Akagera National Park Safari: Big Five & Lake Boat Option

Akagera's Big Five without the crowds, led by a guide who knows the park inside out

A full-day safari tour from Kigali to Akagera National Park, Rwanda's Big Five destination, with hotel pickup at 5 AM and return the same day. You spend the entire day game viewing in a customized safari vehicle with a pop-up roof across savannah, low mountains and wetlands dotted with a dozen lakes. An optional one-hour boat safari on Lake Ihema lets you drift past hippos, Nile crocodiles and over 450 bird species. The tour is led by an experienced guide fluent in English or French who knows Rwanda and the park thoroughly. Park entrance and the boat safari are separate paid options. Lunch is not included but your guide can help arrange it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Safari and optional boat tour

• Pick up from hotel at 5:00 AM
• Drive to Akagera National Park by 8:00 AM
• Optional boat safari at Lake Ihema
• Game drive in Akagera National Park

The experience

Akagera stands apart from the safari parks that draw crowds across East Africa. The park sprawls across a chain of low grassy mountains sloping down to undulating savannah, ringed by extensive wetlands and a dozen lakes thick with papyrus swamps. You arrive at 8 AM after a three-hour drive through Rwanda's cultivated hills, and the entire day is yours to search for lions, rhinos, buffalos, elephants, Maasai giraffes, Burchell's zebras, warthogs, olive baboons and antelopes across the open landscape. The customized safari vehicle has a pop-up roof so you can stand and scan without obstruction, and your guide reads the terrain and the animals' movements to position you for sightings rather than drive you past them.

The optional Lake Ihema boat safari runs for one hour and drifts you along the forest-fringed water where hippos rest in the shallows and Nile crocodiles patrol the edges. The lake holds over 450 bird species, so the boat moves slowly enough to spot herons, eagles, kingfishers and warblers in the trees and along the banks. This is a separate booking at checkout and costs extra, but it gives you a different angle on the park's wildlife and a break from the vehicle. Your guide speaks English or French and can discuss lunch options with you during the day. The park has no restaurant, so you'll want to arrange something beforehand or ask your guide to help source it locally.

The full day runs roughly ten hours from pickup to drop-off. You leave your Kigali hotel at 5 AM, drive to the park, spend the daylight hours game viewing, and return to the city by evening. One bottled water per person is included. Bring sun protection, binoculars if you have them, and comfortable clothes that let you move freely in the vehicle. The park entrance fee is paid separately at the gate and is set by the Rwandan government.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kigali.
• all transportation in a customized safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for unobstructed game viewing.
• a live guide fluent in English or French.
• one bottled water per person.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (4 to 17 years) · Child (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Operated by Expedition Happy Hour

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're based in Kigali and want a full day in the park without driving yourself. The 5 AM hotel pickup gets you there during peak animal activity, and you can add a boat safari on Lake Ihema for a different vantage point.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 17 years); Child (under 4): free.

What animals am I most likely to see in Akagera National Park?

Akagera is a Big Five destination, so lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalos and leopards all live in the park. You'll also see Maasai giraffes, Burchell's zebras, warthogs, olive baboons, vervet monkeys and various antelope species. Sightings depend on where the animals are on the day you visit, but your guide knows the park and positions the vehicle to maximize your chances.

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

Pickup from your Kigali hotel is at 5 AM. The early start gets you to the park by 8 AM when animals are most active and the light is good for viewing and photography.

Is the Lake Ihema boat safari included, or do I pay extra?

The boat safari is optional and costs extra at checkout. It's a one-hour drift along the lake where you can see hippos, crocodiles and over 450 bird species up close. You decide whether to add it when you book.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Kigali, all transportation in the safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, one bottled water per person, and a guide in English or French. The Akagera park entrance fee and the optional Lake Ihema boat safari are paid separately. Lunch is not included. Your guide can help you arrange it during the day.

How long is the full day, and what time do I get back to Kigali?

The tour runs roughly ten hours from pickup to drop-off. You leave at 5 AM and return to your hotel by evening, giving you a full day in the park without an overnight stay.