About This Safari
Rwanda's Only Big Five Savannah Experience
Akagera National Park is Rwanda's crown jewel of savannah wildlife, stretching 1,122 km² along the Tanzanian border. Our 2-Day safari from Kigali gives you maximum wildlife time — morning and afternoon game drives, a peaceful boat safari on Lake Ihema, and the chance to spot lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo in a landscape that has undergone one of Africa's most inspiring conservation transformations.
Why Akagera?
Once devastated, Akagera has been reborn. Lions were reintroduced from South Africa in 2015, rhinos followed in 2017, and in June 2025 a record 70 southern white rhinos were translocated — making this one of the most exciting parks in Africa right now. All this is just 2.5 hours from Kigali.
Who Is This For?
Ideal for travellers with limited time who want a complete Big Five experience without a week-long commitment. Perfectly paired with our gorilla trekking safaris or added before a longer Uganda wildlife safari.
Best Time to Visit
Akagera is rewarding year-round. The dry seasons (June–September and December–February) offer the best game viewing as animals congregate around water sources. Birding is phenomenal in the wet season, with over 520 species recorded throughout the park.
Transport & Vehicles
All transfers are in our fleet of well-maintained 4×4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs for unobstructed wildlife photography. Choose from a Safari Landcruiser, Safari Van, or Toyota Landcruiser depending on your group size.
Day-by-Day Plan
Your Safari Itinerary
A carefully timed schedule designed to place you in the park during peak wildlife activity hours each day.
Kigali → Akagera National Park
Arrival, Afternoon Game Drive & Boat Safari on Lake Ihema
Your driver-guide collects you from your Kigali hotel or Kigali International Airport at approximately 06:00 AM. The scenic drive east takes around 2.5 hours, passing through Rwanda's iconic terraced hills and rural landscapes.
Upon arrival at Akagera's southern gate, you proceed through the park towards your lodge, scanning for wildlife along the way — giraffes grazing at the roadside, zebras, antelopes, and baboons are frequent early sightings.
After lunch at your lodge, embark on a leisurely afternoon boat safari on Lake Ihema — the park's largest lake and one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in Rwanda. Hippo pods surface just metres from the boat, enormous Nile crocodiles bask on the banks, and a stunning variety of waterbirds — including the sought-after shoebill stork — patrol the papyrus fringes.
Return to your lodge as the sun sets over the savannah for dinner and an overnight stay inside the park.
- Early departure transfer from Kigali (approx. 06:00 AM)
- Scenic 2.5-hour drive through Rwanda's Thousand Hills
- En-route wildlife spotting through the park
- Afternoon boat safari on Lake Ihema (hippos, crocs, shoebill)
- Sunset drinks & dinner at your lodge
- Overnight inside Akagera National Park
Full-Day Game Drive → Kigali
Dawn Game Drive, Big Five Pursuit & Return to Kigali
Rise before dawn for a bush breakfast at the lodge, then set out at first light — the golden hour is the very best time to find lions and leopards before they rest in the shade. Your experienced guide will navigate the park's southern plains, acacia woodland, and rolling grasslands, reading tracks and using radio contact with other ranger teams to maximise your Big Five sightings.
Elephants regularly emerge from the thickets to drink at the park's numerous water points, while black and white rhinos — including the newly arrived 2025 translocation herd — graze across the open grasslands. Keep your camera ready: the landscape itself, with its patchwork of forest, swamp, and savannah, offers extraordinary photographic opportunities at every turn.
Enjoy a packed bush lunch, then begin your return drive to Kigali in the early afternoon, arriving by approximately 16:00–17:00 PM. Your driver-guide can drop you at your hotel, a restaurant of your choice, or connect you with an onward airport transfer.
- Pre-dawn breakfast & early morning game drive (approx. 05:30 AM)
- Big Five pursuit: lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos & buffalo
- Birdwatching — over 520 species including the shoebill stork
- Bush lunch inside the park
- Afternoon drive back to Kigali (arrival ~16:00–17:00 PM)
- Drop-off at hotel, restaurant, or airport
Safari Highlights
What You Will Experience
The Big Five
Akagera is the only park in Rwanda where you can encounter all five — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo — in a single visit, across its diverse savannah and woodland ecosystems.
Boat Safari — Lake Ihema
The highlight of most visitors' trips. Lake Ihema's tranquil waters harbour large hippo pods, Nile crocodiles, and an extraordinary array of waterbirds seen nowhere else on land.
520+ Bird Species
One of East Africa's finest birding destinations, including the rare shoebill stork, papyrus gonolek, and hundreds of migratory and resident species across the park's four distinct habitats.
Dawn Game Drives
First light is when the predators are most active and the savannah is bathed in extraordinary golden colour — our itinerary is timed to take full advantage of this magical hour.
Conservation Story
Witness first-hand one of Africa's greatest wildlife recoveries. From zero lions and rhinos in 2007 to a thriving Big Five population — Akagera's story is as moving as its landscapes.
Expert Ranger Guides
All game drives are led by certified rangers with deep knowledge of animal behaviour and habitat. They liaise with park tracking teams to give you the best possible wildlife encounters.
Package Details
What's Included & Excluded
✓ Included
- ✓ Private return transfer from Kigali in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- ✓ All park entrance and activity fees (game drives, boat safari)
- ✓ Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- ✓ 1 night accommodation inside Akagera National Park
- ✓ All meals during the safari (dinner Day 1, breakfast + bush lunch Day 2)
- ✓ Boat safari on Lake Ihema
- ✓ Bottled drinking water throughout
- ✓ All government taxes and levies
- ✓ 24/7 support from our Kigali operations team
✗ Not Included
- ✗ International or domestic flights
- ✗ Rwanda visa fees
- ✗ Travel & medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✗ Personal items, laundry, and souvenirs
- ✗ Alcoholic and soft drinks at the lodge
- ✗ Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- ✗ Night game drives (available as an optional add-on)
- ✗ Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Safari Essentials
What to Know Before You Go
Wear neutral colours
Khaki, olive, beige, and brown help you blend into the landscape and avoid disturbing wildlife. Avoid white, black, and bright colours on game drives.
Pack binoculars & a good lens
A pair of 10×42 binoculars transforms your experience. For photography, a 400–600mm telephoto lens is ideal for bird and predator shots from the vehicle.
Apply sun protection
The East African sun is intense, especially with open pop-up roofs. Pack SPF 50+ sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and UV-protective long-sleeved shirts.
Take malaria precautions
Akagera is a malaria zone. Consult your doctor about antimalarials and pack DEET insect repellent. Long sleeves at dawn and dusk significantly reduce exposure.
Carry USD cash
Card acceptance can be limited in the park. Have US dollars on hand for tips, drinks, and any optional purchases. ATMs are available in Kigali before departure.
Stay inside the vehicle
Always follow your guide's instructions during game drives. Exiting the vehicle in the presence of wildlife — especially predators — is strictly prohibited and dangerous.
Explore More
Plan Your Full East Africa Adventure
Combine this Akagera safari with other experiences for an unforgettable East Africa itinerary.
