2018 saw a 20 percent increase in visitors to Akagera National Park in Rwanda over the year before, bringing in enough money last year to cover 75 percent of the park’s annual budget. Sarah Hall, Marketing Manager at Akagera, noted that the park’s success is due in part to the public-private partnership between the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks in the management of Akagera.

Conservation efforts have also helped, with lions being reintroduced in Akagera in 2015 and rhinos reintroduced in 2017. As tourism in Rwanda continues to grow, Akagera will continue to be hot spot for visitors.