Akagera National Park is situated in the east of Rwanda, close to the border of Rwanda and Tanzania. It is the only Savannah national park among the four national parks in Rwanda.
Covering an area of 1,122 sq km, the park has different habitats ranging from open grasslands, Savannah plains, wooded acacia, riverine vegetation along the Kagera River, and a number of lakes surrounded by swampy vegetation. These habitats are home to a rich animal life in Akagera National Park.
The continued conservation efforts in Akagera National Park have seen an increase in the population of the animals in the park (about 12,000) and of specific animal species like the white rhinos.
Home to the Big Five African Animals
Akagera National Park is a proud home of the big five African animals that you can see during game drives in the park. That is:
- Lions: Reintroduced in the park in 2015, and since then, the population has greatly grown.
- Leopards: Spread out in the different habitats in Akagera.
- Elephants: Transferred to the park from Bugesera, Rwanda.
- Buffaloes: A very common sighting among the big five in Akagera.
- Rhinos: Both black and white rhinos inhabit Akagera, but the white rhinos are commonly seen compared to the black rhinos. The black rhinos were reintroduced in the park in 2017 and the white rhinos in 2021.
Other Animals in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park has a good population of plains animals including Masai giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, over 10 species of antelopes including Defassa waterbucks, impalas, topis, elands, oribis, bushbucks, reed bucks, sitatungas, roan antelopes, klipspringers, duikers among others, a good population of hippos, crocodiles, bush babies, civets, spotted hyenas, serval cats, bush pigs, warthogs, genet, black-tailed mongoose, olive baboons, vervet monkeys among others.
To see the animals in Akagera National Park, go on:
- Day game drives
- Night game drives
- Boat trip on Lake Ihema
- Guided nature walks
- Hot air balloon safaris
The best time to view wildlife in Akagera National Park is during the dry season in the months of June through to September as the vegetation during this time is sparse providing good visibility, and animals always converge around the lakes during the dry season for that water.
The dry months of January and February are also a good time to be in Akagera National Park.
Visit Akagera National Park in Rwanda with these recommended Rwanda tour companies or send us an inquiry below to book through us directly.
