wet seasons, offering different experiences. The best time to visit depends on interests, with dry seasons ideal for game viewing and wet seasons for bird watching.

Accommodation options range from budget to luxury, including Magashi Camp and Akagera Game Lodge. Our Akagera website offers amazing tours as seen below.

Our popular Akagera holiday types include: budget safaris, luxury safaris, birding safaris, camping safaris, family safaris, group safaris, honeymoons and gorilla trekking safaris.

History of Akagera

Akagera National Park’s history is essential for any holidaymaker to have insight into, as it offers more about this magical protected area.

The park’s unique history can be traced back to colonial times; just as Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

It was officially established in 1934 under the Belgian Government then with the aim of protecting threatened species at the park.

Before, Akagera occupied over 2500 sq.kms of land area and protected a diversity of floral and faunal species.

Today, it extends to cover 1122 sq.kms of land area and protects all the big five game and many other species of wildlife.

Unfortunately, before, most of the park’s wild dogs were killed due to an outbreak of an epidemic, with the last species last spotted in 1984.

Over 50 black rhinos lived within Akagera National Park in the 1970s after they were relocated from the Republic of Tanzania.

But unfortunately, they were killed when the 1994 Rwandan genocide broke out, leading to their extinction in the protected area.

After the 1994 Rwanda genocide, most Rwandan refugees returned and settled in the park.

The largest population of them depended on the park’s resources for timber, wildlife (hunted them for bush meat), and some grazed their cattle in the savannas of Akagera National Park.

Poaching and land encroachment in Akagera continued, leading to the destruction of about 25% of the forest in the park.

The last rhinos were last spotted in the park in 2007, and initially, over 300 lions also lived in this savanna wilderness area.

Unfortunately, due to poaching, they became extinct until 2015 when 7 lions were reintroduced from Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa.

AndBeyond donated 5 lionesses; this is South Africa’s NGO, while 2 males came from Tembe Elephant Park in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa.

Eighteen black eastern rhinos were also reintroduced into Akagera in May 2017 from South Africa.

This comes after 10 years when Akagera National Park stayed without rhinos.

In 2019, five more rhinos were relocated to Rwanda’s Akagera in a move to boost their population.

Today, Akagera has a total of about 25 rhinos, making it a complete big five game destination.

Akagera Park Entry Fees

Akagera National Park entry fees are affordable for all holidaymakers on an Akagera safari. The rates change after every 5 years across all visitor ages.

Travelers aged 13 and above are regarded as adults, and those aged 12 and below are children.

The park entry fees range as per the 3 different categories of visitors; East Africa citizen, International visitors, and East Africa/Rwanda residents.

Entry fee to Akagera:

Akagera Activity Fees:

Note:

For breaking any of the park set rules and regulations, one is required to pay a fine of $150.

Animals to see on Akagera safari holidays

Akagera is home to the big game, hosting the giant African elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, and rhinos.

Visitors also have a chance to come across interesting species such as the Masai giraffes, antelopes, zebras.

The antelope families that thrive in the park include the elands, reedbucks, topis, impalas, sitatungas, roan antelopes, and others.

The park also protects some amazing species of primates, including bush babies, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons.

Other species of wildlife include the genet cats, black-tailed mongoose, warthogs, serval cats, bush pigs.

Birds to see on Akagera safari tours

If birding is your thing, then an Akagera safari is worthy on a Rwanda safari tour.

The park protects all 550 bird species in its varied habitats.

They include 100 species that can only be spotted in Akagera and not anywhere else.

The species of birds to expect to look for on an Akagera safari include African jacana, osprey, white-backed vulture, lilac-breasted roller, African fish eagle, shoebill storks, fork-tailed Drongo, red-winged francolins, little bee-eater, black-headed weaver.

Other avifaunal species include long-crested eagles, white-faced whistling duck, saddle-billed storks, sooty falcon, palm nut vulture, short-tailed pipit, papyrus gonoleks, woodland kingfishers, yellow-bellied eremomela, African wattle lapwing, Squacco heron.

Akagera also hosts an incredible population of ring-necked francolins, cattle egrets, bare-faced go-away bird, African darter, spur-winged goose, helmeted guinea fowl, crowned lapwing, eastern grey plantain eater, goliath heron, Shelley’s francolin.

