Overview–rwanda

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savannah reserve, and after recent reintroductions of rhinos and lions, you have a chance of spotting the Big Five. You’ll also see plenty of plains animals, such as giraffes, zebras, impalas, and topi. In terms of pure wildlife viewing, Akagera can’t compete with the more famous parks in Kenya and Tanzania. However, the park is very scenic and the birdlife is particularly rewarding.

Best Time to Visit

Akagera National Park can be visited throughout the year. The Dry season (June to September) is the prime time for viewing wildlife in the park. Mid-December to mid-February, a dry spell in the Wet season, is also a good time. Animals are easier to spot because the bush thins out and wildlife concentrates around the lakes.

June to September –Dry Season

Best time of year for spotting wildlife
The skies are bright, with almost no rain
Malaria risk subsides as there are fewer mosquitoes
The sky is hazy and the lush Wet season is more beautiful

October to May –Wet Season

The scenery is green and lush
There are more birds around
Mid-December to mid-February is good for wildlife viewing
Rain can sometimes interfere with activities
Wildlife viewing is not as good as during the Dry season

Scenery

Akagera is particularly scenic and offers a wide diversity of habitats in a small area. Visitors can drive along a string of forest-fringed lakes and wetlands fed by the Akagera River. Tall mountains form a lovely backdrop to the ever-changing vegetation, which includes papyrus swamps and acacia woodland.

Activities

Game drives allow you to see a good selection of Akagera’s wildlife. It’s possible to self-drive, assuming you have a sturdy 4x4. Guided night drives increase the odds of encountering nocturnal creatures such as leopards, bush babies, and genets. Boat trips are excellent for hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds. Privately run balloon safaris offer an aerial overview of the lush scenery. For deeper insight, join a Behind-the-Scenes tour or Walk-the-Line patrol of the boundary fence.

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Rates

From: $314 to $1,093 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: June to September and mid-December to mid-February (It is drier and wildlife is easier to spot)

High Season

From: June to September (The park is busiest at weekends)

Size

From: 1,122km² / 433mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Akagera National Park is now a Big Five destination, but sightings of key species are still hit-and-miss. Lions were reintroduced in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017. Both are thriving, but the more recent introduction of 30 white rhinos will make rhino sightings a lot easier. Take a boat trip to see lots of hippos, gigantic crocodiles, and maybe elephants playing in the water.

Wildlife Highlights

Plains animals are plentiful, including zebra and Masai giraffe. Akagera is also home to 11 antelope species. The most common is the gracious impala, but of particular interest are the big herds of topi. Defassa waterbuck is regularly seen around the lakes, and bushbuck is a widespread resident in the woodland areas. Also, look out for pairs of oribi on the Mutumba Hills.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The main Dry season from June to September is the best time for wildlife viewing in Akagera. Wildlife is easier to spot because vegetation is thinner and animals gather around the lakes, which are a big feature of the park. Mid-December to mid-February, which is a drier spell between the short and long rains of the Wet season, is also a good time.

General Wheather

The climate in Akagera National Park is moderate to warm. Average temperatures are quite uniform throughout the year. It is advised to take warm clothing for early morning or night game drives. Akagera's Dry season is from June to September. The rainy season has two parts. The short rains are from October to December and the long rains are from March to May. Mid-December to mid-February tends to be a drier spell.

Dry Season –June to September

There is very little rain during these months. Vegetation thins out and animals are attracted to the lakes and wetland areas in the park. Temperatures are warm and pleasant.

June, July & August – Afternoon temperatures are usually around 26°C/79°F. Most days are sunny with a fine, clear sky. It gets cold at night, with minimum temperatures around 16°C/61°F. It’s usually cold in the early morning as well.
September – Early September is still dry, but sometime this month the short rains might start. Temperatures remain the same.

Wet Season –October to May

As in the Dry season, temperatures are warm. Afternoon temperatures are usually around 26°C/79°F, while nighttime temperatures hover around 15°C/59°F. During the Wet season, it rarely rains all day, but afternoon thundershowers can be expected. There is a drier spell between the short and long rains.

October, November & December – ‘Short rains’ – The rains start in October (or September). It is rare for it to rain throughout the day. Afternoon showers are common. Daytime temperatures are usually around 25°C/77°F, while night and early morning temperatures are about 16°C/61°F.
January & February – These months tend to be drier as mid-December to mid-February is a drier spell between the short and long rains. The exact timing is unpredictable though.
March, April & May – ‘Long rains’ – This is the wettest period. It tends to rain most days, although seldom for the whole day. It is often cloudy. The average temperatures remain about the same.

Prons

Good wildlife viewing with the Big Five present
Excellent birding includes many rarities, raptors, and waterbirds
Beautiful scenery with several forest-fringed lakes
Night drives, boat trips, and balloon safaris available, along with the usual game drives

Cons

Big cats are relatively difficult to spot
Tsetse flies (although harmless) can be annoying

How To Get There

Your entry point to the country will most likely be Kigali International Airport (KGL), on the outskirts of the capital city of Kigali.

Akagera National Park is located in the east of Rwanda, about 110km/68 mi from Kigali. The drive takes about 2½ hours*. The speed limit throughout Rwanda is 60km per hour.

Akagera is commonly visited as part of a 4x4 tour of the country, which includes a driver-guide.

There are no domestic flights to Akagera, but Akagera Aviation offers charter helicopter transfers to anywhere in the country. The flight from Kigali to Akagera takes about 20 minutes.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kigali International Airport (KGL) and what tickets would cost.