Most travelers come to Rwanda for gorillas, and understandably so — but tucked away in the country’s far east, along the Tanzanian border, is a park that surprises almost everyone who visits it: Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah reserve and, remarkably, a genuine Big Five destination. After decades of decline following the 1994 genocide, Akagera has been the subject of one of Africa’s great conservation turnarounds, with lion reintroduced in 2015 and black rhino in 2017, restoring a full complement of Africa’s most iconic large mammals to a park many visitors don’t even realize exists.

This three-day trip is built to make the most of a short window in Akagera without feeling rushed. After a scenic drive east from Kigali, you’ll spend a full day in the park itself: extended game drives across rolling grassland and acacia woodland in search of lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, and — with a little luck — the more elusive rhino and leopard, paired with a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, one of the best wildlife-viewing activities anywhere in Rwanda, bringing you close to enormous pods of hippo and baskings of Nile crocodile. With over 500 bird species recorded here, it’s also one of the finest birding destinations in East Africa.

It’s an excellent standalone break from Kigali, a natural add-on to any Rwanda gorilla trip, or the savannah half of a broader Rwanda itinerary that also takes in mountain gorillas and rainforest primates. If you’d like to combine Akagera with gorilla trekking, our 15-Day Rwanda–Uganda Primate & Big-Five Safari Adventure does exactly that; for a shorter gorillas-only trip, our 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour is a natural pairing on either end of your Kigali stay. Or get in touch and we’ll tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level to suit you.

Trip Highlights

• Extended game drives across Akagera’s savannah, woodland, and wetland habitats
• The chance to spot all of the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and black rhino — reintroduced through one of Africa’s most successful conservation turnarounds
• A boat cruise on Lake Ihema, home to large pods of hippo and Nile crocodile
• Exceptional birdwatching, with over 500 species recorded in the park
• Rwanda’s only savannah landscape, a striking contrast to the country’s better-known volcanic highlands and rainforest
• A relaxed, easy-paced itinerary suitable for families, couples, and first-time safari-goers alike

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park

After breakfast, your Kenlink Tours guide will collect you from Kigali for the scenic drive east to Akagera National Park, a journey of around two and a half hours through Rwanda’s rolling countryside. On arrival, check into your lodge and head out for an evening game drive as the light turns golden over the acacia woodland — a gentle introduction to the park’s varied habitats and wildlife. Overnight: Akagera National Park

Day 2: Morning Game Drive & Lake Ihema Boat Cruise

Rise early for a full morning game drive through Akagera’s savannah plains and woodland, with excellent chances of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, topi, and, with luck, lion or the park’s more elusive black rhino and leopard. Return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax before heading out in the afternoon for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema — one of Akagera’s signature activities, bringing you close to hippo, crocodile, and abundant waterbirds along the shoreline. Overnight: Akagera National Park

Day 3: Final Game Drive & Transfer Back to Kigali

Enjoy one last game drive in the cool of the early morning before breakfast, making the most of any wildlife you may have missed on previous drives. Afterward, begin the drive back to Kigali, arriving in the afternoon in time for your onward travel or flight home.

What’s Included

• All park entrance fees
• All listed activities (unless marked optional)
• All accommodation
• Professional English-speaking driver/guide
• All ground transportation in a safari vehicle
• All applicable taxes/VAT
• Meals and drinks as specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Not Included

• International flights
• Tips (guideline: US$10 per person per day)
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Optional activities such as an additional night game drive
• Meals not specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Good to Know

Park management: Akagera National Park is managed by the Rwanda Development Board in partnership with African Parks, a conservation organization responsible for much of Akagera’s remarkable wildlife recovery, including the reintroduction of lion and black rhino.

Best time to go: Akagera can be visited year-round, but the dry seasons (June–September and December–February) offer the best game viewing, as wildlife concentrates around the park’s lakes and remaining water sources, and roads are easier to navigate.

Fitness level: This is an easy-going itinerary built around game drives and a boat cruise, suitable for travelers of all fitness levels, including families and older travelers.

Rwanda entry requirements: Most visitors need a visa, obtainable in advance through the Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, and proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry.

Related Tours You May Also Like

• 15-Day Rwanda–Uganda Primate & Big-Five Safari Adventure — for combining Akagera with gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
• 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour
• 6-Day Rwanda Adventure – Great Apes & Lake Kivu
• 3-Day Nyungwe Forest National Park Tour
• 4-Day Rwanda-Uganda Golden Monkey and Gorilla Trekking
• Rwanda Safaris

Useful External Resources

• Rwanda Development Board — official Rwanda tourism authority
• African Parks – Akagera National Park — conservation partner managing Akagera
• Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration — for Rwanda visa applications

Ready to book, or want us to tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level? Request a quote and our team — Africa safari experts since 2010 — will build your Akagera game drive safari around you.