Rwanda’s Savannah Story — a genuine conservation success, and the country’s only true Big Five destination.
In eastern Rwanda along the Tanzania border, Akagera’s roughly 1,122 square kilometres hold savannah, wetland and a complex system of lakes that make up over a third of the park — the largest protected wetland in East-Central Africa. Founded in 1934, Akagera nearly lost its wildlife entirely after the 1994 genocide, before a partnership between African Parks and the Rwanda Development Board reintroduced lion in 2015 and eastern black rhino in 2017.
A Genuine Conservation StoryAfter the 1994 genocide, much of Akagera’s wildlife was lost to encroachment and poaching. Reintroduction programmes have since restored lion and rhino, making it Rwanda’s only Big Five park today.
Akagera’s lake system, including Lake Ihema, supports large hippo and crocodile populations and offers a genuinely different safari activity — a boat safari — rare elsewhere in Rwanda.
Akagera is a straightforward two-hour drive from Kigali, making it a practical addition even for travelers with limited time who still want genuine Big Five game viewing.
Yes — Akagera adds genuine Big Five savannah game viewing to a Rwanda trip that would otherwise be entirely primate-focused, and its two-hour distance from Kigali makes it practical to include.
Its recent conservation history is the real story — Akagera nearly lost its wildlife after 1994 and has been rebuilt through active reintroduction, alongside a genuinely distinctive lake and wetland landscape.
Speak to a safari designer about combining Akagera with gorilla trekking.
