Permit included
Volcanoes3 days
Gorilla trekking & golden monkeys in the Virungas
4.9· 212 reviewsout of 5
From
$1,890per person
Best sellerPrivate tour
Big Five game drives & Lake Ihema boat safari
4.9· 168 reviewsout of 5
Akagera National Park, Eastern Province- Duration4 days · 3 nights
- GroupPrivate · 1–6 guests
- DifficultyEasy
- Start & endKigali
Rwanda’s Big Five on the savanna
Akagera is Rwanda’s savanna: rolling grassland, papyrus swamps and a chain of lakes along the Tanzanian border. Lions and rhinos have returned, and with a private vehicle you set the pace — dawn drives, a sunset boat among hippos, and a night drive for the creatures of the dark.
- Game drives for lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard
- Sunset boat safari on Lake Ihema
- Guided night drive
- Private 4×4 with pop-up roof
- Three nights at a lakeside tented lodge
- Picnic breakfast on the plains
Day by day
- 01
Day 1 · Kigali → Akagera
Drive east & afternoon boat safari
A 2.5-hour drive to the park, lunch at the lodge, then an afternoon boat on Lake Ihema among hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles.
Ruzizi Tented Lodge Lunch · Dinner
- 02
Day 2 · Northern plains
Full-day Big Five game drive
Leave at first light for the northern plains, where lion, rhino and elephant roam. Picnic breakfast on the savanna.
Ruzizi Tented Lodge Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- 03
Day 3 · Akagera
Slow morning & night drive
A relaxed morning drive, the afternoon at the lodge, then a guided night drive for leopard, bushbabies and genets.
Ruzizi Tented Lodge Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- 04
Day 4 · Akagera → Kigali
Final drive & return to Kigali
One last morning game drive on the way out, arriving in Kigali by mid-afternoon.
Breakfast · Lunch
What’s included
Included
- Park entry fees
- Lake Ihema boat safari
- Guided night drive
- Private 4×4 and driver-guide
- 3 nights full board
- Kigali pick-up and drop-off
Not included
- International flights
- Rwanda visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips
- Drinks at the lodge
Where you’ll stay
Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Nine tents on stilts on the shore of Lake Ihema, with hippos grunting below the deck at night.
· 3 nights· Full board· Lake view
Upgrade to Magashi Camp from +$1,400 pp
Prices
Per person in US dollars. Prices fall as your group grows.
| Travellers | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $2,030 | $3,770 |
| 2 travellersMost booked | $1,450 | $2,828 |
| 3–4 travellers | $1,334 | $2,683 |
| 5–6 travellers | $1,247 | $2,596 |
Before your safari
What will we see?
All of the Big Five live in Akagera. Lions and elephants are seen on most trips; rhinos and leopards take more luck.
When is the best time?
June–September and December–February, when the grass is short and animals gather at the lakes.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes — Akagera is Rwanda’s most family-friendly park, with no minimum age for game drives.
4.9
4.9out of 5
168 reviews of this tour
- 5.0· September 2026out of 5
Three lions on the first morning and a rhino on the second. The boat at sunset was magical.
Claire & Tom · Brussels
- 5.0· August 2026out of 5
Our guide spotted everything. Having our own vehicle made all the difference with the kids.
The Okafor family · Lagos
Combine it with the savanna
Most guests add a second park. We can join any of these to your trip.
Signature
Volcanoes + Akagera6 days
Gorillas & the Big Five in one week
4.9· 131 reviewsout of 5
From
$3,420per person
Small group
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