There are plenty of game animals in Akagera National Park totaling over 8,000 wildlife animals including all the African safari Big Five.

The best way to view Akagera National Park animals during your Rwanda safari tours is by undertaking a game drive. In the beautiful grassland savannah and woodlands, you’ll spot numerous bird species, big herds of Zebras, African Elephants, Cape Buffalos, Lion herds, Cheetahs, Leopards, Masai Giraffes, Roan Antelope, and Elands, among others.

Amazing Hippo pods and giant Nile crocodiles can be spotted during a boat safari on Lake Ihema and other lakes. Primates such as Baboons, Vervet monkeys, as well as Blue monkeys, are residents. Bush babies can also be seen during the nocturnal game drives by lucky visitors in this protected area.

Travelers interested in Akagera National Park wildlife safaris should target the dry months. During these months, the vegetation is thin, and therefore, game animals are easy to spot!

The following is the list of animals in Akagera park;

1. Lions in Akagera National Park Rwanda

The Lion is known as the King of the jungle. It’s the largest carnivorous cat in Africa and among the African safari big game animals. Lions are apex predators- meaning they have no natural predators.

They are social cats living in pride of about 4-15 members. The pride usually spends most of the day resting. Normally, they are active in the morning hours as well as in the late evening and the female Lion leads the hunt often!

Note;

Lions got into inxtinction in Akagera in the 1990s however, a founder population was introduced in 2015 & 2017. Currently, about 54 Lions dwell in this protected area.

 Habitat for Lion herds in Akagera

During a game viewing trip in Rwanda Akagera park north plains, Lion herds are mostly spotted in savannah grassland and open woodlands where there is plenty of prey like Zebras, Antelopes, and Buffalos.

Note that in the past years, Lion herds had gone into extinction in Akagera NP however in 2015, seven Lions were translocated into Akagera park. As of 2022, their total had multiplied 7 times and chances of spotting them during Rwanda wildlife safaris in Akagera are now high!

2. African Bush Elephants

The Elephant is among the popular big five animals in Rwanda Akagera National Park in the eastern part of Rwanda. It’s the biggest land animal species on Earth weighing about 600kg. Their great size makes them nearly invincible to predators.

Normally, they are found in herds of about 2-20 individuals.

Note that, elephants have a low reproduction rate and females produce one calf every after 8 years. Their gestation period is 22 months and can live for about 70-75 years.

Due to poaching, Elephants were wiped out in Akagera until an initial reintroduction returned a group of about 26 individuals in 1975.

Habitat

The African Bush Elephants live mainly in savannah woodlands as well as in open savannahs near lakes- habitat to water bird species- water birds.

During your Rwanda wildlife safari adventure in Akagera park, you can spot them on the shores of different lakes for example, Lake Ihema and Lake Shakani during a boat cruise. About 130 Elephants have been recorded in Akagera.

3. Cape Buffalos

The Cape Buffalo is also among the Big Five game animals in Rwanda Akagera National Park. It’s a large bovine wildlife species native to Sub-Saharan African countries. Around 4,000 Buffalos were recorded in Akagera park according to the 2021 census.

Habitat for Buffalos in Rwanda Akagera park

Since Buffalos are grazers, they dwell most in open savannah woodlands but, they can also be spotted in flood plains, swamps, and even Mopane grasslands.  In most cases, they feed in a herd of about 60-100 individuals.

Tourists on wildlife safaris in Rwanda Akagera park can spot Buffalos during a game drive along Nyamabuye Lookout Trail for example.

Putting aside humans, Buffalos have a few predators! It takes a Lion’s pride to bring a Buffalo down.

4. Leopards

The Leopard is also a member of the Big Five animals in Rwanda Africa. Not like Lions, Leopards are solitary animal species living an exclusive life.

Habitat for Leopards in Akagera Rwanda Park

A Leopard can live in various environments including forests, mountains, and even in savannah grasslands.

Normally, they are active at night therefore, taking a nocturnal game drive will increase your chances of seeing a Leopard during your wildlife-viewing safaris in Akagera park. Around 15-20 leopards are recorded in Akagera NP.

It feeds mostly on small ungulates & primates.

5. Cheetahs

A Cheetah is also among the big cats in Rwanda Akagera National Park. Popularly, a Cheetah is known as the king of speed- (the fastest land animal on earth capable of running at about 93-104km/hr).

Habitat of Cheetah

The Cheetahs live in a range of habitats however, they are mostly spotted in the dry open grasslands where they can hunt their prey well.

Male Cheetahs are more social than other cats (except for the Lion herds)! However, females have limited interaction with other individuals and normally live a solitary life. You can only find them in a group with their offsprings.

6. Rhinos in Akagera National Park in Rwanda

Tourists on Akagera Rwanda wildlife safaris have a chance of spotting both the Black and White Rhinos. This park is one of the few national parks to spot all these Rhino species. It’s managed by African Parks!

Rhinos are majestic beasts capable of weighing around 1-3 tonnes. They are among the biggest creatures on Earth!

Just like Lions, Rhinos were also translocated into this park. 15 Black Rhinos (from European zoos) were brought into Akagera in 2017 and in 2021, about 21 White Rhinos also were brought in. The aim was to  boost genetic diversity of wildlife in this park Their population has been growing gradually since they are well monitored.

Habitat

Rhinos are grazers mostly spotted in the southern woodlands of the park with plenty of acacia woodland & forests.

The best way to see Rhinos in Akagera National Park Rwanda is undertaking Rhino trekking. You’ll join a group of rangers early morning who monitor these giants.

7. The Masai Giraffe

The Masai Giraffe is among the most amazing animals in Rwanda Akagera National Park. It’s the tallest animal on earth with over 4-5.5m in height.

