And the wildlife? You’re in for a treat! You can spot the Big Five here! Given the size of the park, it might take some effort to find them all—it’s not a zoo, after all—but if you don’t manage to see everything during the day, you can always embark on a night game drive. How cool is that? Driving through the park in the dark, surrounded by wild animals? Thrilling! And it’s a truly unique experience, as night safaris aren’t allowed in many national parks across Africa.
You can also explore the park on your own, so no squeezing into a vehicle with other tourists—just the freedom to decide where to go and when to stop for a picnic. That said, bringing along a ranger is highly recommended. They know the park inside out and can guide you to the best spots for wildlife sightings.
This park hasn’t always been what it is today. In the 1990s, it was almost lost entirely. After the genocide in 1994, many Rwandans fled to this area, and to survive, they cleared large parts of the forests and hunted on the savannahs. Wildlife became a food source, and the park turned into a settlement, with houses and farms sprouting up.
Following this turbulent period, it was decided that the people could keep their homes, which significantly reduced the size of the park. That Akagera National Park has recovered so remarkably is nothing short of a miracle. A miracle teeming with zebras, giraffes, rhinos, elephants, leopards, lions, buffaloes, antelopes, and so much more incredible wildlife!
