Rwanda's Big Five: How Akagera National Park Brought Lions and Rhinos Back
Twenty years ago, Akagera National Park had no lions and no rhinos. Today it offers a genuine big five experience, the result of one of the most remarkable wildlife restoration stories in Africa.…
Twenty years ago, Akagera National Park had no lions and no rhinos. Today it offers a genuine big five experience, the result of one of the most remarkable wildlife restoration stories in Africa. Here is what happened, and what it means for visitors today. The Decline Following the 1994 genocide, large areas of what had been Akagera National Park were resettled and converted to farmland, and the park's wildlife populations, including its lion population, were effectively wiped out by the early 2000s. African Parks Takes Over In 2010, the conservation organisation African Parks partnered with the Rwanda Development Board to manage Akagera. A 120-kilometre electrified fence was constructed to reduce human- wildlife conflict, and a major anti-poaching and habitat restoration programme began. Lions and Rhinos Return Seven lions were reintroduced from South Africa in 2015, the first lions in Akagera in over fifteen years. Black rhinos followed in 2017 and again in 2021, restoring the park's full big five status alongside its existing elephant, buffalo, and leopard populations. What This Means for Visitors Akagera now offers one of the most reliable and uncrowded big five safari experiences in East Africa. Unlike the more famous parks of Kenya and Tanzania, Akagera rarely feels busy, and sightings often come without another vehicle in view. Experience Akagera with Kanguru Akagera is featured as part of Kanguru's Rwanda Grand Tour and can also be booked as a standalone safari extension. Contact our team to find out more.