Akagera Activities – Top Things to Do in Akagera National Park

• Game Drives (Day & Night Game Drives): Embark on an Akagera safari and enjoy the best of an African game drive in the lush savanna for 2-3 hours. The game drive in the different game tracks in Akagera exposes holidaymakers to the diversity of animals that dwell in the savanna grassland. In your 4WD vehicle with a pop-up roof, your interest should be centered beyond the big game because there are also giraffes, zebras, birds, antelopes to keep an eye on.
• Bird Watching Safaris in Akagera: Birders on an Akagera safari tour never return home disappointed. The park has all 550 bird species concentrated in its varied habitats; swamps/wetlands, forests, woodland, savannas, and others. The key birds to look out for on safari in Akagera National Park include shoebill storks, papyrus gonoleks, white-faced whistling ducks, fish eagles, red-winged francolin, woodland kingfishers, lilac-breasted rollers, eastern grey plantain eaters, sooty falcon, and Shelley’s francolins.
• Guided Nature Walks in Akagera: Akagera National Park is amazing to explore on a guided nature walk. This is one of the best options to indulge yourself in the park’s distinct habitat as you get exposed to various species within and around the park.
• Boat Safari in Akagera: Holidaymakers who are interested in aquatic life, an Akagera safari should be a must. A boat cruise offers you a great opportunity to view the relaxed crocodiles, aquatic birds, and hippos on Lake Ihema. A day boat ride can be done at US Dollars 35 for adults and US Dollars 20 for children aged 6-12. Scheduled boat trips in the evening/sunset, adults pay US Dollars 45, and children from 6-12 pay US Dollars 30. Private boat rides/non-scheduled cost US Dollars 180 for a maximum of 11 people.
• Sport Fishing Safari in Akagera: Fishing is offered on Lake Shakani in Akagera National Park. To enjoy this adventure, holidaymakers on an Akagera safari can stay at Lake Shakani campsite for easy access to the sport fishing spot on Lake Shakani.

Other Interesting Akagera Safari Activities

Camping is available, and you pay US Dollars 25 per person per night if you are an adult and $15 for children from 6 to 12 years.

Other activities include behind-the-scenes tours, cultural experiences, and helicopter tours.

Tourist Attractions – What to see in Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is the home of the famous African Big Five in Rwanda. As the largest park in the country, covering an area of 1,122 square kilometers, it is home to diverse wildlife that includes many animal species not found anywhere else in Rwanda, as it is the only savannah park in the country.

These attractions, among others, draw a significant number of visitors to this vast park.

• Animal Life: Akagera is a big attraction for visitors due to the presence of the Big Five, including lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos, and leopards. The park also boasts various other animal species such as Burchell’s zebras, Masai giraffes, roan antelopes, sitatunga antelopes, duikers, spotted hyenas, elands, impalas, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, warthogs, hippos, bush babies, crocodiles, topis, oribis, and more.
• Bird-Life: With over 400 recorded bird species, Akagera National Park provides a rewarding birding experience for birdwatchers. The park’s different habitats support a wide range of bird species, including savannah birds, water and papyrus species, and woodland/forest species. Notable bird species include the African fish eagle, the red-faced barbet, shoebill stork, yellow-billed storks, common cormorants, pelicans, kingfishers, papyrus gonolek, grey-backed fiscals, grey-crowned cranes, ibis, long-crowned eagles, raptors, Carruther’s cisticola, buzzards, egrets, and more.
• Lake Ihema: The second-largest lake in Rwanda is situated in the southern part of Akagera National Park, where visitors can enjoy boat safaris and sport fishing.
• Other Lakes: Akagera National Park is adorned with several lakes, including Lake Ihema, Lake Rwanyakazinga, Lake Shakani, Lake Mihindi, and Lake Gishanju. These lakes play a crucial role in supporting the park’s wildlife, especially during the dry season.
• Mutumba Hills: These hills provide scenic views and excellent hiking and nature walk trails.

Combine your trip to Akagera National Park with visits to other national parks in the country to have a complete Rwanda experience.

16 Facts About Akagera

Akagera National Park is one of the four national parks in Rwanda. It is the largest, oldest, and the only national park in Rwanda where you can see the Big 5 African animals.

