YELLOW SEASON
AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

by Gaël R. Vande weghe

16 May 2022

Yellow season occurs every year, from the end of April to early June, when one species of daisy, Bidens grantii, will be massively flowering in most of Rwanda, below 1,800m. It used to be known as Bidens steppia, but, science happened. The bloom is particularly extensive in Akagera National Park, but varies from year to year. During this period, particularly on the most impressive years, the park is covered by an uneven yellow blanket, on road sides and hills, sometimes as far as the eye can see. 

May is usually not the easiest for wildlife sightings, since the grasses are tall, and the vegetation has reached its maximum height, slowly becoming dry before the fires and the great renewal in early july. Nevertheless, if there was ever only one reason visit Akagera NP during this time, it would be to feast your eyes on the vibrant yellow color.

Here is a little challenge I gave myself (amidst other tasks) to capture photographs of these flowers and curate a visual collection that represents the ambiance of the park during this period.

For more about the park, see Akagera from above.

Yellow season

Details and bokeh – Muyumbu

Yellow season

Details and bokeh – Lake shore

Yellow season

When there are few – Rwisirabo

Yellow season

Landscape – Nyamatete

Yellow season

Details and bokeh – Rwisirabo

Yellow season

Patchwork – Hago

Yellow season

Landscape – Gishanju

Yellow season

Landscape – Below Mutumba

Yellow season

Details and bokeh – Nyamabuye

Yellow season

Landscape – Kitabiri

Yellow season

Patchwork – Kitabiri

Yellow season

Patchwork – Kajumbura

Yellow season

View from below – Lake shore

Yellow season

Landscape – Kajumbura

Yellow season

Patchwork and bokeh – Mutumba

Yellow season

Landscape – Mutumba

Yellow season

Detail and bokeh – Lake shore

Yellow season

Landscape – Rwisirabo

Yellow season

With a zebra – Gishanju

Yellow season

Detail – Rwisirabo

Yellow season

Patchwork – Gishanju

Yellow season

Landscape – Mutumba

Yellow season

When there are few – Lake shore

Yellow season

From far – Kajumbura

Yellow season

Just one – Rwingwe