It is situated in eastern Rwanda. Along the international border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park covers 1,122 km2. It was established in 1934 and contains ecosystems such as savannah, montane, and swamp. The Akagera river, which flows along the park’s eastern perimeter and feeds Lake Ihema and several smaller lakes, is named for it. Over a third of the park, which is the largest protected wetland in Eastern-Central Africa, is made up of a complex system of lakes and connecting papyrus swamps.
The park now has Africa’s big five, thanks to the introduction and release of seven lions from South Africa in July 2015, the first lions in Rwanda in 15 years.
As part of a project aimed at reversing the local extinction of the species in Akagera National Park, African Parks described this endeavor as “a ground-breaking conservation initiative for both the park and the country.” The lion population has increased to about 40 animals since 2015, and it continues to grow.
