Highlights
Wonderful Wildlife
As of May 2017, Akagera became a ‘Big Five’ park and is the only one in Rwanda to house lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo – making for wonderful game drives. In addition to these famed species, a trip to Akagera offers the opportunity to spot giraffe, zebra, warthogs, olive baboons, veret monkeys, jackal, mongoose and more. Join an expert tracker as you head out on a safari vehicle in search of these amazing animals, learning more about their conservation.
Lake Ihema
Fed by the mighty Akagera River, Lake Ihema is the largest lake in the park, covering an area of around 90km². As well as several fish species within the water and birds in the forest that fringes it, Lake Ihema is home to hippopotamus and crocodiles. Glide across the lake by boat, spotting these spectacular creatures as they wallow in the deep waters.
A Bird Lover's Paradise
The birdlife in Akegera National Park is spectacularly abundant and diverse, with over 500 species recorded around the savannas, woodland and waters. Several of these species are endemic to the park or extremely rare - such as the sought-after shoebill, papyrus gonolek, red-faced barbet and swap flycatcher.
Conservation
Akagera’s conservation story is an inspiring one. During the Genocide of 1994, much of the park’s land was reallocated as farmland, reducing the size by almost half and increasing poaching levels and human encroachment. Since rigorous laws were put into place in 2010, poaching has been reduced and the wildlife has prospered. Several species – such as lion and black rhino – were introduced as recently as 2015, making Akagera a true ‘Big Five’ destination. Rangers conduct monthly road counts in order to gain a clearer understanding of animal behaviour and distribution, with the aim of conserving them for years to come.