Akagera National Park generated $5.06 million (over Frw 7 billion) in 2025, reflecting a 5.4 percent revenue increase compared to 2024, as visitor arrivals rose steadily and conservation milestones expanded the park’s global profile.
Park management announced the performance results on February 16, 2026, describing 2025 as a year marked by growth, resilience and measurable impact in conservation, tourism and community development.
More than 59,000 visitors toured the park in 2025, an 8 percent rise from the previous year. Of these, over 51,000 were paying visitors drawn from domestic, regional and international markets. Rwandans accounted for 47 percent of total visitors, international tourists represented 47 percent, while foreign residents living in Rwanda made up 6 percent.
Management said the park successfully covered all its routine operational costs, excluding major capital and infrastructure investments, using internally generated revenue, a key step toward long-term financial sustainability. The income supported wildlife protection and community livelihood initiatives around the park.
Akagera’s international visibility also strengthened after National Geographic named it among the 25 best places to visit in 2026, a recognition seen as a boost to Rwanda’s high-end tourism positioning.
On the conservation front, the park received 70 white rhinos from South Africa in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and African Parks. The translocation—one of the largest of its kind—further strengthened Rwanda’s efforts to restore and protect endangered species.
Akagera remains Rwanda’s only savannah park hosting the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino and buffalo, alongside giraffes, zebras and more than 500 bird species, cementing its role as a flagship conservation and tourism asset.
