Akagera National Park Game Drive from Kigali: Lions & Rhinos

Five Hours into Akagera, the Radio Crackles with a Lion Sighting

You leave Kigali at 05h00 and drive 3.5 hours to Akagera National Park, where you spend the day on a game drive with a local guide in a 4x4 with WiFi. You get a packed lunch, views of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and a chance at lions or black rhinos, though sightings aren't certain. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kigali are included, and you're back in the city by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kigali to Akagera National Park game drive

• Depart Kigali at 05h00
• Drive 3.5 hours to Imigongo Art Center
• Stop at Imigongo Art Center for 15 minutes
• Continue to Akagera National Park
• Register and pick up packed picnic lunch
• Spend day game driving in Akagera National Park
• Depart Akagera late afternoon back to Kigali

The experience

The 05h00 pickup from your Kigali hotel comes early enough that you're still half-asleep when the 4x4 rolls up, and honestly, the first hour of the drive blurs a bit. But somewhere around the Imigongo Art Center stop, about halfway to Akagera National Park, you wake up properly. There's time to stretch, use the washroom, and if you want, grab a coffee or quick breakfast (the staff there will pack it for takeaway if you're the type who eats on the move). The landscape starts changing after that, and by 08h30, you're at the park entrance, registration done, packed lunch loaded, and ready to spend the rest of the day looking for animals.

Your driver-guide from Countryside Tours-Rwanda knows where to go, and the 4x4 (you pick between a pop-up roof safari vehicle, a non-pop-up SUV, or a Toyota Rav4) handles the park roads without fuss. Akagera has buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas, and birds you'll see without trying. The black rhinos and lions were gone for a long time. They've been restocked in recent years, so sightings aren't guaranteed, especially the rhinos. They hide. But the lakes are there, the landscape opens up, and the whole day moves at the pace of what you find, not what the itinerary says you should find. WiFi is onboard if you need to send a message home, though some spots in the park drop signal, so don't count on it for streaming.

You eat the packed lunch somewhere in the park (Akagera Transit Lodge provides it), and the day stretches until late afternoon, when you head back to Kigali. It's a long drive both ways, but the early start means you're not arriving back in the city at midnight. Bring a reusable water bottle. Single-use plastic is no longer allowed in the park, and you'll want water anyway.

What’s included

• Your day includes pickup and drop-off anywhere in Kigali city or from Kigali International Airport, a driver-guide employed by Countryside Tours-Rwanda, a choice of 4x4 vehicle (pop-up or non-pop-up roof SUV, Toyota Rav4 4WD or similar), WiFi onboard, a packed picnic lunch from Akagera Transit Lodge, drinking water in reusable bottles, and entry to Akagera National Park. A stop at the Imigongo Art Center for stretching and washroom use is included.
• coffee, breakfast, or other purchases there are optional and at your own cost. A boat ride on Ihema Lake can be added separately.

Options for this experience

6 options

SUV without a pop-up roof, no boat rideUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English · 05:30, 06:00 and 06:30Private SUV transport without an openable pop-up roof, with no boat ride. Late departure is possible. Pickup is included.

Pop-up roof safari car without a boat rideUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English · 05:30, 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00Starting time: late departure is possible, with no boat ride and private car transport in a pop-up roof safari car. Pickup is included.

Toyota Rav4 4WD without a boat rideUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 05:30, 06:00 and 06:30Toyota Rav4 4WD without a boat ride: late departure is possible, there is no boat ride, and the trip is private car transport in a Toyota Rav4 4WD. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Boat ride with a pop-up roof safari carUp to 11 per booking · Guide in English · 05:00Private tour in a pop-up roof safari car: private car transport and an open-roof safari car, with a boat ride shared with others. Pickup is included.

SUV without a pop-up roof, with a boat rideUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English · 05:00Private SUV transport without an openable pop-up roof, with a boat ride. Pickup is included.

Toyota Rav4 4WD with a boat rideUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 05:00Boat ride on Ihema Lake: a one-hour trip on the second largest lake in the country and the first in Akagera, where you can see crocodiles and hippos. Transport is in a non-pop-up roof Toyota Rav4 4WD, with private car transport and a shared boat trip. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 07:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Under 13: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 140

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Countryside Tours-Rwanda

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day of wildlife viewing without arranging your own transport, park entry, or food: the early start and fixed schedule pack the main Akagera experience into one trip from Kigali, and the local guide knows where animals tend to be.

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Top questions

What time does the pickup happen?

05h00 from your Kigali hotel or airport. The drive to Akagera takes about 3.5 hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes, a packed picnic lunch from Akagera Transit Lodge is included.

Are lion and rhino sightings guaranteed?

No. Lions and black rhinos have been recently restocked, but sightings are not guaranteed due to their small numbers and the rhino's shy behavior.

What vehicle options are available?

You can choose a pop-up roof safari vehicle, a non-pop-up SUV, or a Toyota Rav4 4WD or similar.

Is WiFi available in the park?

WiFi is onboard the vehicle, but connectivity drops in some areas of the park.

Can I bring a baby?

Yes, infants can travel but must sit on an adult's lap.

What should I bring?

Bring a reusable water bottle. Single-use plastic bottles are not allowed in the park. Sunscreen, binoculars, and a camera are useful.

How long is the full day?

You leave Kigali at 05h00 and return late afternoon. The game drive itself spans most of the day after your 08h30 arrival at the park.

Is there a stop on the way to the park?

Yes, you stop at the Imigongo Art Center for a leg stretch, washroom break, and optional coffee or breakfast (not included in the tour price).

Can I do a boat ride on Ihema Lake?

A boat ride on Ihema Lake is available as an optional add-on, not included in the base tour.