Experience
Wildlife Safari
Big Five game drives on Rwanda's eastern savannah
01What it is
Guided game drives in Akagera National Park, Rwanda's savannah reserve, in search of the Big Five and the plains game that lives alongside them.
Akagera is the only place in Rwanda where the landscape opens out. After the hills and the forest, the horizon comes back, and with it the animals people picture when they think of an African safari.
Drives start at first light in the northern plains, where the reintroduced lions hunt and where the rhino are most often seen, or work south through acacia woodland to the lakes.
It is a smaller park than the famous ones in Kenya and Tanzania, and quieter for it. You will often have a sighting entirely to yourself.
- Where
- Akagera National Park
- Duration
- Half day to multiple days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Look for
- Lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, giraffe
- From Kigali
- About 2.5 hours
02What to expect
- 01
Early starts
The first hours after dawn are when predators are still moving and the light is worth photographing. Gates open early and it is worth being there.
- 02
The northern plains
Open grassland where lion and rhino sightings concentrate. This is where a full day pays off rather than a quick loop.
- 03
Lake country in the south
Hippo, crocodile, waterbuck and enormous numbers of birds along the shoreline of Lake Ihema and its neighbours.
- 04
Space to yourself
Akagera sees a fraction of the traffic of the better-known parks. Sightings are rarely crowded.
03Best time
Dry months concentrate wildlife at water and keep the tracks firm; wet months are green, empty and better for birds.
- JanJan: best
- FebFeb: best
- MarMar: shoulder season
- AprApr: shoulder season
- MayMay: shoulder season
- JunJun: best
- JulJul: best
- AugAug: best
- SepSep: best
- OctOct: shoulder season
- NovNov: shoulder season
- DecDec: best
04What to bring
- Binoculars, genuinely essential
- A camera with reach if you have one
- Neutral-coloured clothing
- Sun hat and high-factor sun cream
- A warm layer for early departures
- Water for the vehicle
05Requirements
- Park entry and guiding are arranged in advance as part of your itinerary.
- Visitors must remain in the vehicle except at designated points.
- Off-road driving is not permitted, which protects the grassland and the sightings.
- Current park entry fees are confirmed at the time of booking.
Permit costs, age limits and park regulations are set by the Rwanda Development Board and its partners and change from time to time. We confirm the current position with you in writing before anything is booked.
07Journeys that include it
Tours
5 days · 4 nights
5-Day Rwanda Wildlife Adventure
Big Five savannah and mountain gorillas in one week
Akagera's plains and lakes for the Big Five, then north to the Virungas for a gorilla trek — the two headline experiences, without rushing either.
ClassicModeratePrice on request
7 days · 6 nights
7-Day Rwanda Discovery
Gorillas, rainforest and the lake in between
Kigali, the Virungas for gorillas, down the shore of Lake Kivu, and into Nyungwe for chimpanzees and the canopy walk.
ClassicModeratePrice on request
10 days · 9 nights
10-Day Rwanda Complete Experience
The whole country, at a pace that lets you enjoy it
Kigali, Akagera's savannah, the Virunga gorillas, Lake Kivu and Nyungwe's rainforest — every landscape Rwanda has, without a forced march.
ClassicModeratePrice on request
All five are present. Lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino are all realistic over two full days; leopard is genuinely difficult here as it is everywhere. Anyone promising you the full set is guessing.
Add it to your trip
Plan wildlife safari
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and what you want to see. We will come back with an itinerary built around it, not a package pulled off a shelf.