Rwanda is currently among the countries that are most frequently visited by tourists due to its diversity in tourism,it has so many tourism activities,services and attractions such as mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park,Visiting Genocide Memorial sites; Gisozi, Gisenyi , Nyamata, Nyarubuye and Nyanza, and Ntarama Genocide memorial sites. Rwanda offers great opportunities to those looking for wildlife safaris and the best things to do include gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, chimpanzee tracking, birding etc. Other things to do include taking forest canopy and nature walks, boat cruises on Akagera River and mountain climbing in the Volcano ranges, community cultural walks etc. It is recorded that the park once had about 230 lions but, after the 1994 Genocide, refugees / survivors encroached on the park pushing the lions out while killing others. And the once very big park was reduced from 2,500 to 1,200 square kilometers until when government intervened to reclaim some parts.
Akagera National Park is found in the Eastern part of Rwanda along the Uganda and Tanzanian borders founded in 1934 for the conservation of wildlife and plants / vegetation (in savannah, mountain and swamp Eco regions). Akagera National Park picks its name after River Akagera of Rwanda that flows from the eastern side of the country stretching into water bodies like Lake Ihema.It is the largest conserved swamp in Central Africa and currently under the management of The Akagera Management Company ( a body formed by joint between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and African Parks Network in 2010).The two bodies went into a 20 year renewable agreement for the joint management of Akagera National Park.In achievement of its goals, Akagera Management Company has established a 120km Western boundary fence and reintroduction of lions and black rhinos and as a matter of fact,it managed to import 7 Transvaal lions on the 6th– July 2015 from South Africa and are so far the first lions existing in Rwanda 15years now.
Once introduced to the park,they were placed at boma (Northern part of Akagera National Park with a three-meters high, chain-linked electrified fence, a water reserve and even provide with game meat so as to acclimate their new surroundings before their release into the wilderness.
Jes Gruner was quoted “We have closely monitored them for close to a month while in enclosures but now we have released them to hone their hunting skills and boost ecosystem in the park, “He noted that they are now used to Rwanda climate hence they should be free from controlled enclosures and hunt for their own food in one of Africa’s most diverse savanna parks. Gruner stated that tourists will be able to see the lions in the park in Rwanda for the first time in 21 years; however, it would solely depend on where the animal will be located at the time of visit.
Akagera National Park is the country’s famous Savanna animal sanctuary with a wide- range of game that include; “The Big 5”- lions just reintroduced, leopard, hyena and side-striped jackal the buffaloes, elephants, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and antelopes, among others which can all provide you with a very wonderful wildlife safaris in addition to Mountain Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park. The drive to Akagera is pleasant and far less hilly than to other parks in Rwanda.Akagera National Park supports tourism in terms of, Game drives, Boat Trips & Fishing, Birding among others.