Interesting Facts About Akagera National Park include:

1. It is the oldest national park in the country and among the oldest on the African continent, established as a national park in 1934 by the Belgian colonial government.
2. Located in the Eastern part of Rwanda at the border with Tanzania, just a 2-3-hour drive from the capital of Rwanda, Kigali.
3. Covers an area of 1,122 square kilometers, making it the biggest national park in Rwanda and the largest protected wetland in East and Central Africa. At the time of gazettement, it covered an area of up to 2,500 square kilometers.
4. Home to several of Rwanda’s lakes, including the second-largest lake in the country, Lake Ihema, located at the South end of the park. Other lakes in the park include Lake Shakani, Lake Mihindi, Lake Rwanyakazinga, and Lake Gishanju.
5. Named after the famous Akagera/Kagera River, which pours its waters into the lakes within and around the park.
6. Home to over 10,000 animals, including the sought-after African Big 5: lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and black and white rhinos that you can see during a game drive in Akagera National Park.
7. Boasts a diverse birdlife of over 500 different bird species, making it one of the hottest bird-watching spots in Rwanda. Notable species include the red-faced barbet, African fish eagle, various raptor species, grey-crowned crane, kingfishers, African jacana, hamerkop, pelicans, cormorants, storks, papyrus gonolek, cattle egret, swamp flycatcher, long-crested eagle, among others.
8. Offers various interesting activities, such as day and night game drives, hot air balloon safaris, boat trips on Lake Ihema, sport fishing, guided nature/safari walks, birding safaris, and authentic Rwanda cultural tours.
9. Attractions in Akagera National Park include animal life, bird life, lakes, and Mutumba hills.
10. Once known as the “Park of Lycanos” due to a large population of African wild dogs. Unfortunately, the entire species was wiped out by an epidemic in 1984.
11. Managed by Akagera Management Company (AMC), created in 2010 through a partnership between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the African Parks – a non-profit conservation company. This partnership brought Akagera National Park from the ruins of the Rwanda Genocide (1994) to its current state through various conservation efforts.
12. Seven African lions were reintroduced to Akagera in 2015 after a 15-year absence from the park, transferred from South Africa.
13. Black rhinos were reintroduced to Akagera National Park in 2017 and 2019, trans-located from South Africa (18) and Europe (5), respectively.
14. An electric fence was erected around Akagera National Park to keep wildlife within the park area and prevent farmers and intruders from entering. This helped combat human-wildlife conflicts that led to the killing of most animals during resettlements.
15. Akagera National Park has only two gates, one for entry and the other for exit only. The entry gate is located in the South of the park, the Kiyonza gate (South gate), which can also be used as an exit by visitors. The exit-only gate is located in the North of the park, the Nyungwe gate (North gate).
16. The topography of the park includes woodlands, open grassland savannas, lakes, permanent and seasonal swamps, marshes, forests, and low-lying hills.

Experience the wildlife of Akagera National Park by going on a safari in this amazing park.

Climate & Weather of Akagera

Akagera National Park, located in Eastern Rwanda at the border with Tanzania, experiences a tropical Savannah climate with sunny (dry) and rainy (wet) weather conditions.

It is characterized by two distinct seasons: the dry season and the wet (short rains and long rains) season.

Akagera National Park’s temperatures are quite consistent throughout the year, with daytime temperatures ranging from 25-30°C and nighttime temperatures dropping to 15°C.

The Dry Season in Akagera National Park

June, July, August, and September

• The park receives little to no rain during the dry season.
• Day temperatures are always around 26°C, especially in the afternoon.
• Clear skies and sunny days provide excellent wildlife photography conditions.
• The park becomes dry and dusty during the dry season.
• Vegetation thins out, and grasses are dry and short, providing good visibility of wildlife.
• Animals congregate around water sources, offering great game sightings.
• Considered the best time to visit the park and the peak season of tourism.
• Expect high rates during this season.
• High tourist traffic within the park.
• It’s advisable to book your accommodation in advance.

The Wet Season in Akagera National Park

October – November (Short Rains)

• Short rains replenish the park’s flora and water sources after the long dry season.
• Good time for bird-watching safaris as migratory birds enter the park during this period.
• Afternoon rain is common.

March, April, and May (Long Rains)

• Long heavy rains, with April being the wettest month.
• The park is lush, vibrant, and green during this long-wet season.
• Best time for bird-watching in Akagera National Park.
• Best time to see newborn wildlife in the park.
• Considered the low season with less tourist traffic.
• Lower rates apply.
• Park roads can get muddy and slippery.

January and February (Short Dry Spell)

• The short dry spell between the two wet seasons.
• Considered a good time to visit Akagera National Park.
• Occasional rainfall can be expected.
• Clear skies and sunny days offer great wildlife viewing and photography.

While the dry season is considered the best time for a wildlife safari in Akagera National Park, you can visit the park any time during the year as there is a lot to do and see in the Savannah park in any season.

Location of Akagera

If you are looking for the most accessible safari destination to start your Rwanda holiday, then Akagera National Park should be your bucket-list travel destination.

Perched in Eastern Rwanda, close to the Rwanda border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park is reachable within only 2 hours and a half minutes’ drive if you are starting your trip from Kigali capital city.

