Akagera National Park lies in eastern Rwanda, hugging the border with Tanzania. It's characterized by woodland, swamps, low mountains, and savannah. The varied terrain shelters wildlife including zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and hundreds of bird species, such as the rare shoebill stork. In the southern part of the park, vast Lake Ihema is home to hippos and crocodiles.
June to September: Dry Season
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October to May: Wet season
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Akagera can be visited throughout the year. The Dry season (June to September) is the prime time for watching wildlife in the park. Animals are easier to spot because the bush thins out and wildlife concentrates around the lakes.
The Dry season from June to September is the best time for wildlife viewing in Akagera. Wildlife is easier to spot because the vegetation is thinner and animals gather around the lakes, which are a big feature of the park.
Akagera has now become a Big Five destination after the reintroduction of lions and black rhinos. However, people only focused on Big Five species may be disappointed. Buffalo is very common, but the elephant can be difficult to find. The newly introduced lions are remarkably relaxed, but sightings are hit-and-miss. Black Rhino is the most recent addition, but they are very shy. Leopards can be spotted on night drives. There are a lot of plains species, including Burchell's Zebra and Masai giraffe.
The climate in Akagera is usually moderate to warm. The average temperatures are quite uniform throughout the year. It never gets extremely hot, but it is consistently warm during the day and cools at night. It is advised to take warm clothing for early morning or night game drives.
Akagera's Dry season is from June to September. There are two Wet seasons. The ‘short rains’ are from October to December and the ‘long rains’ are from March to May.
The relatively warm and low-lying plains of Akagera comprise savannah, woodland, wetland, and a dozen lakes. In partnership with African Parks, we aim to transform the National Park into a world-class location to experience a safari.
The largely open expanse is ideal for game viewing, and we are taking steps to ensure the Big Five roam the park in greater numbers over the course of time.
Akagera can be visited throughout the year. The Dry season (June to September) is the prime time for watching wildlife in the park. Animals are easier to spot because the bush thins out and wildlife concentrates around the lakes.
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. The temperatures are warm and pleasant.
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.
Like other game reserves and parks in Rwanda, Akagera NP is very safe in our opinion. Most people come with their experienced driver-guide, but optional guides are available for self-drive visitors. This is recommended for people without much bush experience, as the park isn’t very busy and there are only basic signposts, so getting lost is a real possibility. Night drives and boat safaris are all conducted with local rangers.
Akagera NP lies in a malaria zone and precautions against malaria, as well as certain other vaccinations, are advised. Protection against malaria includes taking antimalarial medication and using mosquito repellent containing at least 30% DEET. It is also advised to cover up in the evening by wearing long trousers, sleeves and closed shoes.
Spraying the room every evening before bedtime is a good idea if you aren’t sleeping under a mosquito net. The risk of malaria is worst in the rainy seasons – from March to May and October to December.
The climate in Akagera is usually moderate to warm. The average temperatures are quite uniform throughout the year. It never gets extremely hot, but it is consistently warm during the day and cools at night. It is advised to take warm clothing for early morning or night game drives.
Akagera's Dry season is from June to September. There are two Wet seasons. The ‘short rains’ are from October to December and the ‘long rains’ are from March to May.