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Wildlife Safaris

Big Five Safari Rwanda — Akagera National Park

Rwanda is Africa's only country where you can see the Big Five and mountain gorillas in one trip. Akagera National Park is home to lions, elephants, white rhinos, leopards and Cape buffalo.

1–3 Days 1–7 People Easy Akagera National Park
From $350 / person (1-day)
Duration1–3 Days
Group Size1–7 People
DifficultyEasy
LocationAkagera National Park

About This Tour

Rwanda is unique in Africa: it is the only country where you can see the Big Five (lion, elephant, white rhino, leopard, Cape buffalo) and mountain gorillas in a single safari trip. Akagera National Park — Rwanda's only savannah park — hosts all of the Big Five after the successful reintroduction of lions in 2015 and white rhinos in 2017.

Akagera covers 1,122 km² of savannah, woodland and papyrus swamps along the Tanzania border. It is one of East Africa's great conservation success stories: after severe population decline during the 1990s, intensive anti-poaching, community engagement and apex predator reintroduction have transformed the park into a thriving wildlife destination rivalling East Africa's finest.

Our Big Five safari Rwanda uses a private 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, giving you full 360° wildlife viewing and standing photography. Our guides have decade-long knowledge of Akagera's terrain, animal territories and the specific locations where lions and rhinos are most regularly encountered.

We offer 1-day, 2-day and 3-day Big Five safari packages. The 2–3 day packages include overnight accommodation and dawn game drives — dramatically increasing your chances of seeing all five.

Tour Highlights

All Big Five in one park: lions, elephants, white rhinos, leopards, buffalo
Rwanda's finest savannah — 1,122 km² of protected wildlife habitat
Recently reintroduced lions (2015) and white rhinos (2017)
Over 500 bird species including shoebill stork and saddle-billed stork
Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with 360° pop-up roof
Expert RDB guide with Akagera-specialist knowledge
Hippo and crocodile boat safaris available
Also combine with gorilla trekking for Africa's ultimate safari

What's Included

Included

Akagera NP entrance fee
Full-day game drive (1-day option)
Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
RDB-certified professional guide
Kigali hotel transfers
Bottled water

Not Included

Accommodation for 2–3 day options (quoted separately)
Meals
Boat safari ($30 per person — optional)
Travel insurance
Gratuities

Tour Itinerary

  • 1
    5:30 AM
    Depart Kigali
    Early morning pick-up from your Kigali hotel. The 2.5-hour drive to Akagera takes you through Rwanda's eastern savannah landscape, passing through Kayonza.
  • 2
    8:00 AM
    Enter Akagera National Park — Southern Circuit
    Enter through the southern gate and begin the lake circuit. Scan the papyrus swamps for hippos and waterfowl. The southern lakes host large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles and aquatic birds.
  • 3
    10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    Northern Savannah — Big Five Territory
    Drive north into the open savannah where rhinos, lions, elephants and buffalo are most commonly seen. Your guide uses radio contact with other park rangers to track the lion pride's current location.
  • 4
    1:00 PM
    Lunch Break at Lake Viewpoint
    Picnic lunch or restaurant at the Akagera Game Lodge with stunning lake views. Excellent birding opportunities during the midday rest.
  • 5
    2:00 – 5:00 PM
    Afternoon Circuit & Optional Boat Safari
    Final afternoon game drive through the central woodland and acacia zones. Optional 90-minute boat safari on Lake Shakani at sunset (extra charge). Spectacular photography light.
  • 6
    5:30 PM
    Exit Park & Return to Kigali
    Exit Akagera and drive back to Kigali, arriving approximately 8:00 PM at your hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Akagera National Park is home to all five Big Five species. Lions were reintroduced in 2015 (from South Africa) and white rhinos in 2017 and 2021. Elephants, leopards and Cape buffalo are well-established. Sightings of all five in one day are not guaranteed but are increasingly common with our expert guides.
Akagera is extremely safe and very well managed by African Parks (an international NGO). The park has 24/7 armed anti-poaching rangers, and game drives are always conducted in closed vehicles with your professional guide. Rwanda itself is ranked one of Africa's safest countries.
Absolutely — this is the ultimate Rwanda safari and something no other country in Africa offers. We can arrange a 4–7 day itinerary combining gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP (north) with a Big Five safari in Akagera NP (east), with Kigali city tour in between. Contact us for a custom quote.
Lions are most active and visible during dawn (6–8 AM) and late afternoon (4–6 PM) game drives. The dry seasons (June–September, December–February) when vegetation is shorter are the best periods for lion sightings. Our 2-day overnight safari maximizes your lion encounter chances.

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