TourismAkagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savannah park and the country’s best destination for classic Big Five game drives. Covering 1,122 square kilometres along the Tanzanian border in eastern Rwanda, Akagera features a mosaic of woodland, swamp, lakes, and open plains that support a remarkable diversity of wildlife — including lions, elephants, black rhinos, leopards, and buffaloes.
For European travellers already visiting Rwanda for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Akagera makes a perfect 2-3 day safari extension. This guide covers current entry fees, activities, and everything you need to plan your visit.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) manages Akagera’s fees. Current rates:
Foreign non-residents: $100 per person per 24 hours (adults), $50 for children aged 6-12. East African residents: RWF 5,000 per adult. Rwandan citizens: RWF 3,000 per adult. Children under 6 enter free.
At approximately £80 per person per day, Akagera is pricier than Uganda’s parks but still excellent value for a Big Five experience. The fee includes a mandatory vehicle tracking device (free for registered tour vehicles).
Game drives: The primary activity. Akagera’s network of well-maintained tracks takes you through varied habitats — from open plains where you’ll spot zebras, impalas, and topis to lakeshores where elephants come to drink and hippos wallow. Morning drives (6:00 AM start) and late afternoon drives offer the best wildlife sightings and photography light.
Night game drives: $50 per person. One of the few parks in the region offering guided night drives, giving you the chance to spot leopards, hyenas, genets, and other nocturnal species with spotlights.
Boat safari on Lake Ihema: $50 per person for a 2-3 hour cruise. Lake Ihema is Akagera’s largest lake and the boat trip is outstanding — you’ll see hippos, crocodiles, African fish eagles, and massive concentrations of waterbirds. This is one of the most scenic boat safaris in East Africa.
Behind-the-scenes rhino tracking: $200 per person. A unique experience where you join the park’s rhino monitoring team on foot to track and observe black rhinos — one of Africa’s most endangered species. Only available to a small number of visitors per day.
Sport fishing: Available on several of Akagera’s lakes. Tilapia and catfish are the main catches.
Guided bush walks: $40 per person. Walking safaris with armed rangers offer a completely different perspective on the African bush — reading animal tracks, identifying medicinal plants, and experiencing the sounds and smells of the savannah up close.
Akagera’s conservation success story is remarkable. Lions were reintroduced in 2015 after being absent for nearly 20 years, and the pride has grown steadily. Black rhinos returned in 2017, and both species are now breeding. Combined with the existing populations of elephants, buffaloes, and leopards, Akagera officially became a Big Five park again.
Other notable species include Masai giraffes, zebras, hippos (over 500), Nile crocodiles, spotted hyenas, side-striped jackals, and over 500 bird species — making it one of Africa’s top birding destinations. The papyrus swamps are particularly rich in rare wetland species like the shoebill, papyrus gonolek, and swamp flycatcher.
The dry season — June to September — is best for game drives. Animals concentrate around water sources, vegetation is thinner, and the tracks are in good condition. This period aligns well with European summer holidays.
The short dry season in December to February is also excellent. The wet seasons (March-May and October-November) bring lush green landscapes, spectacular birdwatching (migratory species arrive October-March), and fewer tourists, but some tracks may become muddy.
Akagera is approximately 2.5 hours’ drive (130 km) east of Kigali — Rwanda’s capital and main international gateway. From London, several airlines offer one-stop connections to Kigali International Airport (total journey approximately 11-13 hours).
The short transfer from Kigali means you can fly in the morning and be on a game drive by lunchtime, making Akagera one of the most accessible safari parks in East Africa.
Akagera Game Lodge sits inside the park with lake views and comfortable rooms (from $150-250 per night). The luxury tented camps — Magashi Camp and Ruzizi Tented Lodge — offer high-end experiences comparable to the best camps in Kenya or Tanzania. Budget travellers can stay in Kayonza town outside the park.
The classic Rwanda combination is gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park (northwest) plus a Big Five safari in Akagera (east). Add a day in Kigali for the Genocide Memorial and the vibrant restaurant scene, and you have a comprehensive 5-7 day Rwanda itinerary.
Nature Nest Safaris also arranges cross-border itineraries combining Rwanda’s gorillas and Akagera with Uganda’s Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth parks, or Tanzania’s Serengeti — ideal for European visitors wanting to see the best of East Africa in a single trip.
Ready to explore Akagera? Contact Nature Nest Safaris at book@naturenestsafaris.com or call +256 777 131 912 for a tailored Rwanda safari itinerary.
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