Named after the Akagera River that flows along its eastern boundary and feeds into a labyrinth of lakes, the park forms the largest protected wetland in central Africa. The forest fringed lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains and rolling highlands combine to make Akagera amongst the most scenic reserves in Africa, where you can also observe many game animals and about 500 species of birds, permanent to the park because of the wetlands. A must visit!
It is about 2.5 hours drive from the city, depending on the time of the day and traffic. The road is rich with different landscapes, be it the rolling hills or the village lifestyle.
Lions have been reintroduced to Rwanda in 2015 and the population is said to have doubled in the first year with the birth of eleven cubs. Two additional males were translocated from South Africa to Akagera in 2017 to increase the population’s genetic diversity.
The best way to visit is to be part of a safari tour which starts off from the city. If you are short on time, you can still visit the park as a day trip, although it might be a very long day. Day trip can be booked through a local operator.
Entrance fee for International visitors is 50 USD for park entry and children are charged 30 USD. It is best to pay by cash although cards are accepted as well.
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