April 29, 2021by Sasha Ella

Mantis Akagera Game Lodge Launch

On the 14th of April 2021, The Mantis Collection and the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) celebrated the finalization of phases 1 & 2 of Akagera Game Lodge in Rwanda.

Mantis Akagera Game Lodge is one of Rwanda’s most iconic lodge offerings, allowing travellers to stay inside the Akagera National Park; Rwanda’s only Big Five reserve. At only a 2,5-hour drive from Kigali, the lodge comprises 59 rooms with balconies and en suite bathrooms, a restaurant, bar, conference venue, swimming pool, and deck area.

The lodge has undergone extensive renovations which commenced in 2018; All 59 guest rooms have been completely modified and modernised, with the presidential suite being the showcase.

Public areas, including the restaurant and bar, have been renovated and refurbished to be in line with the rooms, alongside the conference room which has been upgraded and can now host up to 50 delegates. The swimming pool and pool deck have also been revitalised.

Keeping true to Mantis’ sustainability practices, the original centralised geyser/boiler system has been replaced with solar-assisted geysers and other sustainable energy solutions and an organic vegetable garden tended by the staff, growing seasonal produce which is prepared in meals served at the lodge.

Akagera National Park (ANP), in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, on the border of Tanzania, is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda.

Akagera National Park is characterised by swamps, lakes, open savannahs and woodlands. The park is home to more than 482 bird species, such as the rare Shoebill Stork, and over 12,000 large mammals including zebras, giraffes, lions, black rhinos, and elephants.

Crucial to the park’s ecosystem is the vast Lake Ihema which is home to hippos and crocodiles. Akagera National Park is considered a strategic tourist attraction in Rwanda and offers unrivalled scenic beauty.

Mantis Chairman, Adrian Gardiner, has been involved in the development of conservation in Rwanda for the last 15 years. This is a project that is close to Mr Gardiner’s heart as Mantis was involved in formulating the Wildlife Management plan for Akagera National Park in 2007 – Mantis brings to the table a sound understanding of what the park has to offer

Jean Marie Gacandaga, Deputy Director General for RSSB says, “ together under the guidance of the Mantis Group,the hotel has gone through extensive renovations to enhance the guest experience with the investment made to assist government in growing tourism in Rwanda and being part of the social responsibility growth in the region around Akagera.’’

The Community Conservation Fund Africa (CCFA), a Mantis and Accor Foundation, launched the Akagera Fisheries project – assisting African Parks, responsible for the management of Akagera National Park in Rwanda, to develop a fisheries project on Lake Gishanda, just outside the national park.

The project involves working with a local cooperative and supporting the development of a commercial business to cultivate aquaculture opportunities in the region.

This scalable fisheries project will benefit a minimum of 120 families in the cooperative as well as the wider community through income generation of sales, including to local lodges and hotels such as Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, as well as employment and local capacity building, food security and improved nutrition.

Plans for Akagera Game Lodge include the introduction of set departures from Kigali and positioning Akagera Lodge as a luxury experience in a circuit including Kigali, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Nyagatare. This is in line with the long-term strategy implemented by Rwanda Tourism.

A closer look at Mantis’ Rwanda tourism circuit:

Mantis EPIC Hotel & Suites, relaunched with Mantis April 2019

Located in Nyagatare, Eastern Province

Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, reopened March 2020 after phase 1 renovations

Within Akagera National Park, Eastern Province

Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel, opened July 2020

Located in Rusizi, Western Province