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Scenes From Ibanda-Kyerwa National Park
Extraordinary African Safaris
A remote new park along the Kagera River at the meeting point of Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda — riverine wilderness for the truly intrepid.
Ibanda-Kyerwa is among the most remote parks in Tanzania, gazetted in 2019 in the far north-west where the country meets Rwanda and Uganda. It follows the course of the Kagera River — the most distant headstream of the Nile — through a landscape of riverine forest, open savanna, and seasonal wetlands in the Kagera region.
Created largely from former game-controlled land, the park protects roan and eland antelope, topi, bushbuck, hippo, and crocodile along the river, with elephants moving through and a rich birdlife drawn to the water. As with its sister parks, wildlife is dispersed and populations are recovering, but the riverine setting gives it a distinct, watery character.
This is a park for the genuinely adventurous — those who want to stand at the meeting point of three nations beside one of the Nile’s source rivers. Infrastructure is minimal, so it is explored as a guided expedition, often alongside Rumanyika-Karagwe and Burigi-Chato as part of a pioneering Kagera circuit.
Ibanda-Kyerwa is reached overland from Bukoba through the Kagera region, a long drive into genuinely remote country. Facilities are very limited, so visits are arranged as self-sufficient guided expeditions. It is best combined with the neighbouring new parks of Rumanyika-Karagwe and Burigi-Chato for travellers exploring Tanzania’s far north-western frontier.
Standing on the Kagera River with Rwanda on one bank and Uganda beyond, hippos grunting in the current — few places in Tanzania feel this far from everything. — Guest review, TripAdvisor
Firmer roads and wildlife near the river make this the only dependable window for most travellers. The best weather, too.
Best overallBrief storms green the savanna and bring migrant birds to the river. Fresh and very quiet.
Best for birdingWarm and lush between the rains, the riverine scenery at its best. Access remains mostly possible.
Best sceneryHeavy rain makes the long approach roads very difficult. The wettest and least accessible months.
Best avoided
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