The World Travel Awards honor outstanding organizations across various tourism sectors, including hotels, national parks, and conservation areas. This year’s awards ceremony will be held in Bahrain on December 9, 2025.

Akagera National Park is competing in the category of “Africa’s Leading National Park,” which highlights parks known for their iconic and powerful wildlife. Its competitors include Kruger National Park (South Africa), Chobe National Park (Botswana), Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe), Nyerere National Park (Tanzania), and Serengeti National Park (also in Tanzania).

To win the award, Akagera must receive the highest number of votes cast via the official World Travel Awards website. Voting closes on May 4, 2025.

Spanning 1,120 square kilometers, Akagera is home to over 11,000 animals, according to a survey conducted in August 2023. These include the “Big Five” species, namely; lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes.

According to the park’s management, several factors contribute to Akagera’s popularity among visitors including the presence of the Big Five, its easy accessibility from Kigali due to improved infrastructure, discounted rates for Rwandans who visit as groups, high security, and a range of accommodation options, from budget lodges to luxury stays.

In 2023, the park recorded 54,141 visitors, including 26,047 Rwandans, 23,560 international tourists, and 4,534 foreign residents living in Rwanda.

Akagera National Park has been nominated for the World Travel Awards, a global recognition that celebrates excellence in the tourism industry.