Akagera National Park Big Five Safari

Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savannah destination, and this dedicated safari requires no trekking permit at all — just park entry fees — making it an easy, affordable add-on to a gorilla trekking trip, or a genuine standalone safari in its own right.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1

Kigali to Akagera National Park

Your driver-guide meets you at Kigali International Airport for the drive east, roughly two to two and a half hours across Rwanda’s rolling hills as they gradually give way to Akagera’s drier savannah. Arrival by mid-afternoon with time for an evening game drive as the light softens.

Accommodation Options

BudgetRuzizi Tented Lodge

Mid-rangeAkagera Game Lodge

LuxuryMagashi Camp

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2

Full Day Big Five Game Viewing and Boat Trip

A full day across Akagera’s mix of savannah, lakes and papyrus wetland, tracking lion and both black and white rhino — all reintroduced here after local extinction, alongside long-established elephant, buffalo and leopard populations — plus a boat trip on Lake Ihema for hippo, crocodile and some of the best waterbird viewing in the region.

Accommodation

As above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3

Morning Game Drive, Return to Kigali

An early game drive while the light and temperature are both at their best, then breakfast back at the lodge before the drive back to Kigali, timed against your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Permits & Costs

Park entry fee	~$50 per person per day
Boat trip on Lake Ihema	Included in tour price

Who This Itinerary Suits

Travellers wanting a genuine Big Five safari without a primate permit, or extending a Volcanoes National Park gorilla trip with an easy addition.

Tour Includes

Travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
All accommodation per itinerary
Meals as specified
Park entry & boat trip fees

Tour Excludes

International flights
Visas
Alcoholic drinks
Tips & gratuities
Travel insurance

Akagera’s Conservation Story

Both lion and rhino were locally extinct in Akagera before reintroduction programmes brought them back, alongside existing elephant, buffalo and leopard populations — a genuine conservation success story that makes this one of the more meaningful Big Five destinations in the region, not just a scenic backdrop for game drives.

What to Pack

Comfortable layered clothing, sun protection, and binoculars if you have them — no walking or specialised gear is needed for this itinerary.

How does Akagera compare to Kenya or Tanzania’s savannah parks?

Smaller in scale but genuinely rewarding, with far fewer visitors and a compelling reintroduction story behind its lion and rhino populations specifically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Big Five genuinely reliable in Akagera?

Lion, elephant and buffalo sightings are consistently strong; leopard and rhino take more patience but both populations are established and monitored.

How far is Akagera from Kigali?

Around 2–2.5 hours by road, a comfortable single transfer.

Ready to Plan This Trip?

Tell us your dates and we’ll confirm lodges within one business day. Get in touch to start planning.