Giraffes are the tallest animals on the planet known to feed above several plants and animals!

Habitat

Masai Giraffes are browsers feeding on high plants that most other herbivores can reach. They are mostly spotted in woodland areas near Mutumba hills as well as savannah plains dotted with acacia trees. Usually, Giraffes feed most in the first and even the last hours of the day and spend the rest of the day regurgitating.

8. The Spotted Hyena

Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, the spotted Hyena is also called the laughing Hyena. Among the Canivorans, Hyenas hold the largest group size as well as the most complex social behaviors.

They are scavengers mostly however, they can hunt their prey sometimes.

Habitat

Spotted Hyenas inhabit thick bushes and even open savannah grasslands where they can hunt their prey. Normally, they are spotted in groups called clans of about 3-90 individuals led by females.

Though it’s possible to spot Hyenas on day game drives, night game drives offer the best sights.

9. Hippos

A Hippo (Hippopotamus) is among the famous animals in Akagera NP. These semi-aquatic animals are the third largest land animal on earth after the Elephants & Rhinoceros. It can weigh about 1500kg.

Despite the stock size of the Hippos, they are capable of running about 30km/hr over short distances.

Habitat of Hippos in Akagera Park

The largest concentrations of Hippos spend most of their day time lying in the water to cool down since their body has no sweat glands. Since the Hippo diet consists of grass majorly, they come out to forage at night starting at sunset. On average, a Hippo can eat around 40kg of grass in the night depending on its size.

During game viewing tours in Akagera park, a boat cruise on Ihema Lake offers the best sights for Hippos, and many bird species will be spotted.

10. Giant Crocodiles

A Nile crocodile is the largest reptile in the freshwaters of Africa. Globally, it’s the 2nd largest extant reptile after the Saltwater crocodile. Nile crocodile has thick scaly and heavily armored skin.

The average size of a giant Nile crocodile is about 20ft with a weight of around 500 pounds. Just like other crocodile species, this Crocodile has a very powerful bite!

Habitat

In Akagera, the Nile crocodile are spotted during a boat safari on Lake Ihema. During the hot days, numerous Crocodiles spend the day busking on the showers of the lake.

11. Olive Baboons

Olive Boons (native to Africa) are common wildlife species in Rwanda Akagera park. It’s hard to complete game viewing tours in Akagera without encountering a Baboon troop. Anubis baboons usually live in big groups of over 15-150 individuals.

These monkeys are sturdily built!  To many, Baboons look scary due to their doglike pointed muzzles as well as their powerful jaws with long pointed canine teeth.

Habitat

Although Baboons dwell in a range of habitats, they normally dwell in savannah woodlands and grassland near open woodlands. It’s hard to miss spotting Baboons during game drives and guided nature walks in Akagera park.

Other Animals in Rwanda Akagera National Park

1. Jackson’s Hartebeests
2. Uganda kob
3. Topis
4. Impalas
5. Bushbucks
6. Cape Eland
7. Roan Antelope
8. Bohor Reed buck
9. Common Warthog
10. Numerous Monkey species e.g. Blue Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Bush babies, and Black and white colobus monkeys
11. Defassa Waterbucks

There are no gorillas in Akagera NP.

The Best Time to See Animals in Akagera Park?

Travelers can spot Akagera National Park wildlife species all the time of the year. But, the best time to visit Akagera National Park animals is during the dry season when rainfall is little and vegetation is thin.

The dry season includes months; December-February as well as June-early September. Trails for the game drives can be easily accessed- mud-free and various animals can be spotted easily around water sources.

During the wet season, rain is received in most hours of the day and some trails get muddy. This is the right time for budget safaris in Rwanda– the Land of a Thousand Hills

Rwanda Safari Packing List for Akagera National Park Wildlife Tour

It’s important to know the packing list for Rwanda wildlife safari tours while coming to see Akagera National Park animals.

Here is what to carry for the Akagera Park Rwanda tour;

1. A clear camera having extra batteries
2. Sunglasses
3. Insect repellents
4. Safari clothes
5. Rain jacket
6. Light day backpack
7. A water bottle
8. Sunscreen
9. Binoculars
10. Sunhat
11. Jungle boots, ideal for a nature walk
12. Flashlight if you are to look for nocturnal animals on night drives

Accommodation in Akagera National Park Rwanda

As you come to watch Rwanda wildlife in Akagera National Park, don’t get worried about where you’ll stay! Visitors in Akagera park can use budget or luxury lodges. The budget includes; the Dereva Hotel, Shakani Campsite, and Muyumba Campsite. For midrange accommodation, you can use Akagera Game Lodge and Magashi Tented Camp or Ruzizi Tented Camp for luxury.

FAQs About Akagera Game Animals

1.     How Many Animals Are in Akagera National Park?

Over 8,000 animal species have been recorded in Akagera park and some of these include; Lion herds, Bush Elephants, Cape Buffalos, Cheetahs, Giraffes, Leopards, Hyenas plus different species of antelopes, and primates.

2.     What Are the Big Five Animals in Akagera National Park Rwanda?

The big five game animals in Akagera park Rwanda are; Lions, Cape Buffalos, Rhinos, Elephants, and Leopards. These are mostly spotted during a game drive along the Nyamabuye game track.

As you visit Rwanda to watch wild animals in Akagera park, it’s possible to complement your trip with other interesting activities in Rwanda such as gorilla tours in Volcanoes National Park. Kigali city tours, bird watching tours, and chimpanzee safaris in Nyungwe National Park can be arranged as well.

Read this blog to find out about the popular wildlife in Rwanda Akagera park. For any inquiries, contact our receptive team!