Ibanda-Kyerwa National Park

The Ibanda-Kyerwa National Park, previously Ibanda Game Reserve, (Hifahdi ya Taifa ya Ibanda-Kyerwa, in Swahili) is a national park in Tanzania, with the IUCN category II located within Kyerwa District of the Kagera Region of Tanzania.^[1]

Ibanda-Kyerwa National Park
(IKNP)
IUCN category II (national park)
Location in Tanzania
Location	Tanzania, Kagera Region, Kyerwa District
Nearest city	Bukoba
Coordinates	1°11′00″S 30°34′00″E
Area	200km2
Established	2019
Governing body	Tanzanian National Parks Authority
Website	Park website

Overview

The game reserve was designated in 1974, it received an updgraded designation of national park in 2019. The area of the national park is 200 square kilometres (77 sq mi). The area was the ancestral home to the Nyambo people and a domain of the former Karagwe Kingdom prior to European colonialism. The park, which is rich in wildlife attractions, is situated in a unique location in Tanzania's west corner, bordering both the south-west border of Uganda across the Kagera River and Akagera National Park in Rwanda.^[2]

Ecology

Animals found in this national park include hippos, antelopes, Thomson's gazelles, impalas, elands, and baboons. The park can be reached by flight from Dar es Salaam Airport to Bukoba Airport and then by road from Bukoba town to the park.^[3]

The rainy season is between January and April.^[4] Kagera River is the main source of water for this park and nourishes its rich resources. Trophy hunting safaris are the most common commercial activities in a small portion of the park that is still a game reserve area.^[5]

Tourist arrivals

Ibanda Kyerwa is one of the least visited national parks in Tanzania, with visitor statistics frequently absent from popular sources.^[6] To address this and increase tourist arrivals, in 2024 the government invested TSh 3.9 billion (approximately US$1.45 million as of September 2024) to develop tourism facilities within the park.^[7]