Best seller
Akagera4 days
Big Five game drives & Lake Ihema boat safari
4.9· 168 reviewsout of 5
From
$1,450per person
Akagera National Park
Rwanda’s only savanna park — lions, rhinos, elephants and a chain of hippo-filled lakes, 2.5 hours east of Kigali.
- 2.5 h from Kigali
- 1,122 km²
- Big Five
- Best Jun–Sep
Where the savanna meets the lakes
Akagera is a conservation success story. Poaching and farming emptied it in the 1990s; since African Parks took over in 2010, lions (2015) and black rhinos (2017) have returned, and the park now has all of the Big Five.
Game drives cross open grassland in the north, while the south is a maze of lakes and papyrus swamps best explored by boat. A two-night stay is enough for most visitors, and the park pairs perfectly with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes.
- Entry fee
- $100 per person / day
- Opening hours
- 6:00 – 18:00
- Nearest airport
- Kigali, 110 km
- Stay
- 2 nights recommended
- Suitable for
- All ages
Essentials
What you’ll see
LionVery likely- ElephantVery likely
- GiraffeAlmost certain
RhinoPossible
When to visit Akagera
| Jan | Good |
|---|---|
| Feb | Good |
| Mar | Rainy |
| Apr | Rainy |
| May | Rainy |
| Jun | Best |
| Jul | Best |
| Aug | Best |
| Sep | Best |
| Oct | Rainy |
| Nov | Rainy |
| Dec | Good |
Akagera tours
Every tour includes a private guide and vehicle, park fees and permits where needed.
Signature
Volcanoes + Akagera6 days
Gorillas & the Big Five in one week
4.9· 131 reviewsout of 5
From
$3,420per person
Signature
All of Rwanda10 days
The complete Rwanda: gorillas, chimps & savanna
5.0· 94 reviewsout of 5
From
$4,980per person
Where to stay in Akagera
Three places we know well, from simple comfort to the very best.
- Mid-range
Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Nine tents on stilts over Lake Ihema.
From $310 / night
LuxuryMagashi Camp
Six tents on Lake Rwanyakazinga, in the park’s wild north.
From $1,100 / night
ComfortableAkagera Game Lodge
Pool, views and easy access to the southern gate.
From $180 / night
Getting there
- By road · 2.5 hoursOur guides drive you from Kigali on paved roads to the southern gate.
- By helicopter · 30 minutesPrivate transfers from Kigali land at the park’s airstrip. From $2,400 per flight.
- Combine with gorillasAkagera to Volcanoes is 5 hours by road — we break the journey in Kigali.
Akagera FAQ
Can I see the Big Five in Akagera?
Yes — all five live here. Lions, elephants and buffalo are seen on most trips; rhinos and leopards take more luck.
Is Akagera good for children?
It is Rwanda’s most family-friendly park, with no minimum age for game drives or boat trips.
Is a day trip from Kigali possible?
Yes, but it is a long day. One night lets you add a sunset boat and a dawn drive, when animals are most active.
Plan your Akagera trip with us.
Tell us your dates and dreams. A Kigali-based planner replies within the hour with a first itinerary — free, and without obligation.