Situated in the Eastern part of Rwanda, near the Tanzanian border, 110 kilometres from the Kigali city centre. Akagera National Park was established by the Belgian colonial administration in 1934,  initially covering 2500 square kilometres, but due to the resettlement of the people affected by the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the park was reduced to a total land area of 1122 square kilometres.

The park cuts across three districts of Kayonza, covered by the Central and Southern sectors of the park, Nyagatare, occupied by the Northern sector, and Gatsimbo, located between the two districts. Park entrance fees distinctly vary according to nationality. International tourists pay USD 100, East African citizens pay USD 25, while Rwandan citizens pay RWF 15,00. These park entrance fees are charged per individual, exclusive of the activities and vehicle entry fees into the park.

What to see?

The big five: Akagera is the only park in Rwanda where visitors can spot ‘the big five’ comprising lions, rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, and elephants, making it Rwanda’s premier savannah National Park and most visited national park.

Lake Ihema: Accommodates the largest population of hippos in East Africa, making it a unique spot in the park. Crocodiles are also sighted.

Lake Shakani: A unique spot for carrying out sport fishing. Freshwater species that can be caught from the lake include: Tilapia, Nile perch, and catfish.

Birding: The park shelters over 750 recorded bird species. These include: the prehistoric shoebill stork, suaza shrike, great snipe, papyrus gonolek, among others.

Other wildlife: The park accommodates over 8000 mammals: zebras, giraffes, hyenas, buffaloes, antelopes, among others. The primates include: vervet monkey, olive baboon, blue monkeys, silver monkey,

What to do: game drives, nature walks, sport fishing, and hot-air balloon tours.

Accommodation Options

Akagera National Park has only two accommodation options within the park boundaries, and these include: Akagera Tented Lodge and Akagera Game Lodge. However, other accommodations are located near the park, for example, Cari Hotel, LeMigo Hotel, Top Tower Hotel, and Umubano Hotel. Examples of budget accommodation options include Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel, among others.

How to get there

Akagera National Park is accessible by both road and air.  From Kigali via the Rwamagana-Kayonza route on well-tarmacked roads, it takes about a 2–3-hours’ drive to cover a distance of 110 kilometres. Charter flight is also available from Kigali to the park’s airstrip, and it takes 20- 30 minutes.

When to Go
The park is accessible all year round; however, the best time to visit the park is during the dry seasons (June-September and January-February). During these months, grass is shorter, animals are easier to spot, and road conditions are better. Avoid the heavy rains of March-May and November-December, which make game viewing challenging and roads muddy.