Akagera National Park, Rwanda's largest national park, will receive 70 white rhinos from South Africa later this month, marks the country's biggest rhino transfer to date. The last major transfer took place in 2021 when Rwanda received 30 white rhinos. The rhinos, each weighing up to two tons, will travel approximately 3,400 kilometers to their new home in Akagera. Located in eastern Rwanda, Akagera spans over 1,000 square kilometers. It features a variety of ecosystems including savannah, wetlands, and lakes. The park’s wildlife population has grown from fewer than 5,000 animals in 2010 to

Akagera National Park, Rwanda's largest national park, will receive 70 white rhinos from South Africa later this month, marks the country's biggest rhino transfer to date. The last major transfer took place in 2021 when Rwanda received 30 white rhinos. The rhinos, each weighing up to two tons, will travel approximately 3,400 kilometers to their new home in Akagera. Located in eastern Rwanda, Akagera spans over 1,000 square kilometers. It features a variety of ecosystems including savannah, wetlands, and lakes. The park’s wildlife population has grown from fewer than 5,000 animals in 2010 to nearly 12,000 today. In 2010, the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks partnered to manage Akagera, transforming the park into one of the most coveted wildlife destinations in Africa and a sustainable revenue source for the region’s communities. Law enforcement was overhauled and robust community programs put in place, allowing for wildlife to increase and for key reintroductions to occur, such as lions in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017 and 2019. White rhinos were once widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. However, their numbers declined sharply due to hunting by European settlers and, later, widespread poaching. According to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), rhino poaching in Africa increased by four percent from 2022 to 2023, with at least 586 rhinos killed in 2023. The southern white rhino, one of two subspecies, is now listed as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Around 17,000 individuals remain in the wild. Despite ongoing threats, the white rhino population is slowly rising in South Africa. The planned transfer to Rwanda aims to support further population growth and establish a new breeding stronghold in Akagera. In 2024, Rwanda’s tourism revenue rose by 4.3 percent to reach USD 647 million. This growth was driven by a 27 percent increase in gorilla tourism income and an 11 percent rise in air travel, according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). The country welcomed more than 1.36 million visitors in 2024. Gorilla tourism led the way, generating over USD 200 million. Rwanda’s national parks experienced a 10.7 percent increase in visitors and an 8.5 percent rise in revenue. In total, they attracted 138,000 visitors and earned USD 38.8 million. Nyungwe National Park saw the highest growth, with a 20 percent increase in visitors. It was followed by Volcanoes and Akagera National Parks

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