Map of Akagera

Getting There

• By Road: Akagera is only a 2 hours and a half drive from Kigali—the beautiful capital city of Rwanda. The park is perched in the Northeast, just close to the border with Tanzania. Holidaymakers can take the Rwamagana route via the Kayonza roundabout, which is 15kms to Kabarondo. You then access the Kayonza gate 3kms away from Akagera park offices.
• By Air: Holidaymakers on an Akagera safari can also utilize the available helicopter flight services from Kigali International Airport up to Akagera park.

Best Time to Visit Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park Rwanda welcomes holidaymakers on a Rwanda safari all year-round. But for those whose interest is to engage in a game drive or wildlife viewing, the best time of the year to travel to Akagera is during the dry season which begins from June, July, August up to September, or travel during the second phase of the dry season starting December, January up to February.

In case bird watching is your favorite activity, then the wet/rainy season is the most ideal time.

The wet/rainy season to mark on your travel calendar if you plan to go on an Akagera safari holiday are; March, April, May, and October, November.

Where to Stay – Akagera Accommodation  Options

Akagera National Park has incredible accommodation options ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury.

These include Magashi Luxury Tented Camp, Akagera Game Lodge, Ruzizi Luxury Tented Camp, and Karenge Bush Camp.

Popular Akagera National Park Safari FAQs

Below are some of the most popular Akagera safari questions and answers that will help you plan a memorable safari to Rwanda.

• Where is Akagera National Park located? Akagera National Park is found in the eastern part of Rwanda near the border with Tanzania.
• How far is Akagera National Park from Kigali? It takes about two and a half hours to drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park.
• When was Akagera National Park established? Akagera National Park was created in 1934 under Belgian rule.
• What makes Akagera National Park special? It is the only savanna park in Rwanda where you can see all the Big Five animals.
• What are the Big Five animals in Akagera? The Big Five are lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards.
• How big is Akagera National Park? The park covers about 1,122 square kilometers of land.
• Why is the park called Akagera? It got its name from the Kagera River that flows along its eastern border.
• What activities can visitors do in Akagera? Visitors can enjoy game drives, boat safaris, bird watching, guided walks, and sport fishing.
• Which lake is most popular in Akagera National Park? Lake Ihema is the most popular lake in the park for boat safaris.
• What types of animals live in Akagera besides the Big Five? You can see giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, and monkeys.
• How many bird species are in Akagera? There are over 500 bird species recorded in the park.
• Which birds are common in Akagera? You may see shoebill storks, fish eagles, kingfishers, and papyrus gonoleks.
• When is the best time to visit Akagera National Park? The best time is during the dry season from June to September and December to February.
• What is the climate like in Akagera? Akagera has a tropical savanna climate with warm days and cool nights.
• Can visitors go on night game drives? Yes, night game drives are allowed, and they cost about 40 USD per person.
• Is it possible to go fishing in Akagera? Yes, you can go sport fishing at Lake Shakani.
• How much does it cost to enter Akagera National Park? Park entry fees depend on nationality. For international visitors, it starts at 100 USD per day.
• Are children allowed in Akagera National Park? Yes, children are welcome, and those under 5 years old enter for free.
• What types of accommodation are in Akagera? There are budget, mid-range, and luxury options like Magashi Camp and Akagera Game Lodge.
• Can you camp inside Akagera National Park? Yes, camping is allowed and costs about 25 USD per person per night.
• How is Akagera protected from poaching? The park has an electric fence and is managed by African Parks and the Rwanda Development Board.
• Were lions and rhinos reintroduced to Akagera? Yes, lions were reintroduced in 2015 and rhinos in 2017 and 2019.
• What happened to wildlife during the 1994 genocide? Many animals were lost due to poaching and land use by people who settled in the park.
• How many rhinos live in Akagera today? There are about 25 rhinos in the park.
• Can you visit Akagera by helicopter? Yes, there are helicopter flights available from Kigali International Airport.
• What are the main gates to enter Akagera? The main entry is the Kiyonza Gate in the south, and the exit-only gate is in the north.
• How long should you spend in Akagera National Park? At least two to three days are good to explore the park fully.
• Are there guided walks in Akagera? Yes, you can take guided nature walks with a park ranger.
• Can you combine Akagera with other parks in Rwanda? Yes, many visitors combine Akagera with Volcanoes or Nyungwe National Parks.
• Why should tourists visit Akagera National Park? Because it offers real African wildlife experiences, beautiful views, and easy access from Kigali.