How long should I stay in Akagera National Park?

We recommend three nights in Akagera National Park.

Who will enjoy Akagera National Park?

Wildlife lovers and travelers looking to get a taste of a traditional safari while in Rwanda will love spending a few days here.

Does Rwanda have the Big Five?

Akagera National Park is home to the Big Five: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo. Just remember that because the park is still in the process of being rewilded and rehabilitated animals can be shyer here than in other parts of Africa, but the unique landscape and incredible conservation success story make the trip well worth it.

How far is Akagera from Kigali?

It pretty well takes three hours to drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park. Expect to drive another 45 minutes from the park gate to reach Magashi Camp; Ruzuzi a little less. A helicopter transfer is a quick and scenic option.

How far is Akagera from gorilla trekking?

The drive from Akagera National Park to Volcanoes National Park takes about three hours. A helicopter transfer is a scenic, timesaving, option.

Akagera National Park – Bespoke Rwanda Safari Itineraries

Akagera National Park lies in eastern Rwanda on the border with Tanzania, and is the only place where you’ll experience a traditional, big game Rwanda safari.

Out here in the savanna, black rhinos rustle about in the grasses that sway and whistle in the warm wind, gnarled trees camouflage leopards, and hippos rear their slick heads in Lake Ihema. You’ll have the chance to spot these magnificent creatures and other Big Five animals on game drives and boat safaris here—but it wasn’t always this way. The park and its wildlife were devasted during the genocide and its rehabilitation into the flourishing ecosystem it is today is one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories. In 2010, African Parks in collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board set out with a new vision for Akagera, supporting the rehabilitation of the landscape, animals, and the surrounding communities. Wildlife here is less habituated, so can be a bit more elusive than in places such as Greater Kruger or the Serengeti. But witnessing rewilding and conservation in action here is moving—and the chase is part of the fun. Plus, the diverse landscape on its own, encompassing savanna, woodland, and wetland ecosystems, is reason enough to spend time here.

Aerial view of Magashi Camp tents along the lakeshore in Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Zebras standing on a misty trail in Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Safari boat cruising on a lake in Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Why visit Akagera National Park?

Rumble across the savanna on a game drive in honeyed early morning or sunset light in search of savanna-adapted species such as zebras, buffalo, and giraffes, along with leopards, elephants, and the endangered black rhino and white rhino. Akagera is also a birder’s paradise, home to more than 485 different bird species, including endemic raptors and red-faced barbets—so keep those binoculars at the ready.

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Rumble across the savanna on a game drive in honeyed early morning or sunset light in search of savanna-adapted species such as zebras, buffalo, and giraffes, along with leopards, elephants, and the endangered black rhino and white rhino. Akagera is also a birder’s paradise, home to more than 485 different bird species, including endemic raptors and red-faced barbets—so keep those binoculars at the ready.
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Set out on Lake Ihema for a boat safari, home to large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles sunbathing on the shore, and abundant waterbirds that nest on an island in the middle of the lake. Or get a behind-the-scenes experience with a guide who will show you how the park is run and give you an inside look at this incredible African Parks conservation success story, home to Africa’s largest wetland and myriad wildlife.
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Immerse yourself in nature with a stay at the beautiful Magashi Camp overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Rwanyakazinga. Savor delicious meals under the starry sky, partake in a traditional Kugisha supper, and then retreat to your contemporary tented suite—one of only eight total—lulled to sleep by the sounds of the wilderness.

The best time to visit Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is the driest and most savanna-like landscape in the country, but all of those lush forests to the south are so green because of the abundant rain Rwanda can sometimes see, so to make the most of wildlife tracking in the park, plan your trip between June and September during the longest stretch of dry weather.  March to May is the rainy season, when most of the country sees steady, heavier rain, at least in the afternoons, making game drives in the park muddy and hard to navigate. October to November is a shorter rainy season and it’s followed by a short dry season from December to February.

Best

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

June - September

Good

Jan

Feb

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Dec

January - February

June - September

December - December

Akagera National Park safari FAQs

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