Akagera National Park Rwanda
Rwanda's only Big Five park, Akagera National Park
is central Africa’s largest protected wetland. The rolling highlands, vast plains and swamp-fringed lakes of this north-eastern territory contain a rich biodiversity and are home to a number of rare species, such as the shoebill stork. With more than 12,000 large mammals and 482 bird species, this breath-taking landscape is every nature lover’s wildest dream.
African Park's involvement in Akagera National Park Rwanda
- Akagera National Park is the last remaining refuge for savannah adopted species in Rwanda
- In 2017, 18 Eastern Black Rhinos were reintroduced to Akagera National Park from South Africa, not having seen an individual rhino since 2007
- Lions were reintroduced to Akagera National Park in 2015 having been hunted out during the Rwandan Civil War in the 1990s. The population doubled in 2016 with the birth of eleven cubs
- More than 1,300 schoolchildren and their teachers visit Akagera National Park each year
- Overhauled law enforcement and significantly reduced poaching to an all-time low for the park in six years
- A 120km solar powered predator-proof fence has been built around the park to reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife
- In 2015 a canine dog unit was trained and deployed to counter poaching activity
- Award-winning lodges within the park help support the African Parks organisation
- Visitor numbers are increasing annually: Rwandan nationals now make up 50% of the total visitors to the park each year
- Revenue from tourism has increased more than 300% between 2010 and 2016. This revenue, recently totalling $1.4 million, is going back into projects within the community
