Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda, on the border of Tanzania, received 44 066 visitors in 2018, a 20% increase compared with 2017’s figure of 37 284.

The park generated $2 043 546 nett in park revenue in 2018, an increase of over 20% compared with $1 633 150 in 2017, resulting in 75% of the park’s annual budget.

Sarah Hall, Tourism and Marketing Manager at Akagera National Park, told Tourism Update: “It is a huge milestone to reach the two-million-dollar mark, up from a base of just $200 000 in 2010. We are still not yet self-financing, but we are getting closer, achieving around 75% of our budget last year.”

According to Hall, there are many contributing factors to the park’s growth and success. “The park has been on an upward trajectory since the Public-Private Partnership between the Rwandan Development Board and African Parks for the management of Akagera in 2010,” says Hall, adding that a lot of hard work, a dedicated team, a good relationship with a progressive government who realise the importance of conservation and are promoting tourism development in Rwanda, have all contributed to the park’s success.

Furthermore, African Parks as a conservation organisation has been gaining attention and, with events such as the reintroduction of lions to Akagera in 2015, and the reintroduction of rhino in 2017, the park further gained a significant amount of exposure, explains Hall. “Rwanda was also mentioned in several lists of ‘places to visit in 2018’.”