Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is improving conservation efforts to protect its wildlife and natural habitat, while also renewing efforts to increase tourism revenue.
The park is Central Africa's largest protected wetland and Rwanda’s only protected savannah region, with a wide range of animals.
To ensure security and safety of the wildlife in Akagera, the park has introduced a K9 unit, which is used for rapid deployment in conjunction with law-enforcement patrols on the ground. The unit is tasked with combating poaching and human-wildlife conflict, which continue to represent a threat to the people and wildlife of Akagera.
“In order to boost wildlife conservation at Akagera National Park, in 2010 the government of Rwanda entered into a public-private partnership with African Parks to effectively manage the park,” added Jean Paul Karinganire, Assistant Tourism and Marketing Manager of Akagera Management Company.
In a bid to renew tourism efforts, Royal Balloon Rwanda, in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board and Akagera Management Company, launched the first hot-air balloon tour experience in the country in January.