A Big Five safari in Akagera, a morning's drive from Kigali
24 September 2026 · 4 min read
Photo: Gilson1111, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Most people picture green hills and gorillas when they think of Rwanda. Akagera shows a completely different side of the country: rolling savannah, acacia woodland, papyrus swamps and a chain of lakes along the border with Tanzania.
It's also a real conservation success story. Since 2010 the park has been run by African Parks together with the Rwanda Development Board. Lions returned in 2015 and eastern black rhinos in 2017, making Akagera a Big Five park again.
What you can see
Game drives regularly turn up elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, many kinds of antelope and plenty of hippos and crocodiles around the lakes. Lions, leopards and rhinos take more luck and patience.
Birdwatchers are well served too. Akagera has nearly 500 recorded bird species, including the shoebill, which some visitors hope to spot in the swamps.
Photo: UWIMPUHWE Va, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Out on the water
Don't miss a boat trip on Lake Ihema. Gliding past hippo pods, basking crocodiles and fish eagles gives you a very different view from the game drive, and late afternoon is particularly beautiful.
Day trip or overnight?
The main southern gate is around 2.5 hours' drive from Kigali, so a long day trip is possible. Our apartments in Remera are on the eastern side of the city, which gives you a head start. Staying a night inside or near the park lets you be out at dawn, which is the best time for wildlife.
Good to know
- Leave Kigali early so you reach the gate soon after it opens. Animals are most active in the cool morning hours.
- You can self-drive a 4x4, and hiring a park guide for your vehicle is well worth it. Guides know where the animals have been seen recently.
- Park and activity fees change, so check the current prices on Akagera's official website before you go.
- Pack binoculars, sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. It gets hot on the savannah.
Our cars are available with or without a driver, including 4x4s that suit the park's dirt roads.
Rent a car for Akagera