Magashi Camp

Magashi Camp, a Wilderness Safaris Classic Camp, is situated in the productive and phenomenally diverse north-eastern corner of the Akagera National Park, overlooking beautiful Lake Rwanyakazinga. The Akagera National Park consists of the most scenic savannah views in East Africa featuring open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp, and grassy low mountains. This region also is home to one of Africa’s highest hippo densities, some very large crocodiles as well as the rare sitatunga and more than 520 bird species.

Teeming with plains game, Akagera now also boasts a healthy population of lion, which were reintroduced into the park in 2015 after a 20-year absence and black rhino reintroduced in 2017. Magashi – the only exclusive-use area in Akagera – also harbours a good density of leopard.

The camp offers six spacious and airy tents providing uninterrupted views over Lake Rwanyakazinga. Each canvas tented room is situated on an elevated deck with elevated wooden walkways that lead to the main area. The tents feature an en-suite bathroom with an indoor shower, single vanity basin and separate toilet. Guests can enjoy subtle amenities such as a wardrobe, luggage rack, writing desk and chair, hat and coat stand, easy chairs, seating area, mosquito net, electronic safe, tea and coffee making facilities, multi-plug adaptor charging facilities for mobile devices, mini-bar and outside deck with a seating area. The tents do not have air conditioning but there are pedestal fans available.

Magashi's main area boasts a luxurious lounge, dining and bar area, pool, and expansive viewing deck with a convivial fire pit. The architecture and interiors pay homage to traditional Rwandan culture.

Activities
Game Drives: Explore the area in an open 4x4 vehicle; each vehicle accommodates a maximum of seven guests, allowing each individual an outside seat.
Boating: Boating in eight-seater swamp cruisers. This is an excellent way to view the water birds and many other aquatic animals seen around Lake Rwanyakazinga.
Birding: Akagera is renowned as one of the best birding areas in the world with almost 500 species of bird recorded here.
Fishing: Fishing on a catch and release basis only.
Guided Nature Walks: View East African bird- and wildlife specials from expertly guided nature walks.

About the Akagera National Park

Akagera is almost unrecognisable today compared to just 20 years ago when it was on the verge of being lost forever. While peace was finally restored in the 1990s after the 1994 Genocide, Akagera’s demise was just beginning. Refugees returning to Rwanda after the genocide were still battling for their own survival and turned to the forests for timber, wildlife for protein and the wild savannas for their livestock. Lions were hunted to local extinction, rhinos disappeared, and the park’s wildlife was displaced by tens of thousands of long-horned cattle. Biodiversity was practically lost, and with it so was employment and tourism. The park’s value was virtually diminished, which makes its story of revival even more remarkable.

In 2010, African Parks assumed management of Akagera in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), shifting the park's trajectory from one of oblivion to prosperity and hope. After years of preparation, through effective law enforcement and management, 2017 saw the historic return of 18 Eastern black rhinoceros after a 10-year absence, thanks to the support from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. An additional five captive-bred black rhinos were translocated from Europe in June 2019, with the support of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), to augment the genetic diversity. Two new male lions were also translocated to Akagera in 2017 to enhance the genetic diversity of the growing pride, which has now tripled since their initial reintroduction in 2015. With poaching essentially halted, the park’s key wildlife populations have continued to rise. The park is generating more than US$2.5M in annual revenue, making it 90% self-financing driven by the tens of thousands of people, half of whom are nationals, coming to see its rebirth.