Akagera National Park Big Five Safari: Full-Day Game Drive

Spend a full day tracking the Big Five across Akagera's open savanna

A full-day private safari through Akagera National Park with a live English or French-speaking guide, pop-up roof vehicle and hotel pickup. You'll search for the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino) plus giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelopes and over a hundred bird species including the Shoebill. The guide and driver are trained to read animal behavior and plan the route around sightings, so your chances of finding what you came for shift with the day itself.

The experience

Akagera is Rwanda's largest protected savanna, and the Big Five are all here. A pop-up roof vehicle lets you stand and turn without leaving your seat, which changes how you photograph and how the animals react to you. The guide navigates by radio contact with other guides on the park roads, so sightings get shared in real time. If a leopard is spotted two kilometers away, you know it before you plan the next stop.

The day runs thirteen hours from pickup to drop-off, which means you leave early and return late, but it also means you're in the park during the cooler morning hours when animals move most, and again in the late afternoon when they come to water. Bottled water and snacks travel with you. Breakfast and lunch you arrange separately or eat before the pickup arrives. The guide speaks English or French and carries the knowledge of where to look, not just the animals themselves, but the signs that tell you where they've been and where they're heading.

Akagera works as a day trip or an overnight, and this version is the full-day option. Wheelchair users and families with infants can book this tour. All surfaces are accessible and strollers travel in the vehicle. If you're traveling with small children, they sit on an adult's lap during the drive.

What’s included

• Guide and driver trained to track and identify wildlife.
• pop-up roof safari vehicle for unobstructed viewing and photography.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water and snacks throughout the day.
• live guide in English or French.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Go Further

Is this one for you?The thirteen-hour commitment means you're in the park during both peak game-viewing windows (early morning and late afternoon), which is what makes a full Big Five search realistic in a single day. If your schedule only allows a few hours, a shorter half-day option would fit better.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What animals will I actually see on a Big Five safari in Akagera?

Akagera is home to all five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino) plus giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelopes and hundreds of bird species including the Shoebill. Sightings depend on the day and where the animals are moving, but the guide uses radio contact with other guides in the park to track recent sightings and plan the route around them.

How early do I need to wake up for this safari?

The full day runs thirteen hours from pickup to drop-off, so you'll leave early in the morning when animals are most active. The exact pickup time depends on where your hotel is, but plan for an early start to catch the best game-viewing hours.

What's included in the price and what do I need to arrange myself?

The guide, driver, vehicle, bottled water, snacks, pickup and drop-off are all included. You'll arrange your own breakfast and lunch, or eat before the pickup arrives. Tips and gratuities are separate.

Can I do this safari if I use a wheelchair or travel with a baby?

Yes. All areas and surfaces in the park are wheelchair accessible, and the vehicle accommodates wheelchairs. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, or sit on an adult's lap during the drive.