The rolling hills of Acacia and Brachystegia Woodland coupled with scattered grassland and swamp-fringed lakes along the meandering Akagera watercourse combine to create a park of breathtaking scenic beauty. Forest fringed lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains and rolling highlands combined in a relatively small area make Akagera among the most scenic of savannah reserves. Akagera has exceptional levels of biodiversity, partly due to its position at the confluence of different vegetation zones. The extensive systems of freshwater lakes and associated papyrus swamps form the largest protected wetland in central Africa.
Akagera National Park lies in eastern Rwanda, hugging the border with Tanzania. It's characterized by woodland, swamps, low mountains and savannah. The varied terrain shelters wildlife including zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and hundreds of bird species, such as the rare shoebill stork. In the southern part of the park, vast Lake Ihema is home to hippos and crocodiles.