2-Day Akagera National Park Safari with Lake Ihema Boat Ride

Six hours tracking wildlife, then a boat across waters where hippos surface.

A 2-day tour from Kigali to Akagera National Park combines a full game drive through the reserve with a scenic boat ride on Lake Ihema. You'll stay overnight at Akagera Game Lodge, depart at 5:30 am on day one for the three-hour drive, spend six hours exploring the park for lions, elephants, giraffes and zebras, then board a boat at 3 pm to watch for hippos and water birds. Day two brings breakfast, a visit to Imigongo Art Center on the return to Kigali, and hotel checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Game drive and boat ride

• Pick up at 5:00 am
• Depart Kigali at 5:30 am
• Drive 3 hours to Akagera National Park
• Have breakfast enroute
• Pay entry fee and start game drive
• Enjoy 6-hour game drive
• Lunch break at lodge or picnic area
• Board boat at 3:00 pm on Lake Ihema
• Enjoy boat ride and wildlife viewing
• Go to hotel for dinner and rest

Day 2: Return drive with art visit

• Have breakfast at hotel
• Check out and depart hotel
• Visit Imigongo Art Center
• Drive back to Kigali

The experience

The day starts early: pickup at 5 am from your Kigali accommodation, then a three-hour drive to Akagera National Park with breakfast en route. Once inside the park, you pay entry and begin a six-hour game drive with your guide-driver, moving through terrain where lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and antelope roam. The park's landscape shifts between grassland and acacia woodland, and the guide navigates to spots where sightings are most likely. Around 2 pm you break for lunch at a lodge or picnic area within the park.

At 3 pm you board a boat for a scenic ride across Lake Ihema. The water opens up views of the shoreline and the wildlife that gathers there: hippos, pelicans, kingfishers and other birds. The boat ride lasts roughly two hours before you return to your hotel for dinner and overnight rest. Akagera Game Lodge provides bed and breakfast. The operator will arrange the best available accommodation if that lodge is full.

Morning of day two starts with breakfast at the hotel. After checkout, the drive back to Kigali includes a stop at Imigongo Art Center, where you can see traditional Rwandan artwork and crafts before returning to the city. Your guide speaks English or French throughout the tour, and the vehicle is private to your group: either an open-roof tour car or a KIA Mohave 4WD, depending on which option you book at checkout.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Kigali.
• park entrance fee.
• six-hour game drive.
• boat ride on Lake Ihema.
• lunch on day one.
• bottled water.
• overnight accommodation with breakfast at Akagera Game Lodge.
• guide in English or French.
• return visit to Imigongo Art Center.

Options for this experience

2 options

KIA Mohave 4WD, accommodation not includedUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English or French · 05:00 and 05:30Boat ride. Duration: 2 days. Lunch in Akagera on the first day. KIA Mohave 4WD. Pickup is included.

Open-roof tour vehicle, accommodation not includedUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or French · 05:00 and 05:30First class. Duration: 7 hours, including a 6-hour game drive and a 1-hour boat ride. Lunch is served on the game drive day. Open-roof 4WD in Akagera. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:00 and 05:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (80 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Audio guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by SONG&STARK TOURS

Is this one for you?Book the open-roof car if you want unobstructed views and photos during the game drive. Choose the KIA Mohave 4WD if you prefer a closed cabin or need more ground clearance on rougher park roads. The early 5 am start gets you into the park by mid-morning when wildlife is most active, and the boat ride at 3 pm breaks up the day before the evening return to the lodge.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years). Children under 14 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I see on the game drive at Akagera?

Akagera National Park is home to lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and various antelope species. The six-hour game drive gives the guide time to track animals across different zones of the park, though sightings depend on where animals are on the day you visit.

How long is the boat ride on Lake Ihema?

The boat departs at 3 pm and runs for roughly two hours. You'll watch for hippos, pelicans, kingfishers and other water birds along the shoreline and in the lake itself.

What's included in the 2-day tour price?

Park entry, the six-hour game drive, the boat ride on Lake Ihema, lunch on day one, bottled water, overnight accommodation at Akagera Game Lodge with breakfast, and private transportation from Kigali are all included. Meals other than lunch and breakfast are not included.

Do I need to arrange my own accommodation?

No. Overnight accommodation at Akagera Game Lodge with bed and breakfast is part of the tour. The operator will arrange the best available alternative if the lodge is full.

What time does the tour start from Kigali?

Pickup from your Kigali accommodation is at 5 am, and you depart the city by 5:30 am. The three-hour drive to Akagera National Park includes breakfast en route.

Can I choose between different vehicles?

Yes. At checkout you can book either an open-roof tour car or a KIA Mohave 4WD. Both are private to your group and driven by your guide.