Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park lies in eastern Rwanda along the Tanzanian border, approximately 110 kilometres from Kigali. The park is named after the Kagera River, which forms its eastern boundary and feeds a landscape of lakes, papyrus swamps, floodplains and open wilderness. Around one-third of the park’s approximately 1,200 square kilometres is covered by water, making its wetlands and lakes an important part of the Akagera landscape. For visitors looking for a traditional savannah safari in Rwanda, Akagera offers opportunities to explore the park by vehicle while searching for a wide variety of wildlife. The park has thriving populations of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, together with giraffes, zebras and several antelope species. Wildlife numbers have recovered through conservation and reintroduction efforts, including the reintroduction of lions in 2015, eastern black rhinos in 2017 and southern white rhinos in 2021. Game drives through expert guides from Samton Safaris in collaboration with the community guides are one of the main ways to explore

Akagera. The park is open to day visitors, while overnight visitors have additional opportunities to experience the landscape through activities such as night drives. As with any wildlife destination, sightings are not guaranteed and depend on animal movements, weather and local conditions. The park’s lakes and wetlands offer a different perspective on the safari experience. Here, boat excursion on Lake Ihema allows visitors to experience hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds from the water while enjoying views of the forest-fringed shoreline. Scheduled boat trips are offered during the morning and afternoon, with private trips also available at other times. Akagera is also an important destination for birdwatching, with hundreds of bird species recorded across its diverse habitats. Birders can explore the wetlands and lakes in search of species associated with the region, including the papyrus gonolek and red-faced barbet. The combination of open plains, woodland, lakes and papyrus swamps provides a variety of habitats for both wildlife and birds. Visitors staying overnight can experience guided night drives, which provide an opportunity to explore the park after sunset and look for nocturnal wildlife. Other experiences include fishing on Lake Shakani, a Behind the Scenes visit to learn about the park’s conservation work, the Walk the Line experience along part of the park’s boundary and community cultural experiences involving local activities such as dairy farming, banana beer making and honey cooperatives.

Akagera can also be included in a wider Rwanda itinerary. Its location makes it possible to combine a savannah safari with destinations such as Kigali, Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park, giving visitors the opportunity to experience different wildlife habitats and landscapes during one trip. With Samton Safaris, visitors can include Akagera National Park in a Rwanda safari itinerary tailored around wildlife viewing, nature and cultural experiences.